“Vote for Change”; A very popular slogan for nearly every candidate in nearly every race this election. President elect Barak Obama’s spread the wealth philosophy may have everyone scrounging under the cushions of the couch looking for loose change before we know it.
His socialistic/communistic view to take from the rich and give to the poor would make even Robin Hood blush. Robin Hood was fighting against a tyrant, while Obama plans to use his tyrannical ideology to steal from the working man to finance the man who will not work.
The real shame in this line of thinking is that it not only takes from the achievers, but it also robs our nation from the “pull yourself up by the boot strap,” grit and determination that has made this country what it is, or maybe rather, what it was.
God’s word clearly states that if a man will not work then neither shall he eat. This is not some cold callus attitude that says that we should turn away the poor; in fact it is just the opposite, but it does hold men accountable for laziness.
We should feed the poor, and visit the widows and the prisoners. But this should be done out of charity or love. The government should not take from someone who will work and given to someone who will not work.
However, when the smoke clears and the dust settles, this call for socialism that so many Americans voted for can be shouldered by the local churches and Christians everywhere, including me. We have allowed the widows and the orphans to be taken care of by the state; we have allowed the poor to be fed by the state. We have allowed the prisoners to go mostly without a single visit.
Of course the state will think that it is their job to feed the poor, and to visit the widows. Of course the orphans and prisoners will count on the state to take care of them, which has taken care of their needs in the past.
However, when the state takes care of individuals there is little responsibility or accountability for the person who receives the donation. The biggest responsibility a welfare recipient has is to go to the mail box to collect their check. The state welfare system is designed to keep people on welfare.
Christian love and charity is designed to teach that person to provide for himself.
When a church takes in and individual in need, it is should be done in a manner that allows that person the dignity of getting back on their feet. In fact, it should be lovingly demanded that people work toward providing for themselves.
So where does that leave us?
It seems pretty apparent to me and many other people that we are headed for some very serious financial problems. While this will cause a lot of pain for many individuals, it will also provide Christians and local churches and opportunity to serve others, and to pick up the ball that was fumbled with FDR.
It will also be a time where many people who are tired of the world chewing them up and spitting them out a chance to turn their backs on that world and turn to the Savior of the world, Jesus.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast himself. For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10.
We are called to work, not for our salvation because that is a gift from God. We are called to work as a demonstration of our salvation so that others can see Christ in us.
Christians, we have a lot of work ahead of us.
