160218 Last Post (for now)
Government transfer payments, a.k.a Welfare, generate a lot of argument. A certain picture on Facebook caused a lot of angry posts. It wasn't mine, and I didn't post it, but I did peruse the comments. God inspires sharing. What does God say about sharing? A lot of people, even non-Christians invoke Matt 22:17-21 to justify government theft.
Matthew 22:17-21
(17) Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?
(18) But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
(19) Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.
(20) And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
(21) They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.
Taxes are not of God. They are of governments. People who want them to be the same often ignore 2 Corinthians 9:7 "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart," which means it is a personal choice to give. Governments mandate taxes; some denominations mandate the tithe, but God ALWAYS gives us a choice. We don't have to give a thing if we don't want to. Ephesians 4:28 indicates that people take care of people, which leaves out the governmental middleman.
Ephesians 4:28
(28) Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
Finally:
2 Thessalonians 3:10
(10) For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
If a believer doesn't like the New Testament, then he or she could read the Old. Individuals gave to individuals. Charitable contributions and general distributions to the needy were ALWAYS handled through the priests and through the Temple, not the secular government. Where did the public get this idea that only government can handle the poor? It doesn't come from God.
Transfer payments are not about helping people. They are intended to give power to the collectors, who then decide who is worthy. Government then replaces God. Robin Hood may sound like a cool character, and the legend, especially the Hollywood version, certainly has been repeated enough. Dig deeper. Sir Robert of Locksley was a political figure fighting change. He really didn't care any more about the poor than the Sheriff of Nottingham did. Prince John was no more evil than King Richard was. It was all politics based upon the accident of birth! The Normans had invaded Saxony. King Richard had a Saxon mother, but Prince John's mother was Norman. People took sides based upon their heritage. The Church of this era did not obey God's Word, thus was more a political entity than anything that God Himself intended.
When Richard died, Prince John became King John and then signed the Magna Carta, which is the foundational document that lead to the establishment of Parliament, and eventually to our own Constitution. Most people don't know that the Magna Carta has four different versions that made it to the present time. It's not a magic piece of paper, but the general idea that grew into freedom is. People pick sides, then emotionally scream all or nothing. Shades of gray exist only in regards to sex for these one dimensional people. All our lives involve some kind of choices, and everyone should have the honesty to allow other people theirs without all the shouting. (If you think that only one side shouts, then I have news for you!)
The only thing in life that is sure is God's Word, that only when it is stripped of human Theology. Some claim that the New Testament is a random collection of letters. That is opinion. The Old Testament, however, has been preserved with safeguards. For instance, each word on each page was counted by type and recorded to prevent alterations. Much of the New Testament are quotes from the Old. What's new is that God opened up the promises to those beyond the faithful Children of Abraham's grandson. Plus He made a way for anyone who would believe to become the heir of Salvation. The quibbling is in the details, but God's Word is clear for those who have eyes to see beyond failed human philosophy. God's Word as originally given is perfect. Your choice is to believe it or not, but don't blame God for your politics.
God doesn't play politics; people do.
Matthew 22:17-21
(17) Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?
(18) But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
(19) Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.
(20) And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
(21) They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.
Taxes are not of God. They are of governments. People who want them to be the same often ignore 2 Corinthians 9:7 "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart," which means it is a personal choice to give. Governments mandate taxes; some denominations mandate the tithe, but God ALWAYS gives us a choice. We don't have to give a thing if we don't want to. Ephesians 4:28 indicates that people take care of people, which leaves out the governmental middleman.
Ephesians 4:28
(28) Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
Finally:
2 Thessalonians 3:10
(10) For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
If a believer doesn't like the New Testament, then he or she could read the Old. Individuals gave to individuals. Charitable contributions and general distributions to the needy were ALWAYS handled through the priests and through the Temple, not the secular government. Where did the public get this idea that only government can handle the poor? It doesn't come from God.
Transfer payments are not about helping people. They are intended to give power to the collectors, who then decide who is worthy. Government then replaces God. Robin Hood may sound like a cool character, and the legend, especially the Hollywood version, certainly has been repeated enough. Dig deeper. Sir Robert of Locksley was a political figure fighting change. He really didn't care any more about the poor than the Sheriff of Nottingham did. Prince John was no more evil than King Richard was. It was all politics based upon the accident of birth! The Normans had invaded Saxony. King Richard had a Saxon mother, but Prince John's mother was Norman. People took sides based upon their heritage. The Church of this era did not obey God's Word, thus was more a political entity than anything that God Himself intended.
When Richard died, Prince John became King John and then signed the Magna Carta, which is the foundational document that lead to the establishment of Parliament, and eventually to our own Constitution. Most people don't know that the Magna Carta has four different versions that made it to the present time. It's not a magic piece of paper, but the general idea that grew into freedom is. People pick sides, then emotionally scream all or nothing. Shades of gray exist only in regards to sex for these one dimensional people. All our lives involve some kind of choices, and everyone should have the honesty to allow other people theirs without all the shouting. (If you think that only one side shouts, then I have news for you!)
The only thing in life that is sure is God's Word, that only when it is stripped of human Theology. Some claim that the New Testament is a random collection of letters. That is opinion. The Old Testament, however, has been preserved with safeguards. For instance, each word on each page was counted by type and recorded to prevent alterations. Much of the New Testament are quotes from the Old. What's new is that God opened up the promises to those beyond the faithful Children of Abraham's grandson. Plus He made a way for anyone who would believe to become the heir of Salvation. The quibbling is in the details, but God's Word is clear for those who have eyes to see beyond failed human philosophy. God's Word as originally given is perfect. Your choice is to believe it or not, but don't blame God for your politics.
God doesn't play politics; people do.