What will you do on the day
of reckoning, when disaster comes
from afar? To whom will you run
for help? ~ Isaiah 10:3 NIV
I am a person who likes and is swayed by
studies and statistics. In my mind, facts and figures are very authoritative
and credible. If someone wants to keep me focused all they have to do is throw
the word ‘percent’ in after another word and they are sure to have my undivided
attention.
My kids figured all this out fairly early
in life. They have been known to insert some official sounding statistics and
studies into any debate or discussion where they are attempting to convince me
of a course of action. My son was especially fond of this ploy.
Anytime he wanted to do something or go
somewhere that he knew I would be skeptical of he would bring up a study or
statistic that would “prove” the validity of his case. When the argument was
sound or the statistic legitimate I could be persuaded about eighty percent of
the time, but sadly they were rarely either.
While it’s true that a smooth-sounding
statistic may sway me, I also have some trust issues where such things are
concerned. So I usually fact-check any statistic that sounds sketchy or fabricated.
Recently I came across a statistic that sounded so insanely fictional that I
verified it almost immediately. The statistic in question stated that the
number of Americans receiving SNAP benefits (food stamps) has increased seventy
percent since 2008.
Fact checking did indeed confirm the legitimacy
of the statistic and revealed an even more shocking number. According to the
USDA, the number of food stamp recipients has increased a whopping 93.3 percent
since 2001.
I was disquieted by this information, but
unsure why. As a Christian I truly loathe the notion of anyone going hungry,
and I’m all for any plan that helps poor people climb out of poverty. So I wondered: why does this statistic bother
me so much?
Admittedly, the political implications of this
statistic trouble me. Legislators are (perhaps) unintentionally creating a
powerful voting bloc of individuals who have a vested interest in electing men
and women who continue to dole out an ever-increasing amount of public aid. This
voting bloc is rapidly becoming large enough to shape political and social
policy. Without term limits, some politicians may be tempted to keep the
payments rolling if it allows them keep their jobs.
Disturbing as the political implications
are, they are not the biggest concern in this situation. The real issue for
Christians is the widespread spiritual repercussions of long-term, widespread
dependence on welfare programs.
Contrary to common belief, God is not mean.
He loves all people, including poor people. Scripture demonstrates that God is
deeply concerned for the poor and needy (Deuteronomy 24:14-16, Exodus 23:6,
Exodus 23:1, Leviticus 19:10, Psalm 12:5). God wants His concern for the
underprivileged to be the concern of His people (Deuteronomy 15:7, Psalm 112:9,
Proverbs 14:31, Acts 10:4, Acts 24:17).
God
wants people to be cared for and He wants it done in such a way that dignity is
preserved and people are given a sense of purpose. Connecting assistance and
help to work and responsibility does this. Nowhere in Scripture is financial
support given to anyone without requiring them to work or be accountable to
someone for their choices (1st Timothy 5:3-16, 1st
Thessalonians 3:10, Ephesians 4:28).
The
design of government programs are harmful to human dignity and responsibility
because…
Government programs refuse to make
behavioral judgments~
I do not believe that there is any behavior,
no matter how sinful, that cannot be forgiven. But let’s be real: Some
behaviors and choices are superior to others. Bad behaviors are bad because
they eventually enslave people in unhealthy patterns. It’s better to not to be
addicted to drugs or alcohol. It’s better to be educated than ignorant, and
it’s better if one marries and raises a family rather than produce a large
number of fatherless children. When assistance is given without accountability
or moral instruction, responsibility dies a violent death and people become
enslaved to harmful behaviors and to a system that cares nothing about their
future. In order for assistance to help rather than hurt, there has to be
acknowledgement that some behaviors are inherently dangerous and harmful.
Welfare programs do nothing to build or
strengthen families~
God intended family to be the foundation
of society. Strong, healthy families equal a strong, healthy society. God’s
plan is for parents to work together as a team using their combined resources
and abilities to provide financial, emotional, spiritual, and educational support
to their children. When a parent of either sex is left to parent alone their
attention and resources are divided and the quality of parenting suffers
dramatically. Poorly parented children
are quite likely to become a drain on society and perpetuate the cycle of poor parenting
and societal dysfunction. Welfare programs encourage single parenting by
providing financial assistance to single mothers only and eliminating or
cutting assistance when a father is present in the home. This provides a sick
incentive for women to parent alone and further perpetuates the breakdown of
the family.
Government programs rarely change
circumstances ~
The goal of aid programs should be a
positive change of circumstances for the person receiving assistance. In the
current system, you rarely see healthy change occur. This is due to a lack of
pressure placed on people seeking help. People seeking financial assistance really
need someone to give them support as they work to acquire the tools that will empower
them to become productive, self-sufficient members of society. Under the
current system, achieving independence is a choice, not an obligation. To make
matters worse, many on welfare find that under the current system they are
penalized rather than rewarded for making good choices.
Sadly, government aid programs do not
require work. They tear down family structures and fail to promote self-control
and personal responsibility. As more people look to the government as their
provider rather than God or family we see an increasing loss of human dignity and
social chaos. As sexual ethics have loosened, single parenting has become an
accepted standard and the result, sadly, has been the creation of a permanent
underclass. As government has attempted to take on the role of provider to the
people it has failed to provide the accountability required for a healthy
society to flourish.
That
is where we come in. Change is possible, but it will not come from government
intervention. Societal transformation will be born out of individual families
and churches living out the principles given in Scripture. I know that some
will feel my case is hardhearted but before you judge me too harshly tune in next
week and I will share some strategies we can apply on big and small scales to
make a difference and turn the tide.
So then, as we have
opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to
those who are of the household of faith~ Galatians 6:10
No comments:
Post a Comment