Has the GOP forgotten Jesus’ Decree, ‘Help the Poor’?

by Staff October 2, 2013 20 Comments Christian Talk News Opinion Politics Weekly Columns

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(ThyBlackMan.com) When we think of the term “conservative” Republican in its most modern form, it’s typically a wealthy male with a prominent political view. To paint a more vivid picture, this male comes from a traditional Christian family, whose lineage has prominence, wealth, and exceedingly high morality and values; or so some say. In America, much of morality is based upon one’s religious faith. Typically, Christianity has a lot to do with how many conservative Republicans view the world around them. In today’s modern society, one must ask; are GOP conservatives using their religious background to brand their politics or have they totally rejected it?

Jesus Christ remains a universal figure when it comes to morality, charity, and good deeds. Much of his teachings consisted of the depths of love for our fellow man. In fact, Jesus often aligned himself with the lower echelon of mankind during his time and was mocked by the religious men and well-known figures. To take it a step further, Christ criticized those who looked down on people of lower class. In essence, Jesus wanted His followers (Christians) to be charitable to the poor. This only begs the question: Are Republicans conservatives and Tea Party patriots truly followers of Christ?

JESUS’ VIEWS ON THE LAW

Many conservative Republicans will agree that the bible is inspired by God. They will also concur that Jesus Christ is God in the flesh. If all biblical scripture comes from God and Jesus is God, then therefore viewpoints in the bible should line up with GOP’s views on obedience of the law. Romans 13:1 says, “So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished.” Rebelling comes in all sorts of ways. It seems the GOP openly criticizing President Barack Obama in just about every political decision. Our country is currently being threatened in some of the worse financial predicaments in part by Republicans rebelling against the President’s policies at every opportunity in an attempt to embarrass, humiliate or defame him.

JESUS’ VIEWS ON OPPRESSING THE POOR

The first epistle of John says, “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children let us not love with words or tongue but with action and in truth. “As we can see, the bible is very clear on how Jesus’ followers should treat the poor. I ask you, does this sound like the viewpoints of the GOP? It’s quite the opposite. Republican conservatives feel that unemployment should be limited to a select few. What about that mother of 3? What about that father of 5?

Why would it be logical to cut unemployment? For years, food stamps have been a way of life for the less fortunate. With higher unemployment, it would be the Christian thing to allow struggling families another option to survive. There is less than 1.3% waste and fraud in the food stamp program, yet, conservative and Tea Party sympathizers are poised to cut it in the near future.

JESUS’ VIEWS ON (The Affordable Healthcare Act) OBAMACARE?

While Jesus never spoke on Obamacare; He did emphatically speak on caring for the poor, widowed, and less fortunate. The issue at hand with Obamacare is that the GOP is worrying about how it will affect them image wise. Jesus was not big on politics, but yet he was very political when it came to moral topics. Welfare systems were a big thing for Jesus. The reasons for equality on earth are due, in part, to the fact that it serves as a microcosm to equality in heaven. ” In Luke 16:13, Jesus spoke about “mammon” (the Aramaic word for “riches”): “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”

When we look at this, it’s more than semantics; it’s actually pure logic and simple common sense. God created mankind in His own image. When man is harmed, God is harmed. To put money before man (those less fortunate) is the exact same as putting money before God. For people such as John Hagee, Joel Osteen, Rod Parsley and others to extol the virtues of an ideology that supports programs and ideals made to help the poor is unconscionable. Is it possible that conservative GOP supporters have disregarded the Author and Finisher of their faith, and substituted it for their very own selfish desires?

Staff Writer; Stanley G. Buford

Feel free to connect with this brother via Twitter; Stanley G. and also facebook http://www.facebook.com/sgbuford.

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ewill21 says:
October 7, 2013 at 7:30 pm
“Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.”
Leviticus 19:15
“But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you shall be your minister:”
Mark 10:42-43
“But if any does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”
1 Timothy 5:8
“I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism”
1 Timothy 5:21
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CD Smith says:
October 7, 2013 at 10:27 am
NothernMagnolia,
None of the scriptures related to helping the “poor” are not directed at a 3rd party entity to do it for you.
God is asking us as “individuals”,”What are YOU doing to help the poor?”
God is holding YOU personally responsible.
What you have done is “OUTSOURCED” your “RESPONSIBILITY” to the government..
Approximately 31 cents of every dollar you pay in taxes to “help” the poor. Maybe 15 cents of that actually “helps” someone.
This is why WE as society condone our young women to have sex at an early age because We say, No worry, “There’s a government program for that”
This is why so many children are fatherless because We say, No worry “There’s a government program for that”
This is why so many families in which the elders are not being provided for because their children say, No worry “There’s a government program for that”
So in reality, many people have “Deceived” themselves in thinking they are helping the “poor” thru goverment but in fact have shown themselves in reality to be be “disconnected” and “uncaring” toward those that need help the most.
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common sense says:
October 7, 2013 at 9:13 am
Ample Resources are already being used for the destitute with surpluses going to crony capitalism. I have a right to demand an end to overly taxing me when government is not a good steward of my money. The difference between the two of us is you rely on government and I rely on self to handle my own emergencies.
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NorthernMagnolia says:
October 7, 2013 at 12:13 am
Hit the wrong button there, ewill — but, consider: the Caesars in power when the Apostle Paul wrote were some awful folk. And still, consider Romans 13:1-7:
1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
Even Caesars — the worst of them — are ordained of God according to the Scripture. They are described as God’s ministers in the Scripture for two purposes — to minister to the people they rule for good, and to avenge evil. Those are the two roles of government. So, from a Biblical perspective, “Caesar is not the solution — He’s the problem!” is a massive oversimplification — God has designed roles that government is supposed to carry out. To speak on a particular role of doing good: it is a very good thing that Joseph, one of the great heroes of the faith in the Bible, did not say to Pharoah, all the way back in a major crisis in Genesis, that “Pharoah, we’re not the solution — we’re the problem!” Egypt, that great civilization, would have starved out, as would have many others. Instead, Joseph, under Pharoah’s authority, gathered massive amounts of grain in the years of plenty and redistributed them to the people of Egypt and the world in the years of famine, thus preserving the people. Thus we know, BIBLICALLY, that government’s role of doing good CAN INCLUDE REDISTRIBUTION OF RESOURCES, in emergency circumstances. Now I agree with you that most people in government are not walking with God to the extent Joseph was, but the point is, God approved of government doing good with the country’s total resources for those in need!
One more thing: I appreciate that we live in the United States of America — government of the people, for the people, and by the people (at least in theory). I have the right, since essentially Caesar in this country is a representative of ME, to expect at least as much from an outspoken Christian GOP conservative as I expect of myself and the Christians around me — and we have our lives all in, doing what we can when it comes to the destitute around us. It is not too much to ask of those of the 535 that claim the same faith to be doing all THEY can — and they have much more capacity because of their role, relatively speaking! Talk is as cheap from a GOP conservative as it is from a Democrat liberal — I have the right, Biblically and as a citizen of this country, to expect movement in government for the good of people in need, and thus to expect those who want to eliminate one form of doing good (however imperfectly) with another!
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NorthernMagnolia says:
October 6, 2013 at 11:37 pm
@ewill — The mid-1990s was just about 20 years ago. Separate out that 224 million professing Christians into those that actually believe in and live by key Christian doctrines, and the number is more like 30 million. That’s the first part of my answering your question — first of all, do a little more intensive and current research to get your numbers…
Second of all, recall the difference in how many resources the 535 can move move back and forth compared to any individual among the 30 million. Put it another way; I can only do so much with stretching my personal paycheck, and I am doing all I can. Most of the 30 million (being also members of the 99 percent) are in the same position — but we live in a republic and elect those 535 to do our will with all the dollars they likewise remove from our paycheck (although that is a subject we could profitably discuss; if taxes were lower…)! That is the whole point of representative government.
I’ll give you yet another point of view on this: There is an excellent reason that FEMA was reopened — I guarantee you that if it should occur that a large natural disaster should land on your doorstep, you will be very glad if Caesar should happen to roll up with the resources that the 30 million does not have in materials and know-how. Ask anybody who lived through Hurricane Sandy, for a recent example — we of the 30 million prayed, and many did what we could who were in the area, but since private business does not tend to mobilize unless there is profit to offset that move, there was nobody to come but Caesar (and of course, there are some of the 30 million that work for Caesar).
There is a legitimate role for Caesar, by the way, even in the Bible. Please recall Romans 13:1-7 — and remember that this comes even though the particular Caesar, if my reading of Suetonius’ Twelve Caesars is correct (
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4real says:
October 6, 2013 at 12:35 pm
@ewill……..CHECKMATE!
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ewill says:
October 6, 2013 at 5:23 am
NorthernMagnolia,
We agree that it is not Caesar’s job [to feed and cloth the poor.]
…what…GOP…intend to do after Caesar has shutdown…
A direct answer as far as feeding and clothing the poor; Nothing.
The simples explanation; It’s not their job.
The government shutdown doesn’t affect feeding and clothing the poor,
sort of poor, and not poor programs. i.e. Welfare or SNAP.
The Congress (at least GOP) isn’t as cold blooded as the Democrats want you to believe.
People get angry at the GOP. Always asking what is the GOP’s solutions to the problems?
They answer back. Caesar is not the solution; HE’S THE PROBLEM!
The GOP wants to free you from Caesar and the Democrats want you to Hail Caesar as God.
If all of Congress were true Christians. That would be 535 Christians.
In the mid-1990s the United States had the largest Christian population on earth, with 224 million Christians.
I beg you for an answer to my question.
What group of Christians has the ability to do the most good, 535 controlled by the rules of Caesar or 224 million free to following the rules of God?
Do you think Caesar leads souls to Christ by giving them food, clothe, and money?
What is the answer for you and 224 million other Christians? Do your job!!!!!
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NorthernMagnolia says:
October 6, 2013 at 12:53 am
@ewill — We agree that it is not Caesar’s job. This is why the question of what honest GOP conservatives, particularly the Christians among them, intend to do after Caesar has shutdown begs answering. For if it is that God’s people are going to take up even taking care of the destitute, even on a local level, a whole lot of money is going to have to be moved away from personal discretionary uses and the building and maintenance of bigger Constantine-style religious monuments. I am thinking now of what I have just written to Robert: in the book of Acts, those Christians that had great possessions sold what they had in order to help their fellow Christians in need — and God struck dead those who thought they could play at caring while lying about what they withheld for themselves. I would be very interested to know what would happen among GOP conservatives if God renewed that kind of regime.
For the record: I am what you would consider a Negro (although, as our word discussions should suggest, you are a few years behind in your use of descriptive terminology), but I am not a Democrat. The day that GOP conservatives get up and say that they are ready to personally sacrifice and encourage their constituents so that the destitute do have real options beside dependence on government is the day I’d consider becoming a Republican. But right now, I see precious few conservatives vocal about government overreach who are putting things on the line like that. Meanwhile, kids who had no choice but to be here still need food, shelter, and education. People who have been looking for years for jobs that no longer exist need help to retrain and restart, and survive with their families in the meantime. I am waiting for GOP conservatives to come up with an alternative plan to Caesar that could meet the needs of this magnitude. I have been waiting a long time.
Socialism — I’m not a fan either. But I refer you back to the book of Acts, in which folks had all things common long before Karl Marx’s forebears moved into what would become Germany. That is a much better model — but again, I don’t see the most vocal GOP conservatives using or promoting that model in words or by example. They present a false choice between two equally godless models — capitalism, at least as far as my most recent review of An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations has determined, is not exactly a Christian phenomenon either. Capitalism is ideologically more neutral, but even then — I refrain on this occasion from talking about how ungodly were the means in which the early capitalists obtained much of their original capital. I have talked about the low points of European imperialist history enough for one thread. But, I end largely where I and Mr. Buford begin: we are waiting for GOP conservatives who tout their Christian values to act like it. Socialism? No. Sacrificial Christian charity in the attitude and example of people who loud-talk their Christian beliefs? A little more would be nice…
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NorthernMagnolia says:
October 6, 2013 at 12:12 am
@Robert — As you no doubt know, Christianity predates Constantine by nearly 300 years. The fact that under his reign preexisting Scripture was canonized is partially correct, but the Hebrew Scriptures had been collected before, and the books that we use today were already written as well. In Constantine’s time, some picking and choosing of what books would be included took place — but even that was not final. The Protestant canon is not exactly Constantine’s canon, as a look at a Catholic Bible would suggest. Nor do we have to learn Latin any more; God’s Word is available for most people to read for themselves, thus opening the possibility of knowing much more about Christianity than Constantine’s people would be willing to share…
While I do not have time to go into it at length, there is plenty of evidence that the Bible itself is not a Roman fabrication — there are condemnations in it that homosexual Emperors would never have allowed or would have had excised, for merely one example, if it was something that they had control over. But, as we sometimes say in Christian circles, man rules and God overrules.
I agree with you that Constantine has had an outsized influence on the way Christianity has been presented to the modern world, but you’ll have to give God’s people a little credit for being able to know and experience God and His Word for themselves, beyond the rituals imposed by Constantine and his ilk. For the Bible does not at all in the New Testament speak of a hierarchy of Constantine’s making, but of each Christian being a priest before God, of only one Mediator, the Lord Jesus Christ, and of each believer being directly instructed and led by the Holy Spirit, thus denying the necessity of having to be dependent on a man-made hierarchy for spiritual connection. There are bodies of evidence among our people that show that at one time we rose above Constantine’s model: I find in the Negro Spirituals a reflection of Christianity that is far different from the model of Christianity introduced by European slavers, a model that better reflects the Church as presented in the Book of Acts, not the church as represented by Constantine. But then again, a look at the book of Acts shows Christians before the great cathedrals, mostly poor, mostly persecuted, and the few with resources sharing with those that did not. That matched very well with the condition of our ancestors here — and I do not put it past God to have revealed Himself to our ancestors in reality despite the poor introduction He received through Europeans. In fact, I know that He did; I descend from generations of Christians who operated outside of Constantine’s mindset, and whose holy, consistent lives denoted the reality of their connection with God through Jesus Christ. I am a Christian not because of white people; I am a Christian because of God working through the testimony of Black people, in my family, long before I even knew any white Christians.
(By the way, the Bible as we have it shows through the Lord’s genealogies that He has not a drop of proto-European blood in His human descent line. How in the world did Constantine and his ilk let THAT pass, if the Bible were truly a fabrication by those types? I say all that to say: no one in my family has ever worshiped a “white Jesus.”)
Today is another story — as we have become more prosperous, we have assimilated more to Constantine’s model, more concerned with material possessions and power than with God’s Word and His mission in the world. God, as revealed in the Bible, may be Supreme Ruler of the universe, but He is no European imperialist, for no European imperialist would ever have had penned anything as inclusive as John 3:16. A read of the Bible would show that it does not square with the ideals of the Roman Empire and its spiritual descendants– it condemns the very decadence you rightly point up, promises that the transgressions of that empire in its final form will be thoroughly punished, and describes a way of life and worship that is far different from anything Constantine ever dreamed up. This is, unfortunately, not what most Black people today are practicing — and what most Black people are practicing is indeed quite destructive. We agree on that. I am not advocating any particular set of rituals or hierarchy that pass as Christianity, but I am among Black Christians of all denominations who are coming together around the reality of Christianity beyond Constantine’s perversions. There is such a reality — and that is where I stand.
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ewill says:
October 5, 2013 at 6:05 pm
NorthernMagnolia,
Rant:
to talk loudly and in a way that shows anger
to complain in a way that is unreasonable
I didn’t say that you were angry. I don’t care how you personally feel.
I just think that both your and Buford, along with most Negros and Democrats, write and talk with an over abundance of unreasonable statements.
I was going to write 2-3 more replies to this section but I think this will be my last. I’ll give one biblical scripture and my humble opinion.
Mark 12:15-17
“Shall we pay or shall we not pay?” But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius to look at.” They brought one. And He said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” And they said to Him, “Caesar’s.” And Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were amazed at Him.
Jesus never, not that I know of, said that Caesar’s duty was to feed or cloth the poor, widows, orphans, needy, sick, afflicted, oppressed, or strangers.
That is a Christian duty.
Tell me, if I’m wrong?
Is Caesar your brothers’ keeper?
I think not.
I’d much rather waste my money on God than Caesar.
It’s a sad day when people rely and trust Caesar more than God.
Sorry, As a Christian, I just can’t except Socialism.
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ROBERT says:
October 5, 2013 at 4:56 pm
@ N.MAGNOLIA
YOUR knowledge of EUROPEAN history and culture is impressive but all the more confusing.
IF anyone were to study the history of ROME you would discover one of the most decadent and licentious culture the world has ever known.
YOU would also know the wars of conquest the enslavement of foreign people and the sexual deviation of these people just to name a few; in fact the first fourteen ROMAN emperor’s were homosexual’s.
BUT still with this understanding you are still able to embrace a religion whose origin is in this filthy culture; remember it was the emperor COSTANTINE who assembled the bible that you quoted from.
ONE of my main motivation’s for leaving CHRISTIANTY was coming into the knowledge of white people’s history and realizing that these are a morally degenerate people who are not in a position to convert anyone to any religious belief.
YOU don’t have to believe all white’s are evil or bad to get a understanding from reading their history that when they use word’s like HOLY; or DIVINE they are not qualified to speak on such subject’s.
AS black AMERICAN’S we got our religion from our slave owners and therefore we received a contaminated belief system which is affecting us to this day and if we don’t quickly realize this it will eventually destroy us.
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NorthernMagnolia says:
October 5, 2013 at 2:22 am
Once again to the article itself… it took me two additional days of thinking…
The Lord Jesus actually had one very clear personal statement concerning the poor. One came in Mark 14, when Jesus’ disciples were fussing about a woman who used some very expensive ointment on the Lord Jesus as a token of worship. The disciples said that usage was a waste, and that the ointment should have been sold and the proceeds given to the poor. To that the Lord Jesus responded in Mark 14:6-8. “And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me. For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.” Two things emerge here; the first is that the Lord Jesus did expect that his disciples would have a concern for the poor and would do them good — but that those deeds had a lower priority than worship of Him, and that caring for the poor and worship were not ALWAYS synonymous.
This in turn raises another interesting conundrum, hinted at in that passage from the first epistle of John — it does depend on who the epistle marks out as “brother,” or “neighbor,” as I have mentioned in a previous response. In a later epistle, the Apostle John tells the person he writes to not to even entertain those who perverted the Gospel — not to even wish them well, to say nothing of feeding and clothing them. Again, the principle seems to be that Christians should help all those that they can, but not to the point where the supremacy and preeminence of Christ is cast in doubt.
That said, I doubt it is in worship of the Lord Jesus that many GOP conservatives want to cut the country’s social safety net without much regard to individuals who are truly in need of help. But, a look at the Scripture — and I will also reference here II Thessalonians 3:6-10, which ewill referenced — does make it clear that “helping the poor” is something that can only be done with the Lord’s blessing so long as it meets His standards, and I do know that there are some GOP conservatives who truly believe that the present systems of “helping the poor” are too far away from that standard to be supported. The next question to them would be, “What else did you have in mind?”…
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NorthernMagnolia says:
October 5, 2013 at 1:34 am
ewill — I marvel at how people who do not like my writing consider it a “rant”; as if I were screaming at you personally. But, if the shoe fits, you are welcome to change your shoes after you dust them off…
While you shake the dust of your feet, let me take the clouds off my points: Modern European culture took up much of ancient European culture during the Enlightenment, and took the (abundant) bad with the (abundant) good. Ancient culture used the term “barbarian” to condemn anyone non-Greek and then later, non-Roman as “less than,” as best fit to be exploited and enslaved for the betterment of the dominant culture. About half the Roman Empire’s population were slaves at periods in its history, for one historical example. 1,400 years or so later, the heirs of the Roman Empire, endowed with the tools and the means to begin conquering the entire world, decided they wanted empires like that of the Romans they looked up to (I shall provide you only one example; there is a direct, ancient line seen in the thinking of Otto von Bismarck, which runs also directly to the thinking of Hitler), complete with all the accoutrements of slave labor, colonies, etc. The words barbarian and savage were still in use to dehumanize the conquered, colonized, and enslaved, but one more word occurred to the mind of the Europeans who colonized North America and wanted African slaves, a word that is a corruption of the Spanish word for Black. You went to the etymology and missed the exact parallel — remember, I asked you to stop and think, but that seems to be a challenge for a lot of people: the THINKING of ancient Europeans and many modern Europeans has STILL not changed in a cultural sense, although the specific words may have.
The THINKING of many people of European descent has not changed in 2,500 years — and that includes many people of European descent not seeing people from other races as worthy of consideration for benefit as themselves. It would not be worthy of remark above any other sin in human nature except for one fact: people of European descent in high places still control much of the resources of the world, and the distribution of the same (while Black people emphatically do not, although we bear responsibility for our own troubles as well). That is true in the U.S. as well. Greater power, greater responsibility… the name of the party matters little, but it is the GOP before us in this article.
Now, on a personal level, please recall that I wrote “There is nothing new about bigotry of every shade, class, color, or creed, either; X thousand years and counting.” The only difference are the power dynamics, but every human being has been guilty at times of looking down on and taking advantage of others. All colors, shades, and creeds have their guilty parties. This is where the HOWEVER came in. But for the Lord Jesus Christ, I could be just as bitter about things that Europeans have done in modern history and hold that against every single white person I encounter. What I wrote I wrote without anger; there is history to back it all up from purely European and European-American sources, and I have come to terms with the facts without rancor, owing to the presence and power of God in Christ in my life. I do not go forth ignorant, however; I hear often of Black folks, some of whom I know and love, who are striving and working hard and dealing with obstacles that are coming from sheer racial prejudice, and I know that there is a LONG context for that kind of behavior from some white people — some, not all. I can call out the supremacist culture, and the “some,” without losing concern and care for the individuals — and that is due to the power of God in Christ. I can also see the deep flaws in Black culture and life right now, but still care for the individuals. This is precisely the kind of thinking made possible by true Christian belief, but that seems to be lacking among GOP conservatives.
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ewill says:
October 4, 2013 at 11:32 pm
Back to Buford,
JESUS’ VIEWS ON OPPRESSING THE POOR
Pelosi: “We have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it”
Jim Jones: “We have to drink the cool-aid so that you can find out what is in it”
It always amazes me how Democrats, Negros, and Socialists always think their opinions are facts and what they say is always so clear and meaningful.
A very small point to mention about you passage. Jesus didn’t say it. John wrote that to a church. It’s alright, I understand the point you are trying to make.
A small point about word usage, oppressing the poor is different than not helping the poor. Everything you stated has nothing to do with oppressing the poor.
I understand, oppressing sounds much better an not helping.
Also, all the poor you want us to free from oppression, maybe about 10% actually are poor from the biblical perspective of Jesus. I understand the deception you are trying to form with the word usage.
You Banner should read: Jesus’ view on helping the destitute.
Here is my biblical reply:
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. 9 We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate. 10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.”
Now, there are two kinds of poor in the bible. Poor, having little or no possessions but are eating day to day. Although, that existence doesn’t sound good, it is not the kind of people the bible is talking about that really and truly need help. The kind of poor the bible is taking about is the destitute, those that have less than clothes on their backs and are starving to death. i.e. Orphans, widows, and the afflicted. Poor people that are poor from their own making will always be poor.
I’ll stop here and make other points in the health care section of my reply.
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ewill says:
October 4, 2013 at 5:47 am
NorthernMagnolia,
Yes, most republicans are white, along with most democrats. So, you are talking about whites in general, not just republicans, Right?
You say “the issue lies in the fact that white people are no more likely, on average, to see someone else of another race or creed as truly “their neighbor” than a Jew was likely to see a Samaritan or a Gentile as his neighbor in Jesus’ day. I’ll tell you something that might be hard to understand. In Jesus’ day, Jesus was a Jew.
When the Lord inquired concerning Abel, Cain’s response was:
“Am I my brother’s keeper?
Let me explain something. Negros can’t even see other Negros as truly “their brother.” The highest death rate among Blacks is from other Blacks.
A real fact is that Negros do not see whites, Negros, or anybody else as “their neighbor.”
Uneducated, angry, and violent, That’s Negro nature.
Moving on to Barbarian/Berber, Roman/Greek, North Africa.
A rant over the use of the word barbarian, that turns into some strange link with Berbers in North Africa, that means Romans and Greeks were calling the rest of the world niggers, and white Americans exalt them for that.
Ok, real quick.
Berbers call themselves some variant of the word i-Mazigh-en (singular: a-Mazigh), The word has probably an ancient parallel in the Roman and Greek names for some of the Berbers, “Mazices” A Roman consul in Africa made the first reference of the term “barbarian” to describe Numidia. The English term was introduced in the 19th century, replacing the earlier Barbary, a loan from Arabic. Its ultimate etymological identity with barbarian is uncertain, but the Arabic word has clearly been treated as identical with Latin barbaria.
Historically and in general classification today, people in North Africa are considered white while people in South Africa are considered black.
Finally, Neither Romans nor Greeks used the term Nigger. It originates from French Negre and Spanish negros meaning black.
Bigotry is all over, Whites, White Hispanics, White Asians, Negros, and Negro Whites.
Christians, Jews, Muslims, Atheists, and Agnostics. Republicans, Democrats, Independents, and Socialists…….The list never ends.
Conquests 2,500 years and counting, hit the reset button and start much earlier than that and don’t just talk about whites.
After your rant, I’m not sure why you added your “HOWEVER.”
I’ll just knock the dirt off my shoes and leave it at that.
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CD Smith says:
October 3, 2013 at 10:22 pm
The argumentation in this article, with all due respect is very, very weak.
Following this line of reasoning, the “Christian” led Abolition Movement against slavery in America was ungodly rebellion??
However, this article has many other problems with it’s argumentation and presentation.
1. First, in America, citizens have the “right” to free speech and political action. Disagreeing with your government here is NOT being rebellious, it is your “privilege” as a citizen of America. This is not the Roman empire of Christian times. By the way, many Christians died in the colosseum for not recognizing Ceasar as god. Where they wrong?
2. The vast majority of Christian conservatives do not want to “overthrow” the government.
3. You are misrepresenting conservative position on this issue. I will assume that it is not intentional but due to lack of information. Read this book before claiming to know the “conservative” position – http://www.amazon.com/The-Conservatives-Handbook-Defining-Position/dp/1581826621
4. Conservatives feel that since the government is taking money out of our pockets to fund entitlement programs the least the government can do is to ensure that is money is “actually” going to people in “NEED”. Is it rebellious to require the Government to be good stewards of my money?
5. In typical fashion, Liberals never like to talk about FAITH in GOD. Liberals place their Faith in Government to solve all the problems in society. People are “poor” for many different reasons. So far in America, it is still possible to start out “poor” and become wealthy. It takes Faith to persist toward fulfilling a dream, to save and work hard and succeed. The bible has as many verses about “working” hard than giving to the poor. Liberals lack faith in themselves and their brothers and sisters so they look to the government to be that only which GOD can provide.
I will end with what the question I always ask Liberals:
What is it about Liberal ideology that inspires an “poor” individual to strive to be the best they can be?
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ewill21 says:
October 3, 2013 at 10:08 pm
“When we think of the term “conservative” Republican… “ Does “we” mean Negros or Democrats? Not that it really matters. Both are just opposite sides of the same coin. I’m making an assumption that Stanley G. Buford is both a Negro and a democrat. Since he feels knowledgeable enough to define republicans and Christianity and has the gift of understanding the bible, I would like to respond from my perspective.
I don’t need to hide behind and be protected by an unknown “we.” I’ll stand on my own supporting Christianity and basic republican positions. When I think of the term Democrat in it’s most modern form it’s a socialist. Let me paint a very clear picture for you. Lineage, prominence, wealth, morality, values, or religion has nothing to do with being a socialist. Socialism is the only way they view the world around them. One must ask, are democrats trying to use Christianity and Negros as a tool to fundamentally transform America, rejecting a Christian nation in favor of a socialist country?
Jesus’ view on the law
When it comes to “the law” The President isn’t the authority talked about in the biblical passage, “So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished.”
The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;…
To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.
Congress is the authority.
Republicans don’t believe that some laws are necessary and proper. They control half the Congress and are doing their duty with in the checks and balances under the constitution.
But, democrats, socialist, and Stanley G. Buford don’t like it. Save us Obama from the American constitution and wrap us in your loving arms of socialism.
One must ask, Where was that biblical passage during the Civil rights movement?
Stay tuned for the next round on this matter. It’s funny, Almost never do the writers take the time to engage in debate about their articles. They just defecate on the site and leave.
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Pentheus says:
October 3, 2013 at 4:47 pm
What is Jesus’ political stance? You might be surprised to find out: http://goo.gl/hhW7vu
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hoodgirl says:
October 3, 2013 at 2:15 pm
I went to a Mel Waiters concert and boy was he right when he said he spent over 30 years of his life in church where members would arrive anxiously awaiting the church doors to open. They would know every bible verse and be present during every Sunday school class. However, it was a huge eye opener when Mel took to blues music that led him touring nonstop with people who had never stepped foot on the inside of a church but were easily able to be their brothers keeper and treat others with dignity and respect which was a far cry from what Mel witnessed with church goers.
At the very least this article is engaging in deceptive practice for political gain which is not in the spirit of being a brothers keeper.
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NorthernMagnolia says:
October 3, 2013 at 12:36 pm
The problem may lie more in the camp of “who is my neighbor?” Most Republicans are no richer than most of their Democrat counterparts — the issue lies in the fact that white people are no more likely, on average, to see someone else of another race or creed as truly “their neighbor” than a Jew was likely to see a Samaritan or a Gentile as his neighbor in Jesus’ day. Partially that is just human nature, and partially, in the case of our country being a “late-in-time” European civilization, it has to do with Europeans looking back so much to the Greeks and Romans defining EVERYBODY else in the whole world as “barbarians.” That was 2,500 years ago — and when you consider that even the word barbarian is derived from Berber, the name of a group of North Africans, you have to stop and think for a minute. Modern European culture, including that of the United States, exalts an ancient European culture that basically considered and called everybody n*****s except themselves. There is nothing new about white bigotry on the world-conquering stage — 2,500 years and counting. There is nothing new about bigotry of every shade, class, color, or creed, either; X thousand years and counting.
HOWEVER…
I can say from my own experiences: when the transforming power of knowing God through Jesus Christ becomes real in your life, you will not be able to overlook the needs of others because they are not like you. I think that we overlook John 3:16 because we think we know it: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Since God, in Christ, sacrificed on that level for everyone, who are we to say we are only going to help only the people that we identify with? Now, it is important to start where you are, but if you are walking with the Lord Jesus Christ, you will go with Him to help whoever He leads you to. And this is the understanding that seems to be lacking in the GOP, which touts its Christian values so very loudly…
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