As a Christian, I wonder how we should care for the lowly as the Word commands. By lowly, I mean the sick, orphaned, mentally ill, widowed, disabled, elderly, and the poor (willing to work for their gleanings).
I have personally heard two strains of thought on this.
1. Tax people and make a social safety net for the sick, orphaned, mentally ill, widowed, disabled, elderly, and the poor (willing to work for their gleanings). Then have the church in America and private charities provide more beyond this to meet needs.
2. Have no government contributions to the lowly, and fund charity through private organizations and the church.
The obvious problem with #1 Is that the charitable giving is forced. Another problem with #1 is that the church gets less credit than the government for charitable giving.
The obvious problem with #2 Is that there may not be enough money to meet needs, leaving people helpless in a time of need. In addition, a change will be that churches will be relied on more to give richly to the lowly. So charitable giving to churches and Christian charities will need to increase, possibly radically. Although, this last point may not be bad.
I wonder what you on the Baptist Board think? Are there more options than the two I provided? How should America and the church in America (or whatever nation you live in and the churches therein) care for the lowly?
I have personally heard two strains of thought on this.
1. Tax people and make a social safety net for the sick, orphaned, mentally ill, widowed, disabled, elderly, and the poor (willing to work for their gleanings). Then have the church in America and private charities provide more beyond this to meet needs.
2. Have no government contributions to the lowly, and fund charity through private organizations and the church.
The obvious problem with #1 Is that the charitable giving is forced. Another problem with #1 is that the church gets less credit than the government for charitable giving.
The obvious problem with #2 Is that there may not be enough money to meet needs, leaving people helpless in a time of need. In addition, a change will be that churches will be relied on more to give richly to the lowly. So charitable giving to churches and Christian charities will need to increase, possibly radically. Although, this last point may not be bad.
I wonder what you on the Baptist Board think? Are there more options than the two I provided? How should America and the church in America (or whatever nation you live in and the churches therein) care for the lowly?