*sarasm* Boy I am proud of my country

[APuritanMindset]

Check this story out ( http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6837045/ ). The US is NOT one of the highest givers to humanitarian aid. We have a president who claims to be a Christian and yet he isn't owning up to a commitment the US made back in the 70's to give 0.7 percent of the nation's income to help poverty. I remember reading something in the Bible about this issue...

learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause. (Isaiah 1:17 ESV)

Sorry if I cound critical, but this really upsets me. The US is one of the 22 richest nations, we have a "christian" president, and we aren't giving even half of 0.7 percent of our income to help with poverty. In fact, what is being done in our country alone to aid poverty? All I hear about is health care and the war and stopping gay marriage. While those are all big issues, I think we need to be worrying about the humanitarian aspect of things too. I voted for Bush, so I am not against him. I just think there may be a need for some eyes to be opened in the evangelical community, and even the Christians in Washington, to the real issues of what a Christian is to do.

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? (Micah 6:8 KJV)

 

[Johnv]

Youre unrighteous judgement of GW Bush is noted. Whether you like it or not, he's a Christian. Just because you don't like his fruits doesn't mean he's not.

As far as your criticism, I think it's undeserved. Who says it's the responsibility of the US to be the highest giver to humanitarian aid? Also, who made the commitment to give .7 percent of our income away? GW Bush certainly did not. Let the POTUS who made the promise do so.

Sorry, my friend, but Jesus says that we will always have the poor. Giving money to the poor doesn't solve the problem. Teaching a poor man to make his own income is. Whether we like the system or not, the poor in the US qualify for public assistence. Those on public assistance qualify for job training programs if they desire. As for the US helping the poor elsewhere, even by your own words, we as a nation are giving large amounts of money in aide. The problem is that we're not giving as much as you think we should. Hardly an objective criticism.

As for opening the eyes of the evangelical community, I agree. Peoples eyes need to be opened to the fact that it is WE who should be stepping up to the place to give aid, and we need to stop relying on the government to fix problems which we are too lazy to do ourselves. It's not the government's job.

So, until you have donated 40 hours to Habitat for Humanity, and donated 1% of your income to World Vision or similar organization, stop being so unrighteously critical.

 

[Pastor Larry]

I think giving 0.7% is way too much. The government should be giving absolutely nothing. In the past 40 years we have thrown billions at poverty and not improved the situation at all. The government needs to get out of the poverty business and give nothing at all.

 

[dianetavegia]

Why should the govt. give any of my money to groups like UNICEF which funds abortions? If I want to give, when I feel led to give, I give!

The SBC has people running the kitchens for the Tsunami efforts alongside the Salvation Army. We are the kitchen for their soup kitchen.

 

[JGrubbs]

Originally posted by Pastor Larry:
I think giving 0.7% is way too much. The government should be giving absolutely nothing. In the past 40 years we have thrown billions at poverty and not improved the situation at all. The government needs to get out of the poverty business and give nothing at all.

"Hear, Hear!"

Charity is only charity when it is freely given, when the government redistributes tax dollars it's not charity, but theft!

 

[HankD]

BAH HUMBUG!

 

[Joseph_Botwinick]

Agree with JohnV. Disagree with Pastor Larry and JGrubbs. Don't worry Mr. Puritan. By the time we as a nation of Christians are finished giving aid to the relief effort, we will have given more than all the nations in the world combined.

Joseph Botwinick

 

[don 3426]

George W. Bush is a christian and does not deserve that critisism when he stays up nights after nights to keep up national securaty. This nation is 3 trillion dollars in national debt, even if the U.S. government is cutting down on one form of charity it does not mean we do not give at all. This country still is by far the largest giver in the world (not just by the government but by its own people. Going completely on a liberal news article is a bit risky, i challenge you to look into the other amounts of giving and what the people give on your own. That story was put there because it can get a rise out of people while it leaves out other important information.

 

[APuritanMindset]

It still doesn't change the fact that the focus of American politics and the Religious Right is off. We're so focused on the war and gay marriage that we're not helping those in need like we aught.

I have a lot of respect for what President Bush does. I know I couldn't handle the job. And for he most part I am supportive of him. But when our focus as a nation is so much on banning gays from marrying and fighting a war that we forget that there are people in need, that is a problem that needs to be addressed.

Sorry I sounded so critical in my original post. I am just really tired of hearing about marriage amendments when people are starving. It seems like the focus of everyone is way off. It just doesn't seem like we as a nation are asking ourselves the right questions. We seem to be asking, "Is God on our side?" rather than "Are we on God's side?".

I know we can't end poverty by giving more money. But anything that makes America look worse to those who are against us breaks my heart...and when it's because of an issue that Christians should be hardcore about, it breaks my heart even more that no one is really saying anything or approaching the subject.

 

[Glory Bound]

Originally posted by APuritanMindset:
Sorry I sounded so critical in my original post. I am just really tired of hearing about marriage amendments when people are starving. It seems like the focus of everyone is way off.

Remember that just because the war and possible marriage amendments make the headlines that doesn't mean that those two are all that's happening. What doesn't usually make the headlines is all of the good stuff that isn't as 'sensational". We as a country actually multitask - and we do a lot of things at the same time. The news media reports the stuff they think is newsworthy (or will get them the most attention - ratings).

 

[JamesJ]

Probably the reason why we don't hear a lot about all the private donations of aid given by our citizens is because most of the people in this country actually believe Jesus when he said to not be like the hypocrites when they give, but when you give, do so quietly.
Also, all we really hear about is pledges to give, we never hear about what has actually been given by any country. Let's wait for a while and then we can see who did what instead of jumping to conclusions.

 

[Dr. Bob]

Observation: The criticism of the President and the US role in a perceived government (MY taxes) liberal agenda was almost thought for thought identical to a speech given by our Black Baptist pastor here at MLK Day. Evidently this is both a political and racial agenda.

Probably the widespread use of the 'net and sharing at pastor's meetings, etc is foisting this view. I reject it and wonder WHY Baptists, who should be most VEHEMENT AGAINST BIG GOVERNMENT would be advocating it in this case?

 

[KeeperOfMyHome]

Puritan,

God says in Ephesians 6:12 that we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Aren't God's ways worth fighting for?

Anyway, I don't think that it is the government's job to fund the poor. It is the job of every able human on this earth to help his neighbor. We should always give to the poor regardless of what the government is doing.

Proverbs 22:9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.

Proverbs 28:27 He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.

Julia

 

[JamesJ]

Furthermore... I get a little tired of folks who pick one issue that is important to them and say THAT is what we should be working on instead of X, or Y, or Z. This is a very big country with a lot of people who can handle a multitude of issues all at the same time. The fact of the matter is if we couldn't deal with all of the challenges that we face, in parallel, we'd be crushed under their collective weight.

 

[don 3426]

Its sad how the news media controls everything. they make things like gay marrage a huge issue when its really eqwal with the others to the president. I have no doubt our president is doing the best anone can on all these issues. Its up to us as christian citizens to vote and fight against evil things such as homosexual lifestyle.

 

[Johnv]

I don't think it's a "media control" issue. I think it's an issue of the media giving us stories about what we want to hear.

No one wants to hear a story about a dog biting a man. Everyone wants to hear a story about a man biting a dog. Yet, dogs biting men is a much more serious issue in the country.

 

[don 3426]

"I don't think it's a "media control" issue. I think it's an issue of the media giving us stories about what we want to hear"

Thats what i ment, the media controls what the story is. and right now gay marrage has a lot of stories so thats up there thus making us think that thats the most important issue

 

[APuritanMindset]

It's not just the media that is making gay marriage to be the big issue. It doesn't help when pastors talk about it all the time to the neglect of other issues.

I am not saying that individuals shouldn't give to help poverty and to help their neighbors. My point is that America made a commitment. It doesn't matter what president or representative signed the document. Whoever signed it signed it in representation of the USA. And America isn't owning up to it's end of the commitment. Countries that probably can't afford it are though.

JamesJ said,

I get a little tired of folks who pick one issue that is important to them and say THAT is what we should be working on instead of X, or Y, or Z.

I'm not saying we shouldn't be working X, Y, or Z. I am saying a greater push needs to be made by individuals, churches, and the government to help those who are in need in our country and the world.

 

[JamesJ]

Again... Let's wait and see what happens. Why do insist on saying we are not doing what we said we would do? What is your PROOF? What is your PROOF that other countries have fully paid their pledges already? Also, what good does it do to just send money and have it sit somewhere else? Will the money immediately buy tons of food that'll magically appear in those countries today? And even if it does, can it be distributed effectively without it sitting on the tarmacs and in the shipping ports without it rotting? Timing is everything. There are scores of people who are far more well versed in logistical matters than we are. Let's let 'em do their jobs before we castigate them.