Christian Responsibility Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Government is the Solution
Posted by ThirstyJon in Spirit Life, tags: Big Government, Civil Government, Election 2008, Elections, Mike Huckabee, PoliticsBruce Walker at Americanthinker.com has some thoughts about how Christian Duty does not necessarily mean government is the best solution to problems. His emphasis is on individual responsibility, not government action.
I don’t know if I agree with everything he says, and I don’t know if he has gotten Mike Huckabee down correctly, but I found his thoughts interesting and in some ways similar to mine.
Here is an excerpt:
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Did Christ ever say his followers should ask Rome to do more for the welfare of its subjects? Or did Christ ask each individual Christian to personally do more to feed the hungry, to comfort the sick, to care for the widows and orphans, and to seek justice and mercy? Rome was a welfare state. The urban masses of Rome lived on bread and circuses.” [Read More]
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Interesting take on the issue.
I don’t view Huck’s views on using the power of the state to ameliorate human suffering (which are similar to mine) as necessarily springing from service to the Almighty. I believe that he values certain Liberalistic (Socialistic?) ideas, and I believe that he serves G-d, but I do not believe that the 2 are necessarily connected.
Personally, I believe in and serve Jesus Christ, because I can feel the strength of his message. I try to live by his teachings as I interpret them.
I also believe that it is within the purview of the civil government to right cerain wrongs and to protect the weak from the strong (the poor from the rich, as it were). If a man gets rich giving usurious loans to poor people with few other options, I believe the government is in the right if they take some of that money back and use it to keep the victims (customers?) from starving to death as a result.
I believe this because I see it as the decent thing to do. I believe the average Buddhist or Shinto or Atheist would see it the same way. Belief in the teachings of Christ is not necessarily part of the equation for me, or, I believe, for Huckabee.
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Riddle me this – if you don’t support using the power of the state to further a religious goal (and I don’t either BTW), why are you so interested in making abortion illegal? Is this not using “Pax Romana” for religious purposes?
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Congratulations on the Huckabee success in Iowa. It will be truly tragic to watch the Republican National Committee cut him to pieces to clear the way for the Mitt-ster.
I have not read all of Mike Huckabee’s thoughts on an “ideal society” and the way he would remediate all its ills, but reading Bruce Walker’s point of view, I cannot agree more with him.
Although sometimes I feel that our governments do not do enough to counter (and I say counter – not erradicate…) poverty and other society’s ills, I think our society in general has lost the sense of community that existed many years ago. We often criticize immigrants for not assimilating to our culture but I have to admit there is something about them when it comes to sticking out for each other when in need. Today, it is current practice to require that children be mature enough to be on their own once they reach the age of majority. Better yet, as our parents age, we’d rather see them go live in an old people’s home, under the pretence it will be easier for them, that they will be with people their own age. Or is it easier for us not to bother taking care of all their little cuts and bruises. Come on! We seem to forget that as we do that, we are weakening the core of our world which once stood so strong. It might not be easy to deal with young adults or an elderly parent, but by disposing so easily of them, we are totally discarding the greatest gift God has given to each and every one of us – the circle of life.
The thought of an elected government taking on the responsibility for (and investing money in) programs that will take care of the homeless, poor and lonely, is in the end not the best solution. It is costly, it will not solve the issues 100%, and mostly it will eventually (if not already has) render this society useless and irresponsible. I fail to understand why a government would give benefits to a homeless 18-25 years old who chose not to work because it is too hard (rather help that person find work or retrain in a defined field/trade). Neither do I accept the idea of having our governments grant daycare money to families who do not absolutely need it.
Those demises who’s fault is it? I think it partly lies in the fact that many have failed to “train up their children in the way they should go…”. The result – a generation that does not recognize the importance of carrying on responsibilities and just pass it on to higher power – that is our government who feels an obligation to step in and lend a hand. Bad decision!! Bruce Walker says it so well: “these bureaucrats are not acting out of Christian love: they are just doing their job.” They are simply acting on the laws of the land, and it certainly does not come from the heart. Instead of relying on their community, their church or their family, people chose the easy way out.
For the next US elections, the question should be: Is Mike Huckabee the best choice for America now? I think so. Do I have to agree with his suggestion that it should incumb upon the government to help the poor, solve the environment problems, etc. Not really because by doing so we all contribute to not giving a chance for people to take charge of their life. President John F. Kennedy said: “do not ask what your country can do for you – rather ask yourself what YOU can do for your country”. Still stand by it today.
Hey Casper – nice to read you again!!
One does not go without the other. While it is true that non believers can be “good” people, it does not mean they do it wholeheartedly. Like Bruce Walker wrote in his article on this same topic, “these bureaucrats are not acting out of Christian love: they are just doing their job.” However, being a Christian (or follower of Christ) and not serving/helping one’s fellowman would be hypocritical. So both go hand in hand.
What you just described here (“…it is within the purview of the civil government…”) is called “and justice for all…” I don’t believe we are talking here of instituting special programs (which money BTW come from our own pockets!!) and use it to alleviate the task of some citizens or even get them “out of the hole”. The decent thing to do here is more like giving back the responsibility of providing for the least where it belongs – the family. Enough of always counting on our government to do the dirty job!
In the case of making abortion illegal – how about not funding anyone who would try to get rid of a consequence they don’t want to face. Why does it always have to be someone else’s responsibility to fix a mistake? And yes, abortion should be illegal. It’s not a question of being religious but more one of respecting life in whichever way. “Pax Romana” was more one of control, this is more like a question of not condoning a way of life…
Best wishes and blessings for 2008!