poor

Why Social Welfare Hurts God

Acts 15:29 You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things

I think there’s been only one other time when I’ve been political on this blog. But, to be honest, if there’s one thing I love discussing – it’s politics. Quite frankly, the political arena is truly a battleground that I’ve tried to avoid on the blog. That’s because I will probably make more enemies than I would friends. I don’t know if I could describe my beliefs by simply categorizing myself as a democrat, republican, libertarian, green party, or tea party. Let’s ask ourselves, who doesn’t believe in fiscal conservatism? Who doesn’t believe in liberty and privacy? Who doesn’t believe in being stewards of the earth? Who doesn’t believe in taking care of the poor? And who isn’t frustrated with government red tape?

I’m not here to tell you to vote for one party or the other. Quite frankly, I see one party taking us off the cliff on high-speed rail, and the other party taking us in the same exact direction, but in a locomotive.

I was thinking to myself the other day, that if I were to run for political office, could I really get very far while trying to practice biblical principles? I’m not saying that I’m trying to force religious rituals upon people such as prayer in public schools, and ten commandments in government buildings, etc. I’m just saying can I be honest and sincere, always placing God in the forefront of the decisions I would make as a politician? I don’t know about you, but I would find it shocking if there was proof of a single politician in the three branches that wakes up every morning and seeks God in prayer and word. I just find it hard to believe that.

I’m saying all this to explain that i’m not a brainwashed drone marching the tune of a certain political party. My number one agenda is the glorification of God. That is all.

Many people would look at my headline and pin me as a cold-hearted, evil person who just wants to see old people and babies die in the cold of winter. Just because I am against government-run social welfare, does not mean that I don’t place that responsibility upon the shoulders of a separate ‘organization’. The ‘organization’ I’m referring to is the Church.

What does the Bible Say?

I’m not sure where some of you get the idea that it’s the government’s responsibility to care for these social issues? Have you not read the bible? Are you that ignorant? The obvious response is that somebody has to do it if the Church doesn’t. So just let God’s people off the hook that easy? We’ve given up that battle and gave the responsibility to the Government. I bet some of you even are angry about how the Church spends their money and also both ranting about how the Government needs to also be in charge of social welfare.

I don’t know how you can be mad at both the Church and the government for not helping the poor? Well, make up your mind! Whose job is it to take care of the poor, please decide. Either be mad at the government or be mad at the Church. Don’t just make your decision based on Freudian or Keynesian economics. We deserve sound, biblical logic.

You can read example after example in scripture about whose responsibility social welfare falls upon. The biggest mistake isn’t the fact that you don’t realize that the Church is responsible for social welfare, but the fact that you don’t realize how you destroy God’s reputation.

Can Matthew 10:42 make it any clear about taking care of the poor and how it can be a form of evangelism? Do you want to give a cup of cold water in the name of the government or would you like to provide water in the name of Jesus?

Are We Worshipping little ‘g’ or big ‘G’?

It’s obvious to me that this nation looks to the little ‘g’ (government) to serve its needs and ignores the big “G”. Our society no longer has a need to hear stories about the living bread or everlasting water if there is no bread and water at the Master’s table.

Now, the poor and hungry are seeking the food and provision found at the tables of other gods.

Some believers out there are crying out at the government for their over-involvement in social affairs and yet you are satisfied with the under-involvement within our Church. Better yet, you are crying for more donations in the offering plates, and more spending by the Church. You make me want to vomit even more. You have lusted after the riches of this world, and probably the only reason why you cry against the government is because it is getting all the credit for helping others instead of the Church.

How dare you hate social, government welfare and yet be satisfied with the mere pennies that leave the coffers of the Church. You are the one that has brought higher taxes, fraud, Godlessness, and laziness to our society.

There is a reason why the apostles pleaded with the people to not eat the food offered to idols. Was the food different? Was it poisoned? Was God going to be mad if they ate it? I think we all know the answer is, No. But what kind of testimony would it be if believers were seeking basic necessities apart from the Church? If I believed the love of God was upon the Church and yet sought out food offered at another table, wouldn’t you consider me a hypocrite?

Obviously, the people who were eating meat sacrificed to false gods were poor and needed some sort of relief. From what I’ve read elsewhere, this food was given at a reduced price. It’s not that the apostles wanted the poor to starve or pay full price for their food. It’s not that they wanted to push old people off the cliff. It’s not that they harbored animosity towards ‘underprivileged’ people. It was a decision that was made based on principle.

What do you think? Can social welfare run by the government instead of God’s people hurt or help God’s cause?

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Put Our Money Where the Mouth’s Are

04/13/10 by Jared Brian 2 Comments

Day after day we are constantly reminded that we are representatives of Christ. And these verses remind us what representatives ought to do: “He laid down his life” “a cup of cold water in My name” “I was hungry and you gave Me food” “undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows” “God so loved the world that He gave” “He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor” Of course, the list goes on and on. I know there are much more to being a representative of Jesus Christ than being an advocate for humanitarian causes. But let’s look at the daily things that God provides for us all day. Air to breathe, food to eat, clothes to put on, a job, income, encouragement, health. If our heavenly father gave us these things to rely on him for, then what are we doing as advocates to also provide these things to others? God uses the necessities in life as reminders that we need him. Jesus said, “I am the bread of life, and “I am living water”. Every time you breathe, it is a reminder that you need God; and every time you drink, it is a reminder that you need God. Yes, eating, drinking and breathing are all mechanisms that we need to sustain life, but since I think God could have simply designed us without these needs, I believe that God wanted us to learn something from them. God gave us a need for nutrition to remind us that we need spiritual nutrition, not just physical nutrition. Also, we need spiritual breath, and we need living water. Without a God that gives us food and water, what would we think of God being capable of giving us everlasting water, and living bread? So how can we minister about a God that gives us everlasting life, if this God cannot provide a much simpler task of just some clean water? This is where our part comes in. If we are representatives of God, then our job is to do God’s work. He needs us to give that cup of cold water in his name. He needs us to give the hungry some food. Literally, we need to put our money where the mouths are.

Should Churches Pay Taxes or be Exempt?

07/14/09 by Jared Brian 55 Comments

I am not aware of tax regulations in any country other than the United States. Here in the U.S., churches do not pay taxes because they are exempt. Their 501(c)(3) status prohibits them from paying some federal income taxes, property taxes, and/or sales taxes. Before we answer whether they should pay taxes or be exempt, let’s look at a quick history of tax exemptions.

Ancient History of Church Tax Exemption

The first example I have found of religious tax exemptions is found in Genesis 47:26 when the priest’s land was exempt from paying the Pharaoh’s tax.

And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt to this day, that Pharaoh should have one-fifth, except for the land of the priests only, which did not become Pharaoh’s

This passage is by no means a biblical mandate to require tax exemption upon any religious institution. This is just an example of tax exemption in world history.

There are many more examples of tax exemption in our ancient history, but let’s move forward into the medieval ages

In medieval times the Roman Catholic Church and the English throne were in marriage with one another, so therefore, the Catholic Church was exempt from paying taxes. The Church and the government were essentially one organization, so if the Government were to tax the Church, they would be taxing themselves.

The tax exemption that was imposed upon the Catholic Church would lay the foundation and traditions that we find in our modern laws today.

Modern History of Church Tax Exemption

The marriage of the throne and the Church is one of the main reasons our forefathers declared in our constitution, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof”. They wanted the Church to operate apart from the state (although the phrase “separation of Church & State” is not found in the Constitution)

Although the Church and the State no longer operate as one entity, these tax exempt laws seem to have been ‘grandfathered’ into our common laws.

David M Andersen in Brigham Young University Law Review writes, “In 1894, Congress passed the first income tax on corporations but exempted from the tax those “corporations, companies, or associations organized and conducted solely for charitable, religious or educational purposes.”

Now we see our government providing a unique status to Churches, but what is their reason for allowing this privilege? Were they afraid God was going to strike them with lightning if they didn’t? The reason for providing tax exempt status may not seem obvious.

Erik Stanley from LaTimes.com says, “In general, governments believed that churches along with other types of community groups enhanced and supplemented government services such as feeding the hungry, housing those in need of shelter and in general using private funds for public good. (Although this is a debate for another time, I note that more and more religious groups are now asking for a government bailout through the “faith-based initiative” and to keep their tax exemptions.)”

The reason why the Church has been privileged with its tax-exempt status is because the government expected us to supplement the need for humanitarian services. Basically, our responsibility for the welfare of the people relieved this burden off of the backs of the government.

Questioning the Church’s Eligibility to be Tax Exempt

I realize that there is no official list of social qualifications that we need to maintain in order to keep our tax exempt status, but one cannot wonder why our eligibility remains as the government takes on more of our social responsibilities? Is there any form of social criteria that we have to meet in order to keep our tax exempt status other than preaching out of some religious book once a week?

If the Church does not provide for the poor, the indigent, the homeless, or the sick do you think Korea, Japan, U.K., or Canada would want to apply for that responsibility? Of course, people run to their own government for help. Listen, somebody has to help these people. I don’t care if you are a democrat, republican, or libertarian, Marxist, or environmentalist, these people need help.

We can debate about whether their situation is their own fault. We can say that they chose their own path. I am not disagreeing with you, but that isn’t an excuse for us to overlook their desperation. Their choices are never, ever an excuse for our negligence for their basic needs.

It sickens me that as the government relishes the opportunity to take on more social responsibilities while the Church gladly passes on the torch. Now that we are free from taking care of people’s needs, we can spend more money on ourselves, on our church buildings, on our programs, on our stage design, and on our sound equipment. We relish the opportunity to beautify our image while the government relishes the more Godly response. While the government is taking on the responsibility of being a savior, and we spit in our the real Savior’s face who once said, “For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.” and also “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

Conclusion

I’m going to say it right away – Take away the tax-exempt status of the Church!

As the government takes on more and more social responsibilities, i am sick of seeing my taxes go up and up. If churches started paying property taxes, I wouldn’t doubt if my taxes would actually decrease. Believe me, i wish i could say the opposite, the problem is that the Church is extremely ill. We have been sick for a long time. Giving statistics state that the Church spends 85% of the funds it receives on internal operations and only 3% of our money goes towards aiding and ministering towards the unsaved.

Do I blame the poor for crying to the government? No Way! When they come crying to the Church, they get turned away, so where else should they go? Should they get a job? Why don’t you go trying to get a minimum wage job as a single parent. Let’s see how well you survive providing for your family while doing that?

I am a fiscal conservative, but I believe the Church should handle spiritual as well as social responsibilities. But the problem is that we aren’t, so I’m done fighting against social health care, and welfare. Let it happen. Republicans fight and fight about socialism this and socialism that, but we don’t do a stinkin thing about it! Until the Church gets its act together and takes care of our responsibility there’s nothing else for me to say. Right now, I am just furious! We have no right to be tax exempt!

Now add your input

Should Churches be Required to Pay Taxes?

No (51%, 333 Votes)
Yes (49%, 321 Votes)

Total Voters: 654

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How Were Offerings Used in the New Testament?

06/04/09 by Jared Brian 54 Comments

Below is an extensive list of all the bible verses that discuss how offerings were used in the New Testament. Although this is not a list of every bible verse that talks about giving, these bible verses are all the ones that reveal how offerings were distributed in the early Church. Do me a favor and compare our giving and distribution model in the Church ‘today’ with the model that we find in the early Church. At the end, you will see a challenge that comes with a cash reward if you succeed. All bible verses below are in NKJV.

Acts 2:44-45 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
Acts 4:34-35 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.
Acts 11:27-30 And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
Acts 20:35 have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak.
Romans 12:13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
Romans 15:26 For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor
2 Corinthians 8:14-15 but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality. As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”
2 Corinthians 9:6-8 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 9As it is written: “He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.”
2 Corinthians 9:12 For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God.
2 Corinthians 11:9 And when I was present with you, and in need, I was a burden to no one, for what I lacked the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied.
Galatians 2:9,10 and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do.
Ephesians 4:28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.
Phillippians 4:10-11,14-16 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: . . . Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress. 15Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. 16For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities.
Titus 3:14 And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful
James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress
James 2:15-16 a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?
1 John 3:17 But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?

I will send $50 to anyone who first finds a bible verse that urges generosity in the early church for anything other than an essential need. I will send $15 to anyone who can find a verse to add to the list above. The verse must be in reference to the church in Acts through Revelation, and must be universally translated the same within the KJV, NKJV, NIV, and NASB in regards to how offerings were distributed or used. If you find a bible verse and want the reward, post it in the comments, and i will send you an email to get your mailing address to send the cash through paypal or mail. Hey, i’m offering this without doing extensive research, so you might get lucky. Hopefully, i won’t be broke by the time this is done.

Top Verses That Televangelists Won’t Preach

09/12/08 by Jared Brian 20 Comments

I must say that in my research for these verses, I have become convicted of my neglect of the poor and needy. I never before realized how many rebukes there were in the bible for oppressing or exploiting them. There were many more verses in the bible that I did not mention here.

I want to tell you that these verses are not here to prove that being poor is more godly than being rich. There is nothing wrong with being rich. John D. Rockefeller’s philosophy was to earn as much as you can and give as much as you can. And I particularly like that philosophy. I just don’t like wolves cloaking themselves in the sheepskin of God’s “anointed” and using that to prey on the weak and helpless.

Proverbs 22:16
He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches, And he who gives to the rich will surely come to poverty.

This is a great one to start out with. He who gives to the rich will be poor. Wake up, people! The only reason why these Televangelists are rich is that a sucker is born every minute. They aren’t rich because they’ve worked hard, or received money from the sky. They are rich because you give to them. I don’t mean to simplify all of God’s financial blessings in this manner, but their riches is a matter of simple addition, and your poverty is a matter of simple subtraction. There is no devil that cast a voodoo-like spiritual curse on your finances. And there is no cupid poking them with financially blessed arrows. You give to them and they become richer. Plain and simple.

1 Timothy 6:6-10
But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.

Plain and simple. Televangelists’ desire is to be rich. I don’t want to argue about their true motives and hear that you think their heart is pure. I don’t want to hear it. They’ve fallen into a snare.

Luke 12:15-21
Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’

So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”’

But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

Matthew 6:19-21
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

The thing is for prosperity preachers is that their riches is their identity. Without their riches, they lose their identity. Preaching prosperity and riches is their purpose in life, and defines them. Without it, nobody would know who they even were? They’ve become somebody because of their riches, not because of Jesus Christ.

James 5:1-5
Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days. Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter.

These televangelists are complete frauds. They have taken from people and have suckered them into giving so that they can live on earth in pleasure and luxury. I don’t understand how anyone can be without a guilty conscience when they live in their mansion by financial sacrifices that others have made.
Think about it this way. If your grandmother gave half of her tiny social security check every month so that you could have more and she could have less, how would you spend that social security check? Would you even be willing to spend it? Would you feel guilty buying those diamond cuffs while your grandmother sat home with nothing?

Job 24:9-10
Some snatch the fatherless from the breast and take a pledge from the poor. They cause the poor to go naked, without clothing; And they take away the sheaves from the hungry.

This one is priceless. I swear if the conviction of taking a pledge from the poor does not make you think about TBN then I don’t know what will.

Isaiah 10:2-3
To rob the needy of justice, And to take what is right from the poor of My people, That widows may be their prey, And that they may rob the fatherless. What will you do in the day of punishment, And in the desolation which will come from afar? To whom will you flee for help? And where will you leave your glory? Without Me, they shall bow down among the prisoners, And they shall fall among the slain.

Doesn’t this remind you of the wolves in sheep’s clothing waiting to prey on the weakest

Amos 5:11
Therefore, because you tread down the poor And take grain taxes from him, Though you have built houses of hewn stone, Yet you shall not dwell in them; You have planted pleasant vineyards, But you shall not drink wine from them. For I know your manifold transgressions And your mighty sins: Afflicting the just and taking bribes; Diverting the poor from justice at the gate.

Matthew 23:14
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses

What? You think I’m Lying. What demographic of people do you think gives the most to TBN? It’s poor old women. You are probably are used to this passage because it proceeds to talks about tithing next, but you are not used to hearing the rebuke for the burden on the poor.

Malachi 3:5
And I will come near you for judgment; I will be a swift witness Against sorcerers, Against adulterers, Against perjurers, Against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans, And against those who turn away an alien— Because they do not fear Me,” Says the Lord of hosts.

Isaiah 3:14-15

The Lord stands up to plead and stands to judge the people. The Lord will enter into judgment With the elders of His people And His princes: “For you have eaten up the vineyard; The plunder of the poor is in your houses (mansions). What do you mean by crushing My people And grinding the faces of the poor?” Says the Lord GOD of hosts

Amos 4:1
Hear this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, Who oppress the poor, Who crush the needy, Who say to your husbands, “Bring wine, let us drink!”

You don’t think God was referring the these two bovine’s do you?

Zechariah 7:10
Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, The alien or the poor.

Luke 6:20
Blessed are you poor, For yours is the kingdom of God.

Hmm, I’m not used to hearing the word blessed and poor in the same sentence from those televangelists.

2 Corinthians 8:9
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor

Becoming poor just doesn’t make sense to these televangelists, so this passage is definitely not on the preaching list.

Do you have any more verses to add? I know there are more out there, but i’m just one man searching for them.

Invisible Church: The Homeless

08/11/08 by Jared Brian 1 Comment

I continue and conclude the series on the Invisible Church with Homelessness. Before I go on, I want to say that I have read some things from people that have taken my posts out of context. My intentions were to reveal the neglection of our duties in the Church. I do not want to negate preaching, teaching, or witnessing as a means of evangelism. I simply am stating that words without benevolence is simply faith without actions. Taking care of those in need is part of our mission. The basic needs of every human being are health care, hunger, and shelter. We simply need to create ways to provide these basic needs of God’s creation.

We are stewards of God, but stewardship does not begin and end with possessions. Our priority in stewardship is investing in people. I would go as far as saying that stewardship has very little to do with money and possessions and has a lot to do with people. Sure, we want to keep and maintain our church facilities; but to neglect the starving souls around you in order to maintain the facility or organization is still poor stewardship.

Homelessness is just one aspect of many social responsibilities of the Church. Yes, there are spiritual needs, that are more important. I know that! But if we are not good at meeting the physical needs, we’re not going to be good at meeting the spiritual needs. A good father feeds his children on top of spiritually nourishing them.

If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish?”

I know taking care of your children is just common sense, but what about taking care of children who are not yours? What about providing shelter for God’s children?

Psalms 61:4
I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings.
Psalms 143:9
Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies; In You I take shelter.
Isaiah 4:6
And there will be a tabernacle for shade in the daytime from the heat, for a place of refuge, and for a shelter from storm and rain.
Isaiah 16:4
Let My outcasts dwell with you, O Moab; Be a shelter to them from the face of the spoiler.
Joel 3:16
But the Lord will be a shelter for His people, And the strength of the children of Israel.

I am not saying that you should invite a stranger into your house with your family there. I’m sure many have done that and have been safe, but there are plenty of programs out there that can do more to help with homelessness than you can. Many city shelters provide recovery programs that will help adults get back on their feet on top of providing shelter and food.

Ways that you can help with homelessness

Volunteer at your shelter downtown.
Buy extra food at the grocery store and drop it off at a shelter on your way back.
provide supplies or money to the shelter organization.
Start a ministry in your fellowship that helps out at the homeless shelter.
Go through your old clothes and donate them.
Donate your beat up car.

People in a homeless shelter are there for many reasons. Some from addictions. Some from mental or physical disabilities. Some from depression. Some from financial devastation. Some from divorce. When you serve at a shelter, make sure you interact with these people and find out their needs. Pray for their weaknesses, and encourage them. Many of them don’t have family. Many don’t have friends. All you have to do is be their Jesus, and love them.

The three words: ministration, ministry, and administration, all have the same greek root word – “diakonia”. When you look up the definition, the first description you read is “service, ministering, esp. of those who execute the commands of others”. the ability to control, manage, or run things is not being a minister. The Greek term strictly says those who EXECUTE the commands that others have given them. We have many that act as bosses, or managers, but very little who act as ministers or servants. Make sure you are the one executing the commands of God by serving.

If you and 50 people in your church were asked to worship and fellowship in the middle of a barren wasteland for 40 days, what basic needs would you ask for? It’s not an impractical question. It doesn’t matter if you are in a grocery store, you still have to pay for food. Without money, you might as well be in a wasteland, because that food is just as much out of reach as it is to someone in a desert.

In the United States, the Health care system is destitute, the Social Security system is going bankrupt, the housing is devastated, and all people can do is cry at the government. Taking care of our families and taking care of the stranger is the Church’s responsibility, but we take up our pitch forks and torches and march on capital hill with all the other complainers. What’s wrong with us? The Church has really gone down the tube when people stop asking us for benevolence, and continue to beg Uncle Sam.