Christian DU'ers, some help please.

[against all enemies]

On a different website I am one of a few democrats. A common theme among the Republicans is to criticize any efforts of the democrats to help the poor through any type of government program. One particular fellow prides himself on being Christian, but is the biggest jerk when any one brings up helping the less fortunate. I will admit that I don't know a heck of a lot about the Bible, but I 'm pretty sure Jesus had some concerns for the poor.

If you could please provide me with some of Jesus' words from the Bible where he advocates helping the poor I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you,

[BJ]

1. The Beatitudes.

Matthew 5:3-14

And I'm an atheist.

[shaolinmonkey]

2. Mark 21-22, speaking to a rich man

Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. 22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

[against all enemies]

8. Wow, that one sent a chill through me.

[shaolinmonkey]

10. Most of Jesus' words crush conservative doctrine.

Most conservatives quote Paul or the Old Testament for their fire-and-brimstone POV. Jesus is the man. He's got some very harsh words as well, but his words for the poor are beautiful.

[Bandit]

62. But here is a contradiction by Jesus

"'I say to you, That to every one who has shall be given more; and from him has not, even what he has shall be taken away from him. But those enemies who would not have me reign over them: bring them here, and kill them before me.'"

Jesus said these words right before entering Jerico. I think it is Luke 19. He is saying take the money from the one without much and give it to the wealthiest one and if people don't like the way I rule kill them.

http://www.antelope-ebooks.com/RELIGIOUS/Jesus/Jesus41....

[jdj]

3. Doesn't he tell the tale of the good Samaritan in Luke?

That isn't the poor, but the unfortunate and desperate and how you are supposed to help people in need. (I hate to add this, but it apparently demonstrates the racism in the bible because it seems to say regardless of race or nationality.) In the story a priest and his assistant both fail to help the wounded man, but his enemy a Samaritan does. Seeing as how republicans see the poor as the enemy, I think this applies.

[momisold]

4. I can't speak for all...

but here's what I have seen, and this also is my opinion.

For everyone, there is only so much money to go around. I give money to my church because they do things with it of which I approve. When I give money to the government, they do alot of things that I don't like, support issues with which I don't agree, etc. That money could be going for things I believe in, but better yet, giving my child some extras or saving for college so we aren't so in debt when that day comes.

Again, I can't vouch for all motives, but some of it is not that they don't care about the poor, but the way and avenues in which that money is used for things they don't agree with.

IMHO.

[jdj]

7. Yet they are not big on war protesting, these Republicans, are they?

[momisold]

9. Well, I wasn't discussing war

I was discussing use of money for the less fortunate.

[jdj]

12. When I give money to the government, they do alot of things that I don't

like.

Those are your words.

I'm using them to make a point.

When 10 million people worldwide protested this war, they were called all kinds of names by Republicans, and people in oppostion to this war continue to have our patriotism and support of the armed forces impugned by hypocrites who don't want their tax money being used to abort american fetuses, yet have no problem when it is used to blow iraqi ones to bits.

[momisold]

14. Forget it.

I was just offering an opinion on the topic. Sorry I'm not radical enough for you.

[jdj]

18. That is only radical if you consider Jesus Christ to be radical

I'm not attacking you, I'm attacking the hypocrisy.

[Bandit]

60. Here is a good contradiction

"'I say to you, That to every one who has shall be given more; and from him has not, even what he has shall be taken away from him. But those enemies who would not have me reign over them: bring them here, and kill them before me.'"

Jesus said these words right before entering Jerico. I think it is Luke 19. He is saying take the money from the one without much and give it to the wealthiest one and if people don't like the way I rule kill them.

http://www.antelope-ebooks.com/RELIGIOUS/Jesus/Jesus41.html

[lurkerguy]

63. Read all of Luke 19, not just this one verse...

This is a parable, please read the verses before the one you are quoting. We know this is a parable b/c it uses general terms like "a man" or "a servant" instead of actual names. In this parable Jesus has given one pound to three different people. Because this is a parable, the pounds here represent a gift from God. Two of the three multiplied the pound, one to five pounds and the other to ten pounds; and the Lord was pleased that they didn’t squander their God given talent/gift that was given to them. The third came and says Lord, here is the pound (gift) you gave me, I haven’t done a thing with it, I haven’t blessed anyone with it, I haven’t used it at all. The Lord then takes it away from him.

The lesson is do good with what little God gives you and he will give you more, put you in charge of more, etc….

[Bandit]

65. Yes it is a parable but the reason it is a contradiction is

Jesus told the last guy who buried his money and did nothing with it that he should of at the very least put it in the bank to aquire interest for him. Jesus threw out the money changers because he did not agree with their usurous ways yet wanted interest for himself. I call that a contradiction. Also the fact that he wanted people killed just for disagreeing with him and not accepting him as divine ruler.

[lurkerguy]

69. I’m not sure where you get the notion that Jesus wants “interest”.

Jesus wants us to use the gifts He gave us as opposed to hoarding them for ourselves. That is the lesson of the parable.

The reason the individuals were thrown out of the temple has literal as well as symbolic meaning. The symbolism was Christ showing His authority over the temple. But that’s not the discussion. The wrong that those individuals did was NOT the buying and the selling, he could have simply walked down the street disgracing that practice if it was a sin. The abuse here was the selling of animals in the temple to be used for sacrifice, on the Sabbath no less. It was a practice condoned by the priests. In addition, the money-changers were thrown out. These were the individuals who would trade the temple shekel for a Roman, Greek, etc… coin b/c the temple required a temple tax to be paid with this type of coin. These were all extremely corrupt or fraudulent practices.

All of this was basically a corrupt godliness, in that their end gain of godliness and being in the temple was to make money.

Not sure what you are referring to in your last sentence talking about “he” wanting people killed just for disagreeing. I would need a specific example. But I think we are getting off the original posted topic here, haha.

[Bandit]

71. You evidently didn't follow my link

"Then the first said, 'Lord, the thousand dollars has gained ten thousand dollars.'

"And he said to him, 'Well done, you are a good servant. Because you were faithful in a very little, I give you authority over ten cities.'

"And the second said, 'Lord, your thousand dollars has gained five thousand dollars.'

"And he said to him, 'I give you authority over five cities.'

"Another came, saying, 'Lord, look, here is thousand dollars which I have kept laid up safe in a napkin. I feared you, because you are a harsh man: you take up that you lay not down, and harvest what you didn't plant.'

"And the king said to him, 'Out of your own mouth will I judge you, you wicked servant. You say that I am a harsh man, taking up what I didn't lay down, and harvesting what I didn't plant. Why didn't you put my money in the bank, so when I came back I could have had my money with interest?' And he said to those nearby, 'Take from him the money, and give it to him that has the ten thousand.

"But they said to him, 'Lord, he already has ten thousand dollars.'

"'I say to you, That to every one who has shall be given more; and from him has not, even what he has shall be taken away from him. But those enemies who would not have me reign over them: bring them here, and kill them before me.'"

And after He had said these things, he went ahead up the road from Jerico to Jerusalem.

[lurkerguy]

72. Ahhh, you are correct, I did see that prior to my first response...

but never replied to that point in particular. Sorry.

I don’t think this verse is telling us literally to slay those who don’t believe. I think it refers to the destruction of Jerusalem b/c they were the ones who claimed “we have no King but Caesar”. This was the nation that lived to see Christianity spread throughout the Gentile world in spite of their opposition to it and this was the nation that was then destroyed. I think it referred to the destruction of Jerusalem but points to the final destruction of those in opposition to Christ at His coming. I don’t believe that any Christian thinks we are to kill those in opposition to Christ. I certainly don’t. Kerry claims Christianity and I don't think he feels that way either.

[H2O Man]

28. It actually is more than Jesus ....

the entire OT is filled with revolutionary figures who challenge the system of worldly kings. If you read, for example, Psalm 82, by Asaph, it is directed at the Bush and Cheney figures of the day:

God stands in the congregation of the mighty;
he judges among the gods.
How long will you judge unjustly,
and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.
Defend the poor and fatherless:
do justice to the afflicted and needy.
Deliver the poor and needy:
rid them out of the hand of the wicked.
They know not, neither do they understand;
they walk on in darkness:
all the foundations of the earth are out of course.
I have said, Ye are gods;
all of you are children of the Most High.
But ye shall die like men,
and fall like one of the princes.
Arise, O God, judge the earth:
for thou shall inherit all nations.

That fits as well today as at any time in history.

[H2O Man]

31. Isaiah 58:7-9

Share your bread with the hungry
and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, cover him ...
Then shall your light break forth like the dawn,
and your healing shall spring up speedily ...
Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;
you shall cry, and He will say, "I am here."

This is the source for the Master saying:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he has sent me to heal the broken-hearted; to preach deliverance to the captives; and recovering sight to the blind; to set at liberty those who are bruised; to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

St Luke 4:18-19

[H2O Man]

32. Revolutionary prophets:

Thus says the Lord, "I know how many your sins are, and how grievous your crimes: oppressing the just, accepting bribes, repelling the needy in the courts."
-Amos 5:12


Woe to those who enact unjust statutes and who wrte oppressive decrees, depriving the needy of judgement and robbing my people's poor of their rights, making widows their plunder and orphans their prey.
-Isaiah 10:1-2


Thus says the Lord, "I hate, I spurn your feasts, I take no pleasure in your solemn assemblies. Your grain offerings, I will not accept, nor consider your well-fed peace offerings. Away with your noisy songs! I will not listen to the melodies of your harp!
But let justice flow like a river, and mercy like an unfailing stream!"
-Amos 5:21-24

[H2O Man]

34. Also post-Jesus:

Early Christianity always challenged the empire and it's laws. It was often "disguised" as a challenged to Mosaic law, yet Jesus spoke of fulfilling that law, and challenging the earthly kingdoms. Hence:

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is law.
I Corinthians 15:56

This is the justice of the law: it crucified the only person who knew no sin.
II Corinthians 5:21

If justice comes by means of the law, Christ died in vain.
Galations 5:4

It is through the law that sin became sinful to the fullest extent.
Romans 7:13

[ladybugg33]

57. Yeah, like Pat Robertston invested in a diamond mine for the poor.

One thing that Jesus did do and seemed to honor was taxes and tax collectors. "Render unto Caesar that which is Caesars and unto God that which is God's." Remember tax collectors were among his deciples but I couldn't find any religious leaders among them.

[MADem]

64. The Bible tells you

that you have to render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's.

You do have a choice, though. You can move to a country that spends the cash collected by the government in a fashion more to your liking. You can vote for candidates who support your view. You can run for office yourself.

But that Caesar line says, in effect, pay your taxes--and it also says that tax money and tithing money are apples and oranges. The church does not give you a discount because you rendered unto Caesar. You are supposed to do that as a citizen.

Your taxes help to pay for the road you ride on, the sewage pipes that flush away the doodies, the water in your tap (getting dirtier by the day, thanks to weewee the environmental steward), the policeman on the beat, the fireman who will put out your house fire, and a host of other daily services that you do not even think about. If some expenditures are problematic for you, you have to discuss that with Caesar, not God.

[neuvocat]

5. Ask and ye shall receive

BIG thanks to Classic Liberal and Disinfo Guy for all this (from prior threads)



What does the bible say about the poor?


Old Testament passages

"Do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan." Exodus 22:22

"Do not deny justice to your poor people in their lawsuits." Exodus 23:6

"During the seventh year, let the land lie unplowed and unused. Then the poor among your people may get food from it, and the wild animals may eat what they leave. Do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove." Exodus 23:11

"Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God." Leviticus 19:10

"Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly." Leviticus 19:15

"When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God." Leviticus 23:22

"If one of your countrymen becomes poor and sells some of his property, his nearest relative is to come and redeem what his countryman has sold. . . . If one of your countrymen becomes poor and is unable to support himself among you, help him as you would an alien or a temporary resident, so he can continue to live among you. . . . If one of your countrymen becomes poor among you and sells himself to you, do not make him work as a slave." Leviticus 25:25, 35, 39

"If an alien or a temporary resident among you becomes rich and one of your countrymen becomes poor and sells himself to the alien living among you or to a member of the alien's clan, he retains the right of redemption." Leviticus 25:47-48

"He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing." Deuteronomy 10:18

"At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year's produce and store it in your towns, so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the aliens, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied." Deuteronomy 14:28-29

"However, there should be no poor among you, for in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless you." Deuteronomy 15:4

"If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother." Deuteronomy 15

"Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near, so that you do not show ill will toward your needy brother and give him nothing. He may then appeal to the LORD against you, and you will be found guilty of sin." Deuteronomy 15

"There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land." Deuteronomy 15:11

"Do not take advantage of a hired man who is poor and needy, whether he is a brother Israelite or an alien living in one of your towns." Deuteronomy 24:14

"Do not deprive the alien or the fatherless of justice, or take the cloak of the widow as a pledge." Deuteronomy 24:17

"When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. When you beat the olives from your trees, do not go over the branches a second time. Leave what remains for the alien, the fatherless and the widow. When you harvest the grapes in your vineyard, do not go over the vines again. Leave what remains for the alien, the fatherless and the widow." Deuteronomy 24:19-21

"'Cursed is the man who withholds justice from the alien, the fatherless or the widow.' Then all the people shall say, Amen!'" Deuteronomy 27:19

"He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor." 1 Samuel 2:8

"as the time when the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration. He wrote them to observe the days as days of feasting and joy and giving presents of food to one another and gifts to the poor." Esther 9:22

"When daylight is gone, the murderer rises up and kills the poor and needy; in the night he steals forth like a thief." Job 24:14

"because I rescued the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to assist him." Job 29:12

"Have I not wept for those in trouble? Has not my soul grieved for the poor?" Job 30:25

"If I have denied the desires of the poor or let the eyes of the widow grow weary." Job 31:16

"The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble." Psalm 9

"But the needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish." Psalm 9:18

" Because of the oppression of the weak and the groaning of the needy, I will now arise, says the LORD, I will protect them from those who malign them. " Psalm 12:5

"You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor, but the LORD is their refuge." Psalm 14:6

"This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles." Psalm 34:6

"My whole being will exclaim, Who is like you, 0 LORD? You rescue the poor from those too strong for them, the poor and needy from those who rob them.'" Psalm 35:10

"The wicked draw the sword and bend the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright." Psalm 37:14

"Yet I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; O my God, do not delay." Psalm 40:17

"A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling." Psalm 68:5

"Your people settled in it, and from your bounty, 0 God, you provided for the poor." Psalm 68:10

"The poor will see and be glad-- you who seek God, may your hearts live! The LORD hears the needy and does not despise his captive people." Psalm 69:32-33

"Yet I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, O God. You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD , do not delay." Psalm 70:5

"He will defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; he will crush the oppressor." Psalm 72:4

"For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help. He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death." Psalm 72:12-13

"Do not let the oppressed retreat in disgrace; may the poor and needy praise your name." Psalm 74:21

"Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked." Psalm 82:3-4

"But he lifted the needy out of their affliction and increased their families like flocks." Psalm 107:41

"For he stands at the right hand of the needy one, to save his life from those who condemn him." Psalm 109:31

"He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor, his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be lifted high in honor." Psalm 112

"He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap;" Psalm 113

"I will bless her with abundant provisions; her poor will I satisfy with food." Psalm 132:15

"I know that the LORD secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy." Psalm 140:12

"He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets prisoners free" Psalm 146

"The LORD watches over the alien and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked." Psalm 146

"I know that the LORD secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy." Proverbs 13:23

"He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who is kind to the needy." Proverbs 14:21

"He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God." Proverbs 14:31

"The LORD tears down the proud man's house but he keeps the widow's boundaries intact." Proverbs 15:25

"Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud." Proverbs 16:19

"He who mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker; whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished." Proverbs 17:5

"He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done." Proverbs 19:17

"If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered." Proverbs 21:13

"A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor." Proverbs 22

"He who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and he who gives gifts to the rich -- both come to poverty." Proverbs 22:16

"Do not exploit the poor because they are poor and do not crush the
needy in court." Proverbs 22:22

"A ruler who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no crops." Proverbs 28:3

"He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses." Proverbs 28:27

"The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern." Proverbs 29

"those whose teeth are swords and whose jaws are set with knives to devour the poor from the earth, the needy from among mankind." Proverbs 30:14

"Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy." Proverbs 31

"She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy." Proverbs 31:20

"If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still." Ecclesiastes 5:8

"Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow." Isaiah 1:17

"The LORD enters into judgment against the elders and leaders of his people: It is you who have ruined my vineyard; the plunder from the poor is in your houses. What do you mean by crushing my people and grinding the faces of the poor?' declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty.

" Isaiah 3:14-15

"to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless." Isaiah 10:2

"With righteousness he will judge the needy; with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
" Isaiah 11:4

"The poorest of the poor will find pasture, and the needy will lie down in safety. But your root I will destroy by famine; it will slay your survivors." Isaiah 14:30

"You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat. For the breath of the ruthless is like a storm driving against a wall." Isaiah 25:4

"Once more the humble will rejoice in the LORD ; the needy will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel." Isaiah 29:19
"The scoundrel's methods are wicked, he makes up evil schemes to destroy the poor with lies, even when the plea of the needy is just." Isaiah 32

"The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the LORD will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them." Isaiah 41:17

"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter-- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?" Isaiah 58:6-7

"If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday." Isaiah 58:10

"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners." Isaiah 61:1

"On your clothes men find the lifeblood of the innocent poor, though you did not catch them breaking in. Yet in spite of all this you say I am innocent.'" Jeremiah 2:34

"I thought, These are only the poor; they are foolish, for they do not know the way of the LORD, the requirements of their God.'" Jeremiah 5:4

(They) have grown fat and sleek. Their evil deeds have no limit; they do not plead the case of the fatherless to win it, they do not defend the rights of the poor." Jeremiah 5:28

"if you do not oppress the alien, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm," Jeremiah 7:6

"This is what the LORD says: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of his oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the alien, the fatherless or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place." Jeremiah 22:3
"'He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?" declares the LORD." Jeremiah 22:16

"Sing to the LORD! Give praise to the LORD! He rescues the life of the needy from the hands of the wicked." Jeremiah 20:13
"
Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy." Ezekiel 16:49

"He does not oppress anyone, but returns what he took in pledge for a loan. He does not commit robbery but gives his food to the hungry and provides clothing for the naked." Ezekiel 18

"The people of the land practice extortion and commit robbery; they oppress the poor and needy and mistreat the alien, denying them justice." Ezekiel 22:29

"This is what the LORD says: For three sins of Israel, even for four, I will not turn back . They sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals. They trample on the heads of the poor as upon the dust of the ground and deny justice to the oppressed. Father and son use the same girl and so profane my holy name.'" Amos 2:6-7

"Hear this word, you cows of Bashan on Mount Samaria, you women who oppress the poor and crush the needy and say to your husbands, Bring us some drinks!'" Amos 4:1

"Hear this, you who trample the needy and do away with the poor of the land." Amos 8:4

"Buying the poor with silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, selling even the sweepings with the wheat." Amos 8:6

"Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other." Zechariah 7:10

" So I will come near to you for judgment. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice, but do not fear me,' says the LORD Almighty." Malachi 3:5


New Testament passages


"Jesus answered, If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.'" Matthew 19:21

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in." Matthew 25:35

"They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely." Mark 12:40

"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed." Luke 4:18

"So he replied to the messengers, Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.'" Luke 7:22 < E-book: The Kingdom strikes back >

"Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys." Luke 12:33

"But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind." Luke 14:13

"When Jesus heard this, he said to him, You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.'" Luke 18:22

"Beware of the teachers of the law . . . They devour your widows' houses . . . Such men will be punished severely." Luke 20:46-47

"'Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages.' He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it." John 12:5

"In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas), who was always doing good and helping the poor." Acts 9:36

"Cornelius stared at him in fear. What is it, Lord?' he asked. The angel answered, Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.'" Acts 10:4

"After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings." Acts 24:17

"On the contrary: If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.'" Romans 12:20

"For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem." Romans 15:26

"All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do." Galatians 2:10

"Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need." 1 Timothy 5:3

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27

"Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, 'Here's a good seat for you,' but say to the poor man, You stand there' or Sit on the floor by my feet,' have you not discriminated among yourselves and becomes judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?" James 2:2-6

"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 actions and in truth." 1 John 3:17-18



Now, what does the bible say about the rich?


Matthew 19:21-23
Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

James 5:1-6
Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you.

Revelation 3:17
You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.

Mark 12:38-44
As he taught, Jesus said, "Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted in the marketplaces, and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely."

Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.
Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything--all she had to live on."

Luke 6:24-25
But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry.

Luke 14:12-14
Jesus said to his host, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

1 Timothy 7-12
For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith.

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

Proverbs 23:4
Do not overwork to be rich; Because of your own understanding, cease!

Proverbs 28:20
A faithful man will abound with blessings, But he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.

Ecclesiastes 5:12
The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, Whether he eats little or much; But the abundance of the rich will not permit him to sleep.

Jeremiah 5:27
As a cage is full of birds, So their houses are full of deceit. Therefore they have become great and grown rich.

Micah 6:12
For her rich men are full of violence, Her inhabitants have spoken lies, And their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.

 
 

[parkening]

29. These are all great

passages about individuals' responsibility is toward the poor. But I don't think you can find one that advocates government programs by any stretch of the imagination.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

42. What is government but a collection of individuals,

each of whom is responsible before God for his or her actions?

[patcox2]

50. Back then, the individual ruler WAS the government.

Nowadays we make a distinction between the government and the individual officeholder, but thats because we are a democracy with elected and temporary officials.

Back then, as Louis once said, "le etat, cest moi." The king (or chief or satrap or lord high panjandrum) was the government.

The old testament cries for justice are directed at the government.

Parkening hasn't the slightest clue what he is talking about. Typical right wing crap, falsely interpreting the scriptures to support the current right-wing "all government is bad" mantra.

They do the same with the "tough love" and "love the sinner, hate the sin" crap.

The whole right wing philosophy is based on selfishness and racism, an appeal to the die hard racist right, all government is bad because it goves money to those lazy blacks, I can decide as a good christian to give togood deserving white people.

Here is a thought: It isn't charity if its deserved. Chrity is what you give to those who don't deserve it; if they deserve it,m its wages. (you find the right wingers talking about giving charity to the "deserving poor." They mean the white poor, of course. Jesus directly contradicted this, saying to give without question, those who ask for aid who don't deserve it will answer to God, not to you.

It isn't mercy if they are innocent, too.

[MADem]

66. The Caesar line says it all n'/t

[Another Bill C.]

6. Try this site

http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert.fs/poor.htm

Lots of quotes concerning the poor from both the old and new testaments.

[against all enemies]

11. They are all beautiful!! How does the Christian Right ignore these

passages. I don't get it.

[jdj]

15. Religion a la carte'

You simply choose the passages that are convenient to your lifestyle and disregard the rest.

[classof56]

26. It's the "Gospel of Prosperity"

Many years ago, the so-called "Faith Ministers" (FMs), many of whom are on Paul Crouch's TBN, began to preach the so-called (IMHO) "gospel of prosperity", which many Christians bought into because of its promise of riches, since according to the FMs, God wants them all his followers to be rich. And they want to do that is to give lots o'money to the FMs, which they guarantee will be returned 100-1000 fold to the givers. There's one who declares that Jesus himself was a very rich man who lived in mansions, wore designer clothes, all that good stuff. Defies everything we read in the Bible about Jesus' earthly ministry, but judging from the money that rolls into the FMs coffers from their devoted audiences, it seems to work well. Of course, I'm sure the FMs give much of their income to worthy causes, such as helping the poor and afflicted, rather than on elaborate lifestyles for themselves and their families. Or...maybe not...

As referenced in many postings on this thread, Jesus had much to say about helping the poor and the inherent problems facing the rich because of their love of money. Guess the FMs and Republicans don't read those parts of the Bible. Or it doesn't matter to them if they do.

Sad...

DEFEAT BUSH!!

[knitter4democracy]

49. Prosperity Theology is the problem

So many of these churches have been infiltrated by prosperity theologians (and end-of-times wackos) that many of the faithful don't even realize that it's wrong. They really go for that "If you're really faithful, God will pour blessings down upon you like rain" crap (then why was Jesus poor?). Look at one of the latest trends amongst the evangelicals, pentacostals, and fundies: the Jabez prayer. That prayer is deliberately interpreted as asking for financial blessings and is often recommended because of so-called blessings coming after starting to pray that prayer every day.

That's a major reason my husband and I left the evangelical church we grew up in. It just got sick. They'll twist the Bible to mean whatever they want, just like the Pharisees.

[Bluerthanblue]

39. Check out 'Soujourners'

they have a free online magazine-
The "religious right" of today are the 'pharasee's' of Jesus' time-
The best quote of Jesus that i have ever found that denounces what the 'vocal' religous right of today comes from where He helps "judge" the worthy and "unworthy" ---

" --Matthew 25:31-46 (Message Bible)
"When he finally arrives, blazing in beauty and all his angels with him, the Son of Man will take his place on his glorious throne. Then all the nations will be arranged before him and he will sort the people out, much as a shepherd sorts out sheep and goats, putting sheep to his right and goats to his left.

"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what's coming to you in this kingdom. It's been ready for you since the world's foundation. And here's why:

I was hungry and you fed me,
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room,
I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me.'

"Then those 'sheep' are going to say, 'Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?' Then the King will say, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.'

"Then he will turn to the 'goats,' the ones on his left, and say, 'Get out, worthless goats! You're good for nothing but the fires of hell. And why? Because—

I was hungry and you gave me no meal,
I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
I was homeless and you gave me no bed,
I was shivering and you gave me no clothes,
Sick and in prison, and you never visited.'

"Then those 'goats' are going to say, 'Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or homeless or shivering or sick or in prison and didn't help?'

"He will answer them, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you failed to do one of these things to someone who was being overlooked or ignored, that was me—you failed to do it to me.'

"Then those 'goats' will be herded to their eternal doom, but the 'sheep' to their eternal reward."



He also admonished them not to 'store up for themselves treasures on earth".... what kind of 'mansions' did Jesus occupy? When asked about 'paying taxes' He asked: "who's picture is on this coin? "Ceasars" was the reply- "Render unto Ceasar what is Ceasars"-

He cared little for 'material wealth' but rather trusted that what He needed would be provided for- THAT is 'faith'- What 'work' did He require of anyone who came to Him for food, or healing? Did he 'bad mouth' those who were 'poor'? Telling them 'get a job'? Did he love only those who 'loved Him'? How many folks would have given lepers the time of day, never mind TOUCHED them- and healed them- He spoke to women, even 'bad' women as valuable worthwhile human beings- His WRATH the only time He ever became violent was when the 'religious' money grubbing 'sacrifice capitalists' were USING 'God' to grow rich- on the backs of those who were desperate "to do the right thing"-

Jesus was a radical, liberal- who was generous unto death-

if more of us who call "Christ" our 'idol' would TRULY 'walk the talk' what then indeed as He said "The Kingdom of Heaven" would be with us right now-

(sorry for the rant- i'm sick of Jesus being maligned, and spun)

[patcox2]

41. Same way parkening, post 29 above, does, by pharisaic parsing.

By engaging in the very pharisaic reasoning jesus detested.

One of the fundamental differences between the judaic morality of the "covenant," the "law," and the christian view, was that having a view of your relationship with god as a contract leads to legalistic reasoning and looking for loopholes so you can get the best of god in the bargain. This is the outlook jesus often derided as pharisaic.

As to the posters idiotic comment that it was all about personal obligations, and that nowhere does the bible say the government should take care of the poor, that is simple self-serving bullshit.

First of all, there are many references to the courts, they are part of the government. Second, there are the laws, as those about the 7 year jubilee when debts are forgiven, and the prohibition against gleaning, these are laws, laws are creatures of the government.

But most importantly, the "jeremiads" of the old testament are directed at the kings, at the rulers. The poster, in his blind rush to tear down collective government action, lacks the historical perspective to understand that it is only in a democracy that there is a distinction between the ruler and the government. Back then, the ruler was the government. So when Jeremiah told the rulers to take care of their poor, he was telling the government to take care of the poor.

I hate seeing such arrant bullshit peddled here.

[AntiFascist]

13. I'm not very biblical either, but according to biblegateway.com....

Matthew 19:24

Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

Mark 10:25

It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

and finally Luke 18:25

Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

[immoderate]

51. That does it!

I give up. I'm convinced that I will not get my camel through the eye of a needle. This is gravely disappointing.

--IMM

[lurkerguy]

56. haha, don't worry...

That was pretty much the disciples response as well.

Mark 10:26 "And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?"

Jesus responded to them saying in Mark 10:27, "And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible."

[MADem]

67. Puree the camel first

...that's how the GOP manages it...or so they think!

[LoZoccolo]

16. I think you're looking at a bigger problem.

I think the Republicans bring people in through the abortion issue, and then they spend a lot of time trying to cram the rest of their beliefs into a right-wing framework so they don't feel like they're making the wrong decision supporting the Republicans because of this one issue.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

59. Ooh, I think you're on to something there.

There's something about the abortion issue that makes people crazy, and I think it's all tied in with "future shock" about the societal changes that have occurred since the late 1960s.

I'm speaking as someone who would not have had an abortion if I had gotten pregnant, so in a sense, I know where the "pro-life" people are coming from, but the utter fanaticism that the issue inspires, similar to the fanaticism that guns, I/P and other single issues inspire, tells me that there's some subconscious process at work here.

[JimmyJazz]

17. here's a copy of the beatitudes

http://www.stjohndc.org/beatitud/beatitud.htm

Also, I am paraphrasing, but there is a verse that says he who gives to the least of men, gives to me. (Jesus speaking). I'm not at home where I could look it up, but if I can locate the exact verse, I'll post again.

Christ spent most of his time on earth with the most wretched of all people. He healed lepers and ate with prostitutes. He constantly preached about helping others. If faith without works is nothing, then who are these Republicans working for? The rich?

On edit: good grief, I must learn to type faster! That other post is great!

[More Than A Feeling]

19. Luke 16:19-31 is an anti-supply side economics parable

"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores."

"The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment..."

The beggar got the trickle down from the rich man's table, but the rich man went to hell anyway.

[Ezlivin]

20. Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's...

...and to God the things that are God's. (Matt. 22:21 NKJV)

Basically, Jesus said "Pay your taxes."

Apparently he believed that the State had a right to exist and to operate its programs supported through taxation.

Of course, he also told his followers that he'd be back in their lifetimes.... :)

[TNDemo]

21. Jesus said to feed the poor.

He did not add "and don't use the government to do it." He just said do it. I think more people get fed when they know where to go to get food. It is a spotty and ineffective feeding of the poor that happens when you just depend on a local church. Which churches do that? Are they capable of feeding huges volumes of hungry people? Most churches don't that the capability or manpower to deal with the sheer number of hungry people but the government does. And that's what I want my tax dollars doing.

[riverwalker]

22. there is a reason he was born in poverty

in a stable/cave, a homeless refugee.

[never cry wolf]

23. Here's a copy of a long email I put together for a friend

She had the same train of thought. 30 mins on the net and I came up with these:

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Verse 3)
Blessed are the meek: for they shall posses the land. (Verse 4)
Blessed are they who mourn: for they shall be comforted. (Verse 5)
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill. (Verse 6)
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. (Verse 7)
Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God. (Verse 8)
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. (Verse 9)
Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Verse 10)


The "right" chokes on the beatitudes

--------------------
If the right-wingers really studied the matter, they'd find they have more in common with Muhammad than with Jesus. Muhammad was a merchant, a businessman and entrepreneur - a capitalist. Before Jesus walked off his job, he was a carpenter, a common laborer - and with his talk of brotherhood, no doubt would have been a union man.

He hung out with the dregs of society: the poor, prostitutes, tax collectors, and finally thieves. Not exactly the kind of person to whom you would entrust your most precious and eternal possession: your stock portfolio.

Jesus revealed his anti-business agenda as soon as he threw the money-changers out of the temple. To the orthodox for whom taxation is government organized theft, Jesus' clear advocacy of paying taxes by "rendering unto Caesar" is a complete abomination. Scholars are still divided over whether the raising of Lazarus was to escape the death tax or an intent to pay it twice.

--------------------

Jesus mollycoddled the poor and went out of his way to condemn the rich. His warning that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a wealthy man to get into heaven was typical socialist blather. The affluent have had to devote themselves to breeding smaller camels and building larger needles ever since.

------------------
Jesus' purpose in life was to do the will of His heavenly Father. Wherever He went, He brought goodness. He never hurt or injured anyone, although He did get angry at others who did wrong. He called self-righteous church-going people vipers and once turned over tables in the temple where money-changers were taking advantage of the people.

Jesus was friends with the outcast of society—sinners. He reached out to the publicans, thieves, prostitutes. He never scorned anyone. He knew what was in the heart of a man (or woman). Just because they were religious did not mean that they knew God.

----------------------

Jesus challenged the Pharisees’ purity system by almost everything he did. It’s no coincidence that there are so many stories about Jesus getting into the everyday dirt and grit of life. Touching lepers, being touched by a hemorrhaging woman. Forgiving an adulteress. Going into an unclean graveyard to cast out demons and send them into a herd of unclean pigs. Eating with outcasts like tax collectors and prostitutes, and drunkards — all of those people at the very bottom of the Who’s Who of the Impure.

So Jesus came to confront the heart of this system — the temple — by driving out the money-changers and the sacrificial animal dealers; by exposing the profits and the kickbacks that the temple elite received “under the table” when he said that the temple authorities had turned his Father’s house into a “den of robbers,” as it’s recorded in Matthew, Mark and Luke.

----------------------

"Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments'" (Matthew 22:37-40, emphasis mine).

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:34-35).

The counterfeit Christ and his followers have long lists of "do's and don't's" that are preached as "Gospel." And everyone who doesn't subscribe to their legalistic list are condemned. We see them protesting with signs that read "God hates fags," "God hates baby-killers," and "God hates !"

But the genuine Jesus has just two laws: love God and love people. True followers of Jesus may not agree with the lifestyles and opinions of everyone (in fact, they shouldn't), but they will be the first to show compassion to those they disagree with. That's why Jesus hung out with drunks, prostitutes, "tax collectors," and "sinners." He loved people. He didn't love all their actions--and didn't join them in all their behaviors--but He showed them that he loved them. True followers of Jesus are not preaching against people with addictions; they are volunteering at rehabilitation programs at local shelters..

--------------------------

Jesus also had withering words for the wealthy who oppressed--or simply ignored --the poor.

"Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort" (Luke 6:20, 24).

Genuine followers of Jesus have a sense of joy and satisfaction in who they are--at whatever "level" on the social or ecclesiastical ladder they may find themselves.

Jesus said, "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete" (John 15:11).

----------------------------

5. His earthly father was a carpenter, a humble hewer of wood with whom He lived and laboured, conforming to our human ways of life, custom, language and living that He might understand and love us better and communicate with us on the lowly level of our own limited human understanding!--He learned to LOVE Mankind. He saw their suffering and had great compassion on them, longing to not only heal their sick and broken bodies, but also to save their immortal spirits!

6. When the time came and He began his life's work, He went about everywhere doing good.--Helping people, loving children, healing heartaches, strengthening tired bodies, saving whom He could. He not PREACHED His message, but He LIVED it amongst us. He not only ministered to their spiritual needs, but He spent a great deal of time ministering to their physical and material needs, miraculously healing them when they were sick, feeding them when they were hungry and sharing His life and His Love!

7. He was so simple and His religion was so simple that He said you must become as a little CHILD to receive it! He didn't preach Temple worship, He didn't preach going to synagogue nor going to church, He didn't preach any complicated ceremonies or difficult rules.--All he did was preach LOVE and show Love, as He strove to lead God's children into the True Kingdom of God, whose only laws are to "love the Lord with all thy heart" and "love thy neighbour as thyself".

8. He had very little to do with the high-fallutin', rich-robed, churchy scribes, pharisees and hypocrites--the religious leaders of that day--except when they insisted on annoying Him with their critical questions. Then He would sock it to them, publicly exposing them as the "blind leaders of the blind" that they were, even telling them that they were like white-washed SEPULCHRES, which indeed appear beautiful, clean and holy on the OUTSIDE, but WITHIN are full of rottenness, corruption and stinking dead men's bones!

9. He was not a mere religious reformer, He was a REVOLUTIONARY! He refused to compromise with the false religious system, but rather worked totally OUTSIDE of it, reaching and sharing His Love with the poor and common folk who had long ago abandoned and been abandoned by organised religion. He never went into any bar with whip in hand, breaking up the bottles and throwing out the bartender. Nor did He ever enter any brothel, beating up the poor girls, overturning their beds and throwing the men out the window.--But He DID make a whip, go into their big beautiful religious Temple, overturn the tables, spill out the money and drive the money-mad money-changers out of the church, condemning them for turning what was supposed to be a house of prayer into a den of thieves!

10. He made Himself of no reputation, and was a companion of drunks and prostitutes, publicans and sinners, the outcasts and downtrodden of society. He even told them that they would enter the Kingdom of Heaven before the so-called "good" people, the self-righteous and religious leaders who re jected Him and His simple Message of Love. The power of His Love and of His appeal was so great and gave such great faith to the sincere truth-seekers that they didn't hesitate to drop everything they had and forsake all immediately to become His full-time followers!

----------------------------

From Matthew 25:

31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are
blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for
you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are
cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'

44"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'

45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

46"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to
eternal life."

------------------------------------------------------------

Ruth went to her mail box and there was only one letter. She picked
it up and looked at it before opening, but then she looked at the
envelope again.
There was no stamp, no postmark, only her name and address.
She read the letter:

Dear Ruth:

I`m going to be in your neighborhood Saturday afternoon
and I'd like to stop by for a visit.

Love Always, Jesus

Her hands were shaking as she placed the letter on the
table. "Why would the Lord want to visit me? I'm nobody special. I don't have anything to offer."
With that thought, Ruth remembered her empty kitchen cabinets.
"Oh my goodness, I really don't have anything to offer. I'll have
to run down to the store and buy something for dinner." She reached for her purse and counted out its contents. Five dollars and forty cents. "Well, I can get some bread and cold cuts, at least."
She threw on her coat and hurried out the door.

A loaf of French bread, a half-pound of sliced turkey,
and a carton of milk...leaving Ruth with grand total twelve cents to last her until Monday. Nonetheless, she felt good as she headed home, her meager offerings tucked under her arm.

"Hey lady, can you help us, lady?"
Ruth had been so absorbed in her dinner plans, she hadn't even
noticed two figures huddled in the alleyway. A man and a woman,
both of them dressed in little more than rags

"Look lady, I ain't got a job, ya know, and my wife and I have
been living out here on the street, and, well, now it's getting cold
and we're getting kinda hungry and, well, if you could help us. Lady,
we'd really appreciate it."

Ruth looked at them both. They were dirty, they smelled bad and frankly, she was certain that they could get some kind of work if they really wanted to.

"Sir, I'd like to help you, but I'm a poor woman myself. All I have
is a few cold cuts and some bread, and I'm having an important guest
for dinner tonight and I was planning on serving that to Him."

"Yeah, well, okay lady, I understand. Thanks anyway."

The man put his arm around the woman's shoulders, turned
and headed back into the alley.

As she watched them leave, Ruth felt a familiar twinge in her heart.

"Sir, wait!" The couple stopped and turned as she ran down the alley after them. "Look, why don't you take this food. I'll figure out
something else to serve my guest." She handed the man her grocery bag.

"Thank you lady. Thank you very much!"

"Yes, thank you!" It was the man's wife, and Ruth could see now that she was shivering. "You know, I've got another coat at home. Here,
why don't you take this one." Ruth unbuttoned her jacket and slipped
it over the woman's shoulders. Then smiling, she turned and walked
back to the street...without her coat and with nothing to serve her
guest.

"Thank you lady!"

"Thank you very much!"

Ruth was chilled by the time she reached her front door, and worried too. The Lord was coming to visit and she didn't have anything to
offer Him. She fumbled through her purse for the door key. But as
she did, she noticed another envelope in her mailbox.

"That's odd. The mailman doesn't usually come twice in one day."
She took the envelope out of the box and opened it.

Dear Ruth:

It was so good to see you again. Thank you for the lovely meal. And thank you, too, for the beautiful coat.

Love Always Jesus

The air was still cold, but even without her coat, Ruth no longer
noticed.

[arcane1]

24. Acts has a nice commie feel to it

Acts 2:44
And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

Acts 2:45
And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all , as every man had need.

[recoveringrepublican]

25. Here are some real quick

I took them out of the King James Bible in case he asks. When reading the New Testament to me it's more about the effects of greed, not just helping the poor, so many of the passages deal more with the greed of rich men. btw, just a side note (lol, seems like a must for a Christian on this site), I want to live in a secular country, but if I'm going to be forced to live a Christian lifestyle because my selected president is a "born again", then lets go alll the way.


Also, for future reference this is a great site to find passages for debates.

www.biblegateway.com

Here are some from the book of Matthew

In this following passage, Christ's diciples are asked to do the following. Notice there is nothing about the poor having to pay for it.

Matthew 10:8-10

8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,
10 Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.




I love the following passage, and the description on the disciple's reaction.

Matthew 19:20-25

20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
25 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?


Matthew 19:29

29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.



And since I've heard WAY to many Americans say that this is a Christian Country, they should beware of this passage. It is the passage where Christ overturns money changers tables (and others selling services in the temple).

Matthew 21:13

13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.


The following has Christ saying that the least that has been done to one person has also been done to Him.

Matthew 25:34-46

34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.


This was all I could get to right now, will find more later.

[parkening]

27. Jesus said

very little about the poor. There is no support of government programs for the poor anywhere in the Christian Scriptures. It is left up to individuals, ie. farmers left the corners of their fields unharvested, didn't pick every last piece of fruit from their trees/vines, etc. It was up to the poor to take advantage of this opportunity. There were other options for the poor such as selling oneself into slavery to pay off a debt. Another interesting provision in Jewish law was when a Jew sold their land after 50 years that land reverted back to the original family (more like a lease than a sale, I guess).

So yeah, Jesus helped poor folks, healed them etc. but you won't find any real support for govt programs, just individual (and later church) responsibility.

[rockymountaindem]

30. Maybe that has something to do with the fact

there were no states or real government programs at that time. The government existed merely for controling the populace, protecting the land from invasion and collecting taxes to support public building projects and the army. Social programs were not concieved of until the modern era (most giving to the poor during Roman times was done on the basis of patronage). I see no reason why the Bible's or Jesus' teachings about helping the poor don't carry into the modern era in the form of social programs that are funded by taxes. Individually we can help a little, but together we can do a great deal more.

[H2O Man]

35. Jesus didn't talk about napalm or nuclear weapons, either

but most people can figure these "great mysteries" out from what he did say.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

43. Times are different

Society was organized differently. The Jews in Jesus' times were colonial subjects of a brutal Empire, and before that, in the time of the Israeli and Judean monarchies and the era of the Judges and before that, the era of loosely organized tribes, there was no distinction between religion and the government.

If we lived in little villages and cities of no more than a few thousand and had no hope of getting our government to stop massacring people, much less actually help them, maybe we would make do with private charity alone, too.

However, these government programs came into existence because private charity was NOT doing the job. Read your history.

There is also no Biblical support for the American Revolution or the freeing of slaves, and yet, I'm sure you would agree that these were good things.

I wonder if it's really government programs that you object to, or to the idea of taxes, of not being able to keep every last penny you earn and being taxed for stuff that you yourself don't use. If that's the case, then you are showing unChristian greed. And if you are who I think you are, you have plenty of money to spare.

Given the choice between a government that aimed to make America the biggest bruiser on the planet and a government that aimed to make America a place where no one went hungry or homeless or without healthcare, which one would Jesus choose?

[parkening]

46. You make some very

good points here and above. You seem to have over-reached a little, though. My point is not whether the govt of today should provide social programs (although I lean toward the fewer, the better), but rather neither Jesus nor any other Biblical reference could be used unequivocally in support of govt social programs.

I disagree with your point re the American Revolution. There is Biblical grounds for rising up against a govt that is not performing its basic functions (protection, law & order, etc). Think the Jews under Xerxes (Artaxerxes, maybe) in Esther.

Re slavery, the slavery of America was not the same form of slavery as envisioned in Bible times. The slave was supposed to be able to buy his freedom, serve for a distinct amount of time, and in certain instances the individual would voluntarily become a slave as a career move (think being a slave for Donald Trump). American slavery more closely resembled the Jews in Egypt pre-Exodus. That's probably why the American slaves so closely identified with them (spirituals have a lot of "let my people go" imagery).

I believe the govt has its hands in way more things than it has business being in. I do resent paying taxes that go to these areas. The govt does have a right to collect taxes, and it's been pointed out here that even Jesus paid his tax (albeit miraculously).

You give a false choice at the end (bruiser govt vs all-providing govt). Surely there is some middle position that is more realistic. Jesus said we would always have the poor with us, so He wouldn't be able to choose your second option. Another point to make is that He lived under a govt that resembled your first choice and I can't think of a single time He criticized it! Would welcome a correction if you can find one.

Anyway this is getting way too long. Thanks for commenting. And I wonder who you think I am! Hmmmm.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

52. As a Christian, I want my community, large and small, to

be run in a humane and caring way.

The Republicans never met a weapons system or a rightwing dictator that they didn't like, and they're willing to lavish plenty of money on the rich while demonizing the poor. (Remember Reagan's apocryphal story about buying vodka with food stamps?) All those attitudes strike me as being un-Christian.

As I mentioned above, the government programs you so despise came into being because private sector actions were either ineffective or harmful. I'm glad that the government regulates food and workplace safety, requires a minimum wage-- however inadequate it is--, and has set aside lands to be preserved as wilderness forever. If you want to see what Yellowstone Park would look like under private enterprise, try Beppu, Japan.

Let me give you a specific example of where government programs are helping people. I have a good friend in Portland who is 60 years old and who has not had a full-time job in three years, despite being an experienced worker and applying for literally hundreds of jobs. (She suspects age discrimination.) She is surviving on part-time jobs and occasional hand-outs from relatives and friends, but what is really keeping her afloat is food stamps. Yes, food stamps, one of those dreadful government programs that you don't want to support.

Technically, she could go to a church and beg for a food box, but I've worked with enough church-based programs to know that they're strapped for funds and usually give priority to families with children and usually limit recipients to one food box per month. My friend is single, not by choice--she would have loved to have gotten married and had children, but it didn't happen. So she is on the absolute bottom of the list for consideration: single, childless, and too young for the programs for seniors.

With food stamps, which have only an income requirement, she can go to the store, choose her own nutritious food instead of just Bisquick and Campbell's Soup, and pay for it with a card that looks like a regular debit card unless you look closely, thus preserving her dignity.

I am happy to support food stamps with my tax dollars. I would feel unChristian begrudging the unemployed and under-employed and destitute their food stamps.

My friend was formerly getting health care under the Oregon Health Plan, but recent efforts by "Christians" in that state to value tax cuts above all else have gutted that once proud program for the poor, so now she's joined those without health insurance.

Oh, and need I remind you of those "Christians" in Alabama who campaigned hard and outright lied about the Republican governor's efforts to make the tax system there more progressive, scaring the poor into thinking that it was THEIR taxes that were going to be raised, when actually the opposite was true?

Sadly, too many alleged "Christian" ministers and writers have become apologists for wealth, allowing their followers to rationalize their selfishness and lack of community spirit. Jesus never mentioned government programs for the poor, but he didn't mention gas taxes to pay for highways, either.

When politicians finish their earthly journey and have to account for their lives, who do you think is judged more harshly, the one who proposes a government program for the poor, in which perhaps a few people cheat but many more are helped, or the one who invades a country that never threatened the U.S., kills thousands of people on both sides, and gleefully allows his friends to profiteer? What will God say to politicians who convinced their constituents to accept every action of George W. Bush as inspired by God?

It's a no-brainer.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

53. There ya go, parkening

The poor can just sell themselves into slavery!

[Bandit]

61. What do you consider government?

In America it is "We the People". It is nothing more than a banding together of "The People" to take care of their country and their people. Jesus wanted People to help the poor. Why should that not then justify government doing exactly that? Do you consider government to be something different than "We the People"? If so what do you consider it to be? I think it may have been taken over by Corporate Concerns myself but what do I know, and since when is it the responsibility of corporations to consider the welfare of the people of the nation? They consider their own welfare only. I guess that is what you mean by Government.

[BenDavid]

33. istherehope, not being

Christian, tell your right wing friends to look in the book of James I believe and you will find a great example of what I call the Christian Right, and the Right Christian attitudes towards the poor. There you have a brother and sister in need of food and clothing. One man ( the christian right ) approaches the brother and sister. Looks at them and says to them, "Let us pray" and turns around and walks away. Brother and sister still in need of food and clothing. Another man( the Right Christian ) aprroaches them and tells them come with me and puts clothes on their backs and then feeds them, and then says to them "Let us pray". Then he leaves them. So I say to you istherehope. Yes there is hope by us "liberals" that see the need and try to correct it... Yes hope there is!!! "Words and Deeds" mean a lot in the way you treat "the least amongst us".

[against all enemies]

36. BenDavid, Tis not a friend of which I speak.

He is a man that complains about the cost of gasoline for his offshore fishing boat, then complains about the poor not going out and getting a job in his next breath. All the while with the sign of the fish at the end of his every hate filled post.

[IHateFundies]

45. Here you go BenDavid:

sorry for the quick cut and paste

14What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
18But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.

...


1Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. 2Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 3Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. 4Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. 5You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.<1> 6You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you.

[oldlady]

37. something I heard last week...

Jim Wallis (Call to Renewal, Bus Tour to End Poverty -- Sojourners) came through my neighborhood last week. During his talk he said that today's Christians often misinterpret/misuse the text of Mark 14:7

Mark 14:7 For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you will, you can do good to them;

He said that some think it says that there will always be poor people, we can't fix it, it's not our fault, it's just the way it is (defeatist attitude)

He said that others understand the text to mean that "as Christians, we will always stand with the poor"

he summed up that how one interprets that passage reveals much about their relationship to God (selfish-interest vs. big-picture) intriguing notion....

edit: umm...I don't know why all those weird faces popped up-- will avoid all parenthesis in future! egad!

[CBHagman]

38. Here's the passage my friend calls the GOP's least favorite.

It's not Jesus speaking directly but rather comes from the Epistle of James. We read these passages as part of the cycle of readings at the Mass in the Catholic Church, so we hear this on a regular basis. It's bound to make some people squirm in the pews.

From the second chapter of James:

2:1 My brothers, don’t hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ of glory with partiality. 2:2 For if a man with a gold ring, in fine clothing, comes into your synagogue, and a poor man in filthy clothing also comes in; 2:3 and you pay special attention to him who wears the fine clothing, and say, “Sit here in a good place;” and you tell the poor man, “Stand there,” or “Sit by my footstool;” 2:4 haven’t you shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? 2:5 Listen, my beloved brothers. Didn’t God choose those who are poor in this world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the Kingdom which he promised to those who love him? 2:6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Don’t the rich oppress you, and personally drag you before the courts? 2:7 Don’t they blaspheme the honorable name by which you are called? 2:8 However, if you fulfill the royal law, according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,”* you do well. 2:9 But if you show partiality, you commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors. 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law, and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. 2:11 For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,”* also said, “Do not commit murder.”* Now if you do not commit adultery, but murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 2:12 So speak, and so do, as men who are to be judged by a law of freedom. 2:13 For judgment is without mercy to him who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

2:14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man says he has faith, but has no works? Can faith save him? 2:15 And if a brother or sister is naked and in lack of daily food, 2:16 and one of you tells them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled;” and yet you didn’t give them the things the body needs, what good is it? 2:17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead in itself. 2:18 Yes, a man will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I by my works will show you my faith.

2:19 You believe that God is one. You do well. The demons also believe, and shudder. 2:20 But do you want to know, vain man, that faith apart from works is dead? 2:21 Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? 2:22 You see that faith worked with his works, and by works faith was perfected; 2:23 and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness;”* and he was called the friend of God. 2:24 You see then that by works, a man is justified, and not only by faith. 2:25 In like manner wasn’t Rahab the prostitute also justified by works, in that she received the messengers, and sent them out another way? 2:26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead.

It's very direct and takes to task those who show favoritism towards the wealthy (VERY common in the U.S., and very much part of current GOP policy, unfortuately).

Also, you might point out that Jesus didn't ask if people earned the right to be healed or fed; he simply acted to take care of their needs. And he didn't go around sneering at the sinner caught in the act. Witness how he treated the adulteress, virtually saving her from instant capital punishment. (Hm. Weak on crime and family values! Jesus would never make it in the GOP)

In fact, he reserved his harshest words for the power and self-satisfied.

And he pointed out the sacrifice of the poor widow who gave a small donation. No glorifying the wealthy there.

Tell your friend he needs to read the actual Bible, not platforms.

[lurkerguy]

40. I believe much of it comes down to the stewardship of the government.

The scripture is clear on being a good steward of what God gave you, the parable of the unjust steward for example. Many on both sides of the aisle will admit that giving money to the govn’t feels like flushing money down the toilet at times. The government certainly wouldn’t be considered a good steward of what they have and many Christians grow to resent the way the government wastes so much of what it has.
Matthew Chapter 7 also speaks about this issue, in a round-about way, when it says, “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast your pearls before swine, …”. This is speaking about preaching to those who don’t really care to hear the gospel and will turn around and blaspheme the word of God, rebuke the messenger, etc…. Throw a pearl to the “swine” and he will think you are throwing a stone at him and become enraged. There is a line there somewhere b/c Jesus preached to all, but this verse is saying don’t waste too much time trying over and over. But I digress. Many Christians will in turn use this verse to generalize and say don’t give anything valuable to someone who wastes it, i.e. the government.
As many others have already said, Christians don’t mind giving so much as they the government wasting so much of what they take.
The best way to combat this ideology is the verse that states, “render unto Caesar that which is Ceasar’s and to God the things that are God’s….” But many of the die-hard Christians will read into this and say EVERYTHING is God’s. However that is erroneous b/c the Bible is clear that God only asks for 10%. It goes a little deeper regarding tithing but that is the gist of what the Bible says IMO.

[GreenPartyVoter]

44. Would Jesus love a liberal?

You bet!
http://www.geocities.com/greenpartyvoter/liberalchristians.htm

[rjbny62]

47. most so-called "christians" seem only concerned about their own salvation

they actually care too much about getting themselves saved for the next life and emphasize those passages of the bible. Someone here brought up Acts 2 & 4 where believers pooled all their resources and shared EVERYTHING that they had with those in need. Bring that up with just about any proud american christian and you'll likely get a rise out of them, if not a sermon justifying their position that this is not relevant today.

Or how about this - Jesus said, "I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." How exactly did he love us? He gave up everything, right down to his life. How many people are willing to give up their own selfish lives to help the poor? They might give up a 10% tithe, but all their possessions? How many will open their own home to the unwed teen who is pregnant, unemployed, and doesn't know how she will feed a new baby? Or, would that disrupt their materialistic lives?

I am personally of the opinion that if christians would really love as Jesus commanded, society would experience a true revolution and we wouldn't need government to provide for the poor, but alas, we lack the true love Jesus talked about, and until hearts really change, it isn't right to force the poor suffer at the expense of the rich. It makes no sense to hand more and more wealth over to those that have more than they will ever need, but that is what these so-called christians are advocating when they support the current administration. These same people are usually at the forefront of the movement to solve other problems through government intervention, but when it comes to their money that is a different story.

The following passage shows another way that Jesus showed love, by telling the truth, even if it is hard:

Mark 10:21-22: Jesus looked at him and LOVED him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell EVERYTHING you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

[RareLubbockDem]

48. Try these

Both are really good. Hope this helps.

The GOP Doesn't Own Jesus:
http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/opinion/9581909.htm%3F1c+gop+own+jesus+brooks&hl=en

http://go.sojo.net/campaign/takebackourfaith

[Aristus]

54. The Apostle James was a fiery anti-rich crusader:

"For the rich will pass away like the flower of a wild plant. The sun rises with its blazing heat and burns the plant; the flower falls off, and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way the rich man will be destroyed while he goes about his business." James 1:10-11.

[erniesam]

55. Jesus is one of us

Conservatives are lying assholes. Jesus was a liberal
www.liberalslikechrist.org.

[scarlet_owl]

58. Jesus is the original hippie!

He wants us to care about each other and live in peace. He fought the establishment and he hung out with sinners. He preached that we should live a simple life for our true treasures are in heaven. I love Him for all these reasons and more. :loveya: Read Matthew 6 and 7. I hope it helps and inspires you.

[vetwife]

68. Read the B attitudes in Matthew 25

[AlabamaYankee]

70. Social structures have changed, but the core is still true

The whole point of Jesus' ministry was, "You have been saved by God's grace and not by anything you did or could have done. Therefore, in joyous and thankful celebration, go and serve mankind" Whether we serve the sick, poor or needy personally with our own resources, or indirectly though taxes, it is still serving the needy. In a small, homogeneous community it was possible to care for the poor within one's own family, clan or town. That's simply not possible in the present time. I think those who advocate only private charity, unless they are beggaring themselves in charitable service, are dodging their responsibility through this "limited government" ideology.