It seems to me today's answer would be, "The federal government needs to take care of all the social needs of society. Only the federal government will insure that social programs are administered fairly and equitably to all residents of the country, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, financial need, or citizenship status." It seems it is assumed in today's society only the federal government is capable of delivering social services to America's population. It seems as if individual states are looking to the federal government to keep them fiscally afloat, even as it provides for the social needs of the state's population.
As I review the list of social services afforded by the federal government, I am in a quandary. I wonder, "Wouldn't it be best for people if social services were provided by churches instead of governments? Wouldn't it make sense for churches to come forward and feed the poor, help the homeless, provide for job placement help, fund the medical needs of the indigent, and so on?"
I know churches used to be the first place people went for help in time of need. I know churches still do an awesome job providing aid and comfort; hurricane Katrina is a perfect example of how the church community stepped up and continues to provide aid. However, why is it many church folk today seem content with the federal government taking over the primary role of aid and comfort? Why is it so many non-Christian people in America see the church as close-minded and unwilling to help others in need?
Is it time for Christian men to step up and become a force for social programs in the church and not rely on the federal government? Is it time for us to speak up and show up? Have we gone so far that churches will never regain their role of providing aid and comfort to those in need?
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"It is time." However, it is NOT something that is going to happen overnight.
The Church abdicated its role of helping "widows and orphans" over a period of several generations. It will take several generations to get it back.
Even though that might sound like the beginning of a statement that ends "so it's best to just leave things as they are," it really isn't.
Men, these changes that I think most of us agree need to happen start in our homes.
For example, I have three sons - the oldest is 13. I'm starting with them. Raising them to understand that God loves them, Jesus died and rose for them, and the Holy Spirit gives them power through Word and Sacrament to make a difference in this world by looking out for their fellow man.
It is time. And it is time to start with our own children!
I am a financial advisor in Sacramento, CA and branded under under a faith based fortune 500 financial company. We are a fraternal benefit organization and I serve the financial needs of a particular denomination of christian believers. I work with poeple day-in and day-out to help them be good stewards of their finances, protect their families from life's ugly situations, and put sound investment vehicles in place for retirement. Often during my discussions with clients, expecially when talking about disability or long term care, my clients will tell me they have disability ins. thru the state and that's all the need. Or, have spent thousands of dollars to figure out a way to hide all of their retirement dollars away in order to quality for the state's MediCal welfare long term care program. I mean people with millions that can afford it but have the thinking the gov't owes them. Isn't this socialism at it's core? It's "We the people.." that have brought on this age of gov't dependence instead of independence from the gov't.
As chairman of the Board of Directors of our state's Lutheran Social Services Agency, it behooves us to support organizations like ours. The church has abdicated its duty as a primary caretaker for those in need. As Christian fathers it would be well for all of us to introduce our children to Social Service organizations at this time of year. What finer time to do this than at Thanksgiving and Christmas?
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