When I open my Bible, it isn't hard to find a verse that underscores our responsibility as Christians to care for the least among us. Proverbs 19:17 tells us, "Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed." Unfortunately, some members of Congress don't buy into this notion. They believe instead that taking care of the most vulnerable people in our society is for the church to do alone.
Recently the U.S. House of Representatives passed a budget resolution for fiscal year 2013 that places a heavy burden on poor Americans who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps) to feed their families. The House recommended cutting more than $169 billion from SNAP. Some representatives even argued that feeding hungry people is really the work of churches, not government.
But churches can't be solely responsible for feeding poor women, children, seniors and disabled people. We also need strong government programs. In fact, all of the food churches and charities provide to hungry and poor people in the United States amounts to only about 6 percent of what the federal government spends on programs such as SNAP and school meals for students.
The Hartford Institute for Religion and Research estimates there are 335,000 religious congregations in the United States. If the House's proposals to cut SNAP by $133.5 billion and $36 billion are enacted, each congregation will have to spend about $50,000 more annually to feed those who would see a reduction or loss of benefits. Some congressional leaders are essentially saying that every church in America -- big or tiny -- needs to come up with an extra $50,000 to feed people every year for the next 10 years to make up for these cuts.
In response, Bread for the World asked people to tell members of Congress that churches can't be solely responsible for feeding hungry people. Thousands from around the country answered our call, telling us they just can't afford to do more than they're currently doing. Here are a few of their comments:
"As a small church in the middle of the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex, we are inundated with needs all around us. The proposed cost is more than we pay our full-time minister for compensation, the only full-time staff we have. We contribute to multiple charities that distribute food to those who are in need in order to ensure the best stewardship of our resources. And, yet, we are still not able to meet all of the needs. These cuts will overwhelm us." --Sarah from Arlington, Texas
"Feeding the hungry is not a choice -- it is a moral imperative. But the food pantries and soup kitchens in this area funded by the generosity of church members already are serving those in need at capacity and beyond in these tough economic times. We are doing our part. We expect that our government will do the same." --Alexandra from Troy, N.Y.
"Addressing the needs of the hungry and poor is something that requires BOTH local congregation action and ALSO local and national government support. I urge our legislators at all levels to maintain strong support of government programs that help the poor and needy." --Brian from Fond Du Lac, Wis.
"Already we get innumerable calls for emergency assistance. We have no idea how these families are sufficiently getting the necessary nutrients for their children and family. To increase the number of people would be overwhelming and those churches who try to help with their shrinking congregations might totally give up." -Tempe of Jamestown, N.C.
"We fed over 32,000 people last year and we are tapped! We can barely pay our own bills, and if we are pushed any further we won't be able to keep our doors open, thus NOT being able to feed the ones we already are!! PLEASE DON'T cut any feeding programs." -Kirk of Sparks, Nev.
It's time for members of Congress to tell people -- like Brian from Wisconsin, Alexandra from New York, Tempe from North Carolina and Sarah from Texas -- that they're going to do their part and support legislation that creates a circle of protection around programs that are vital to hungry and poor people.
Etc. Etc. Etc.
'Do it alone?' You're dong more harm than good and trying to take all the *credit for the crumbs,* Church. Not to mention make *more* poor and homeless people in your vendetta against LGBT people non-Christians, and women.
If you can squeeze that into the politics, of course.. Oh. Right.
'Church.'
example: Healthcare is in fact a national security issue. We need to treat it as such. An uneducated and unhealthy population is corrosive to even its own existence. But a healthy, educated population will always be free and able to defend itself.
(RNS) Tithing to U.S. Protestant churches as a percentage of income is at its lowest level in at least 41 years, according to a new report, and churches are keeping a greater share of those donations for their own needs.
Parishioners gave about 2.38 percent of their income to their church, according to "The State of Church Giving through 2009," a new report being released Friday (Oct. 14) by Empty Tomb inc., a Christian research agency in Champaign, Ill.
Just over 2 percent of income went toward congregational finances, such as operating costs and building expenses. Only 0.34 percent of parishioner income went to what Empty Tomb calls "benevolences," such as charities and seminary training beyond the four walls of the church.
Those are new lows, at least going back to the first report in 1968.
The rich give to "charity" to get their name on some building or effort--for some recognition.
We have become good in making $10:00 donations to all good causes. Then we through lack of personal involvement and support (and with a clean concious) force our close relatives on these "good causes" for support. And demand these relatives be served par excellance by these organizations and govt. programs and funding.
Those who do not have family where they live, (for what ever reasons) should develop a surrogate family and supportive system in their own environment / place of residence of ones choosing - cannot get better than that.
The take-home message: Support is reciprocal and morally binding on both sides.
All of us have:
FIRST DEGREE RELATIVES: parents (two), siblings, grandparents (two sets), spouse, children.
SECOND DEGREE RELATIVES: cousins, aunts and uncles, nephews and nieces, in-laws.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT SYSTEMS
These are three protective ENLARGING circles for individual assistance. In fact the above three circles exsists even in animal society like lion, elephant, bird colonies, and all primates and homo sapiens. In other words, such a social arrangement is in our genes.
Genetically determined characters, behavior pattern and solutions CANNOT BE repeat CANNOT BE supplanted by govt programs, which are merely band-aids; and are bound to fail especially when the band-aid is used to supplant the real solutions to the problem (aka unintended consequences).
Those who do not have the three protective circles (for what ever reasons) should develop a surrogate supportive system in their own environment / place of residence of two circles of friends of ones choosing - cannot get better than that. The take-home message: Support is reciprocal and morally binding on both sides.
So is greed, envy, laziness, sloth, and acquisitiveness.
When my husband died, leaving me pregnant, loaded with his medical bills, Mummy Dearest and Stepfather were terrified I might ask them to help with some expenses. (They were her grandkids.) They were living the Floriduh dream, and had their nightly dinners at posh restaurants, their shopping, and their cruises. All I got from them was criticism. So I sold my grandmother's Rosary, my necklace, and my wedding ring... everything. I never asked them for anything. The criticism continued.
They went swanning off on another cruise. Months later they returned to find a message on their answering machine, explaining that I had a new job and a new home. We'd moved to Glasgow... SCOTLAND.
Over a decade has passed. I've done very well here. They're not very active anymore Stepfather is very ill, Mummy Dearest is quite old, and nursing him is too much for her. She writes to me, asking fir help, and goes on about fam-uh-lee, just as you did. But for some reason, that doesn't resonate with me. I can't imagine why!
My new country looked after us when my family didn't care. I am now in a position where I can contribute huge amounts back, in gratitude. I'll give nothing to my family.
You very wisely developed your own "surrogate family" in your new environment.
Regarding your mom. Do you think a nameless faceless taxpayer should foot her bills?