"What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone."
— James 2:14-20 (KJV)
— James 2:14-20 (KJV)
It’s Conservatives Who Really Want Christ Out of Christmas
They’re terrified America’s tiny number of atheists will change the meaning of the holiday. But conservatives are the ones who are really at war with its message.
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Yes, because there can be no care for the poor without government help.
This poor man's Jon Stewart is correct…..he's not a religious scholar.
btw, Dave, just curious….what religious affiliation are you? If you don't mind me asking.
Look out, Dave! He's going to decide whether or not you're a good enough Christian!!
Not at all, +Les Jenkins just curious is all.
Besides, it's not for me to judge anyway.
Certainly not all care for the poor (hungry, homeless, etc.) can or should take place only under government programs. But government programs are a huge part of how we do get help to those who need it, instead of Dickensian arrangements of poorhouses, almshouses, workhouses, debtors prisons, and people simply starving, freezing, or dying of disease in their tenement or in shanty-towns.
We've had a society where the government did nothing to help those in need, and charity was all private, through churches. It's wonderful what religiously-affiliated help for the needy can do, but it's a drop in the bucket compared to the total number.
As to my religious affiliation, I'm Christian, presently of the Episcopalian persuasion.
(And I don't worry — we differ on a lot of things, +Mark Means, but you've never struck me as the "You're No True Christian" type. 🙂 )
Heh, no, not at all +Dave Hill ..trust me, I'm not one to judge, regardless. I just kept thinking you were Lutheran or something…not sure why..and not that there's anything wrong with being Lutheran.
+Mark Means They're fairly close cousins of Episcopalians. We actually can do clergy-sharing, at least with the ELCA branch.
" Yes, because there can be no care for the poor without government help."
There is some truth in that. Government is us, and purposely helps people we might be inclined to brush off as unworthy for reasons of personal identity. Government also does a pretty good (not perfect) job of identifying those who don't need help. It is the less fatigue-prone expression of our compassion… and our practical recognition that intractable poverty effects the common good and must be addressed systemically.