Beggars and Choosers

If you want to stir up a feisty conversation at your next social gathering, just bring up the subject of welfare.  In general politics can do it, but welfare really gets under people's skin.  Some people can begrudgingly accept the idea that some sort of safety net is needed.  Many of us can think of someone who was on public assistance for a short time, and then got their life back on track.  But that isn't what bothers us.  What really gets under our skin are the people who are perpetually on welfare.  We see them spending their days lazing around while we're at work.

So to battle the middle class welfare frustration we want to put up hoops for them to jump through.  They need to get drug tested.  They should have to show up down here and do something before they get their check.  They should have to show that they are looking for work.  They should have to go back to school.  Just like there are things that we have to do to get paid, they should have requirements too.

And some of these ideas may be valid, but the point of this post isn't about ways to improve welfare.  The point is this.  What type of assistance are we on?  Us.  Not them.

I went to a public school and then to a public university.  We paid tuition for college, but I know that it was massively subsidized by tax dollars.  I took out a student loan, that was underwritten by the government.  I bought a house  and the loan was secured by the feds.  I continue to get a tax break based on my mortgage interest.  I also get a tax credit for having a child.  I went back to college and took advantage of a lifelong learning tax credit.  I got an energy tax credit when I replaced our front door and window.  Am I a welfare queen or what?

It is easy to pick on the problems of others.  It is easy to say that your problems are not my problems so get  your act together.  My point is that we all take from the pie.  When we say that we are not on government assistance, we mean that we are not getting a monthly check.  But there are so many ways that the government gives.

So what is my point with all of this?

This lesson is particularly relevant to Christians.  It is easy to look at another's sins and say "come on, get your act together."  As a Christian, I am called to forgive others for their transgressions.  Furthermore, we are told that the measure we use to judge others, God will use to judge us.  We are called to forgive others.  Have empathy.  Have compassion.  Love.  This is the calling of the Christian.

Watch this clip from Pastor Chris.

We are two beggars showing each other to the food line.  We seem to have a lot of angry people in the world and many of them claim Jesus Christ as their Lord.  We need to approach others with compassion and humility.  We need to encourage rather than condemn.  And in all things we need to let the love of God shine through us.