Debunking those that would shame the poor and claim to be Christians...

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The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked. -- Psalm 146: 9 (NIV)

Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute.Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy. -- Proverbs 31: 8-9 (ESV)

http://thekingsrights.com/welfare-is-theft-not-christian-charity/

To be honest beloved when I first came across the article linked above today I did not plan on writing about it because it was a year old. Secondarily, it was so vile and disgusting as an obvious political shill article wrapped in Jesus that I assumed it was low hanging fruit for discerning Christians. Then I saw the article later in the day and read some of the responses to the posting that showed how wrong I was. It saddens me that I would have to even deal with this but apparently some people still read the Gospel and think Jesus was somehow against the poor. Such is the case from the article linked above by someone named Matthew Travis, entitled: "Christians"Welfare Is Theft, Not Charity." The title alone should make you cringe as a Christian but the details are far far worse. Let us hold our noses and reason together and hopefully dispel this garbage once and for all.

"John Kasich once said that when he got to the pearly gates Peter probably wouldn't ask if he made government smaller. Instead, he thinks Peter would ask if he performed the noble deed of expanding the government, by increasing the welfare state and its dependents." -- Matthew Travis

Never a good sign when an author opens with an easily fact checked bald faced lie. Kasich, and I am no huge fan, said that he will be asked what he did for the poor. Anyone who follows politics knows that John Kasich is hardly a supporter of welfare and expanding government. What we see here however is the underlying beliefs of Matthew Travis. To him any help for the poor at all must be deemed as expanding government and increasing the welfare state.

'This understanding of Jesus' teaching is absurd. Governments with too much power and control over their citizens have killed tens of millions of people just in the last century. It's not unreasonable to assume Peter, and Jesus, might believe it a noble cause to reduce the power and influence of government. Also, I think it's pretty clear that Peter will not be interested in how many welfare programs John Kasich supported. The bible contains zero evidence that Jesus would support an involuntary, government run, inefficient "charity."' -- Matthew Travis

So in the mind of Matthew Travis, defending the rights of the poor is absurdly not close to the teachings of Christ? Seriously? Has even read the Gospel? The two key verses today show that Travis is absurdly wrong. Before you start with the fact that these are from the Old Testament, we believe God inspired all Scripture and Jesus is God so therefore these are also His words. In the verse from Psalms, the poor are represented by the fatherless, foreigner and widow. Notice how Jesus refers to those who would oppose helping them? They are the wicked. The Proverbs verse only further drives the point home that we are not only to support the cause of the poor but defend them as well. While I agree that Peter (God) will not be concerned about how many welfare programs we supported He will be very interested in how we took care of the least of these. Travis then launches into a strawman argument by pretending that if you support helping the poor, then you must support involuntary, government run, inefficient, charity. Now this may be how you view welfare because you routinely get your opinions from people like Matthew Travis. Our view of what our government does well or poorly does not change Scripture beloved. If we are so dissatisfied as citizens then there are lawful avenues to try and correct what we might see as injustice but we may want to truly check Scripture first.

'Paul Said, If You're Not Willing to Work, You Don't Get To Eat. The apostle Paul speaks of grace over, and over, and over in his writings to Philemon, the Ephesians, the Corinthians, the Thessalonians, etc. But even Paul said not to allow leeches to feed off your charitable deeds. He preached that giving to the lazy, at the expense of the community at large, was irrational and possibly sinful. In 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15, Paul explains the example he set by refusing to "eat anyone's bread without paying for it," and he "with toil and labor"worked night and day, that [he] might not be a burden to any of [the Thessalonians]." He went on to make an even more serious claim. He wrote, "for even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat."' -- Matthew Travis

This is the one verse that anti-governmental Christians seize upon to insist that the poor get what they deserve. Let me first address the hermeneutics. We do not make doctrine out of singular verses that are not widely supported elsewhere in Scripture. That is what false teachers engage in through proof-texting. Any fair reading of the entire canon of Scripture must leave one with the clear understanding that God cares very much about the cause of the needy. It is in fact that second most discussed topic after salvation. It is what is required of us in Micah. God even instructed the Israelites to not glean from their lands edges so the poor might have something to eat. When He speaks about the light of the fatherless and widows He means the poor. The entire ministry of Jesus was walking among the marginalized. The two key verses are only two of hundreds that support this. What then do we do with this one verse? We exegete it correctly to see what Paul was speaking about.

Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you,nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you.It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. - 2Thessalonians 3: 6-12 (ESV)

The first thing we must recognize is this is not written as a command doctrine for all of humanity. It is written specifically for believers. If it were meant for everyone it would have been part of the moral law, which was carried over into the New Covenant. No beloved, this was written to the church at Thessalonica. The early church was far more communal than the anti-government crowd will ever admit but one just needs to read Acts. People gave everything they had to the community of believers. Even when Paul takes an offering it was for the brothers suffering due to a famine in another location. As one would expect, some people began taking advantage of this situation and took from the community without giving anything. Paul is stating the cause against idleness here not making some doctrinal statement on the righteousness of governments that might try and help their poor. Let's see how low Travis is willing to go:

'"This command" directly conflicts with handing out money or goods via a government program that cannot accurately account for ones work ethic, or lack thereof. It shows that it is not immoral to allow people to starve if they won't make an effort to feed themselves. In fact, Paul even says of those not willing to do their part in the community, "do not associate with them, in order that they may feel ashamed." Yes. Those taking monetary, nutritional, housing, etc. donations should feel "ashamed," if they're not doing what they can to help themselves and, or, their community. It Seems Jesus May Have Agreed that Welfare Is Theft, Not Charity.' -- Matthew Travis

Wow, wow, wow. So this alleged Christian thinks that God is saying it is ok to let people starve to death if they refuse to work? Seriously? No wonder so many view the church as filled with hypocrites. Jesus loves you! Get a job you bum or starve to death! Also here, the statement from Paul is not a command and it certainly does not conflict with government run welfare. Paul is providing individual instruction to Christians not global advice to world leaders. I am not sure where Travis sees the word "ashamed" but that was not the point either. His point that those taking monetary, nutritional, or housing donations should feel ashamed reveals more about the blackened heart of Matthew Travis than anything else. Shaming the poor in the name of Jesus Christ is despicable. Then to make the insane leap in illogic to pretend that this somehow supports the notion that Jesus may have agreed that welfare is theft and not charity is beyond despicable. It is disgusting on a level hardly seen.

"Jesus never demanded that His followers give in the face of earthly consequences, nor to gain earthly rewards. He said to only give out of love, knowing their deeds would be seen by the Almighty. This theme was repeated in some of the apostles' letters, as well. In Paul's second letter to the Corinthians, he wrote, "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." Welfare is fed by taxes. If someone doesn't wish to participate in welfare, they would have to stop paying a certain percentage of their taxes. So, what happens if someone doesn't pay a portion of their taxes? Government officials will use guns, and the threat of severe violence, to put that man in prison. That sounds a lot less like Jesus' definition of charity, and a little more like theft." -- Matthew Travis

Clever but manipulating the Bible will not help Matthew's cause either. The reference to 2Corinthains is in relation to giving to the church, not paying your taxes. Nowhere does the Bible suggest we must cheerfully pay our taxes. Travis keeps revealing more and more of his skewed views however unintentional. To Matthew Travis, taxes are theft. This is a common refrain heard from anti-governmental crowds who apparently do not think the government has any role in the lives of its citizenry. What does God say however about paying taxes?

For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. -- Romans 13: 6-7 (ESV)

Gee that's odd. God doesn't say that taxes are theft! In fact He says to pay them! Beloved, even during the time Jesus walked the earth He was largely indifferent to the governments of man. You want my taxes; the next fish you catch will have the tax in its mouth! Travis continues:

"Jesus doesn't ask us to advocate for, nor does he say we will be rewarded for, a system in which the masses vote to steal from those they deem to have plenty and give it to those they see as needy. The only giving of which Jesus commanded was the giving of our own money and belongings. More specifically, He commanded that we give what we have been convicted to give through our conscience and the Holy Spirit, not what is believed by others to be our "fair share." I think it's fair to say, Jesus would find taxing a segment of the population in order to give to the needy to be theft. Well-meaning theft? Maybe. But more likely, it's theft done in order to avoid having to deal with the poor and downtrodden ourselves. Government Welfare Tempts People Into Idleness and Dependency. Jesus took tempting others, by creating an environment in which they are like to fall to a sin, very seriously. In Luke 17:1-2, Jesus says, "Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin." Encouraging the growth of the welfare state, is like leaving a stack of Corona's on the dining table of a newly recovering alcoholic, and then leaving him alone for the weekend. It's likely not going to end with him conquering his addiction. Temptation towards idleness is similar. Everyone, some more than others, are tempted to be idle. Government welfare actively increases this temptation, especially for those who struggle with idleness. It creates an environment ripe with government dependence, without any personal accountability to one's friends, neighbors, or brothers in Christ. A welfare recipient that is idle knows the checks will keep coming, regardless of whether or not they are lazy. They know the system can be easily played." -- Matthew Travis

Apparently Travis is simply confused here. The government decides taxes, not the masses of people. This is the sad "wealth redistribution" argument that holds no water politically nor biblically. The conclusion that Jesus would view taxation as theft is asinine. The Bible is not unclear. Jesus addressed taxation and then God reconfirmed it through Paul. Then we see more silly political talking points not based in reality. Beloved, I have worked with individuals on welfare for over 15 years. Yes, there may be a small amount who are "gaming" the system but the vast majority are not because there is very little to "game." It is simply an existence in abject poverty and for Travis or anyone else who doesn't know what they are talking about to pretend they are an expert is nauseating. The Luke verse is dealing with tempting to sin. What Travis has done here is now equate the state of poverty to the state of sinfulness and addiction. Yet the Bible speaks at length about the unrighteousness of money. How the love of money is the root of all forms of evil. In the Parable of Lazarus and the rich man -- who went to heaven? Now, he did not go because he was poor but it dispels this insidious claim made by Travis that sin and poverty have any relationship whatsoever. Travis reminds me more and more of the judgmental Pharisee looking down upon the publican at prayer.

"With that in mind, it's clear that government welfare system is not a healthy way to go about charity. It is not an efficient method by which to help the poor, while still maintaining accountability and avoiding dependency. As Christians, we are called to be generous and giving. Jesus was quoted throughout the gospels saying Christians are to help feed the poor (Matthew 25:34-46, Luke 12:33-34, Matthew 5:42). This is translated by many liberal Christians as a reason to support the theft that is the welfare state. They attempt to make the teachings of Christ fit their socialist or progressive ideology. Many conservatives fall into this trap, as well. They too believe, like John Kasich, they're doing a charitable Christian deed by helping a select group of downtrodden individuals via government coercion." -- Matthew Travis

Only in the depraved mind of someone this hateful can a conclusion be reached that agrees the government welfare system is somehow not "healthy." It is certainly not perfect but perfection was not the goal. Helping people was. Taking care of the neediest in society was. The myth of the welfare queen created by Reagan was not true then and it is not true now. It was designed only to get people to demonize the poor. While it am less surprised that it worked so well in the world; the fact that it worked on so many Christians is very disheartening. This is not "government coercion" you heartless man. He concludes:

"In reality, Christ commanded charity and government welfare are polar opposites. Christ centered charity is about helping those in need, but not encouraging leeches to take advantage of the community at large. It's about being generous with your own money, but not involuntarily taking someone else's. It's about being sure your brothers and sisters have their needs met, while not encouraging them to become idle or lazy. Government welfare is inherently inefficient, ineffective, and easily corruptible. It is the ultimate example of a system susceptible to leeches, making no attempt to positively contribute to the community. Advocating for the government to collect welfare, under the threat of imprisonment, is most accurately described as self-righteous theft, not charity." -- Matthew Travis

As has been the norm from Travis, he makes silly conclusions he has not come close to proving and states them as gospel truth. Christ commanded charity and government welfare are not polar opposites beloved. One is a personal instruction and the other is a government trying to help its people. People in desperate need are not "leeches." If government run systems are so corruptible, inefficient and ineffective then change them! Improve them! Instead however Travis gives a huge middle finger to the poorest people and then blames it on God. How unseemly. He ends with as great a distortion as he started with. Governments do not collect welfare. They collect taxes but Travis knows he has no real argument there so he plays a little word switcheroo in the hopes that we did not notice. But we did.

Beloved, Jesus said you will always have to poor among you. The entire canon of Scripture consistently reinforces a loving and kind God. He leaves governments to run themselves until He returns. He expects us to obey the laws so that we might live in peace to better represent God and the Gospel to a lost and dying world. Matthew Travis is a shill. He sold himself out for 30 pieces of class warfare silver. That would be bad enough if he did not misrepresent Christ and mangle the Bible to achieve his ends. I am serious here beloved. If you read the Bible and think that we should support people starving then I suggest you read it again. Forget socialism, communism, capitalism, or any other buzz words people use. This is not about charity versus hard work. It is about right versus wrong. Good versus evil. If your brother wants your coat give him your tunic as well. We are our brother's keeper. From the start until the end we see a merciful and bountiful God. Not some stingy tyrant whipping people who are not carrying their weight enough. If you want to be a far edge libertarian or psychotic-conservative -- go right ahead. Just stop pretending that you have anything to do with Christ.

Reverend Anthony Wade -

Authors Bio:
Credentialed Minister of the Gospel for the Assemblies of God. Owner and founder of 828 ministries. Vice President for Goodwill Industries. Always remember that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.