I was thinking about Jackson's premise that Jesus was a Liberal. One counter-argument that conservatives bring up often is that it is possible to be more compassionate by taking a non-coddling approach. LaShawn brings this point up as do other conservatives:
Implicit is the common notion that conservatives don’t care about the poor. Liberals think they’ve cornered the market on compassion simply because they advocate bigger government programs to do the caring and feeding. To sum up the difference between liberal compassion and true compassion, I’ll borrow an old saying: “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”
But ignoring the fact that the current administration has cut funding for training, I want to go back to Jesus.
Was there ever a point where Jesus either literally taught someone how to fish instead of giving them fish? When the multitudes were with one loaf and some fish, wasn't it given to them? Maybe the closest to this is Jesus' habit of speaking in parables--a form of teaching which is really based on what we would now call "critical thinking." But when it comes to providing material? If anything Jesus supported a combination of dependence (we cannot be saved unless we rely on Jesus) and interdependence (we cannot be saved unless we do good deeds for each other as well as taking Jesus was Our Lord and Savior--though to be fair this is only one interpretation).
[Edited to Add] As an aside I believe that this is one of the reasons that African Americans both give a larger percentage of their income as charity, AND support federal government intervention into poverty.
"If anything Jesus supported a combination of dependence (we cannot be saved unless we rely on Jesus) and interdependence (we cannot be saved unless we do good deeds for each other as well as taking Jesus was Our Lord and Savior--though to be fair this is only one interpretation)."
A couple quibbles.
In the spiritual realm, no man comes to the Father but by Jesus. We are not saved by simply relying on Him, rather by believing that He is the Son of God and died for our sins (Jn 3:16).
The manifestation of that faith is to be Christlike and use our God-given gifts to further the Lord's work. However, our good deeds will not save us, indeed, our best efforts are but filthy rags in the eyes of God.
As for the physical. Jesus took compassion on the multitude for staying 3 days in a desert place to hear him speak and as it was getting late, he didn't want them to faint on their way to town to get something to eat.
It wasn't given to them just because he felt like like a benevolent leader wanting them to depend on him for their material needs. Otherwise it would have been a daily occurance--the last thing Jesus would want is a horde of people following him in pursuit of a free meal every day and not to sate their spiritual hunger. If anything, it was sort of like a potluck lunch that churches throw when they have a long day of services.
But under our day to day routine, Jesus and the Apostles were explicit about working for a living and remaining steadfast. On the otherhand, even back to Moses, God is also explicit about taking care of the defensless, the widows and orphans amongst the community.
There is never a concept of the government being obligated to provide or fund the support infrastructure. Indeed, charity is a function of faith, not government. So no, Jesus is/was not a socialist either.
As for the federal govt cutting funds, I don't have an issue with it, since education should be the responsiblity of the local community. On one hand, by ceding authority to the feds, we cede the curriculum to them as well.
On the other hand, since what the govt gives is in essence derived by what we as taxpayers give, I'd much rather support my local education via local taxes as approved by local voters. With the feds, we have no such voice and in effect it is taxation without representation. I realize that makes it tough for some communities, but not my problem.
Posted by: Andy at August 9, 2004 02:52 PMThank you Andy.
We do good things as a result of being saved, not in order to be saved.
But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. 1st Timothy 5:8
Posted by: wendy at August 14, 2004 09:57 PM
Good point.
Maybe he was a Socialist. ;-D
Posted by: P6 at August 9, 2004 07:12 AM