Heroes of the Half-Measure: Christian Advocates for Government Charity

Wednesday, July 6, 2005
We can send President Bush to the G8 Summit carrying the compassion, justice and generosity of millions of Americans
The Group of Eight (G8) conference this week in Gleneagles, Scotland has been the object of a lot of attention from various charity campaigns. Jordan Ballor writes, “What is similar in all these movements is an emphasis on the role of government in providing assistance to the poor. But it is precisely this aspect of the initiatives that is most problematic from a Christian perspective.”

Read the full text here.
This entry was posted by Jonathan Spalink on Wednesday, July 6, 2005 at 08:39. and is filed under Effective Compassion. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own blog. All new comments are subject to moderation before being displayed.
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  1. marc says:
    #1 2005-07-06 08:59 (Reply)

    “Civil society is never enough."

    Lots of money + no solid civil society foundation = recipe for disaster. Civil society may not be the only necessary element, but it is absolutely vital.

  2. rick hawksley says:
    #2 2005-07-06 15:29 (Reply)

    I agree that government aid is limited, but unfortunately, Christian thinkers are not getting through to the people in the pews. We are mostly talk and little walk. The evangelical churches in the country could elimate poverty in the world, but we spend on ourselves. Even on the local level, our city government , of which i am an elected official, spends money on social services because the private sector and the churches are falling so short.

  3. John Crowe says:
    #3 2005-07-06 15:33 (Reply)

    I agree with Mr. Ballor completely but I am afraid that he only made half of the argument. The half that is missing is the need of the ones in the position to give to do the actual giving. Only if one freely decides to give is the action moral. As a taxpayer I have no choice put to pay and thereby the action of participating in the various programs is greatly diminished.

  4. FRANCIS MAMBO says:
    #4 2005-07-07 07:36 (Reply)

    The views expressed are acceptable, except that the goverments are made of men and women who are also christians. They should bring to bear the rightful role of a goverment.The attitudes of the men and woomen that govern us must be sensetized so as to walk the talk.
    Going by what Mother terresa sid" the world has enough for all, but insuffcient for peoples gratony"
    God had given the wold enough for our needs , but not excesses for waste and destruction.
    Christians must re-address the attitudes of its members .These members should stand out to be counted for the greater glory of God.

  5. GEORGE VERHEYEN says:
    #5 2005-07-07 11:11 (Reply)

    GOVERMENTS SHOULD NOT BE IN THE DEBT FORGIVENESS OR CHARITY BUSINESS. THAT IS CHARITY OUT OF THE BUSINESS END OF A GUN!!

    WORSE YET; WHEN CHRISTIAN LEADERS ABDICATE THEIR CHARITABLE RESPONSIBILITIES TO POLITICIANS THEY LOSE THEIR ABILITY TO ADVOCATE AGAINST ABORTION ,GAY MARRIAGE ,MERCY KILLING ETC BECAUSE THEY ARE ALWAYS REMINDED OF THEIR DEPENDENCE ON THE GOVERMENT PURSE FOR "THEIR WONDERFUL WORKS TO ACCOMPLISH" THIS PURSE DEPENDENCE HAS ALLOWED THE SECULAR HUMANISTS AND DOWNRIGHT CORRUPT TO CO-OPT OUR LORDS WORDS AND TOO MANY OF HIS MINISTERS

    FOR DEBT FORGIVENESS PERHAPS THE CHURCHES SHOULD LEAD A FUND DRIVE AND BUY THE DEBT( hopefully at a discount ) AND FORGIVE IT

  6. dufflepud says:
    #6 2005-07-11 17:24 (Reply)

    One question for Mr. Hawksley that would clear up my thinking - how far short are churches falling? To put it another way, what level of wealth is your basis that determines poverty and how much money should be allocated to assuage this? Is it even possible?
    The Lord himself indicated the poor would always be with us. Charity does offer us the opportunity to be the servants of God in someones life. This may be His purpose in allowing it. But charity has to begin with someone offering from what God has given them. It is not giving someone elses property and this is all the state can do - take from one and give it to others.

  7. James Graham says:
    #7 2005-07-13 17:53 (Reply)

    In principle I agree with Mr. Baylor however sometimes once in a great while, a disaster of great magnitude strikes and goverment action I think can be taken. Africa is one such disaster. We are the riches nation on earth, are we prepared to watch an entire continent go down the drain? The problem with his solutoin is found in his article. Only 6%% tithe 10%%, that is appaling. How can we chage that anytime soon, and if we do the money may be spent on new Churches, programs in this country ect. I don’t see it happening. Our tax money is going to be spent on something. How about some going to save a continent? Let’s remember that God judges people as well as nations.

  8. Steve Hill says:
    #8 2005-07-15 04:01 (Reply)

    The amount of flight capital out of third world nations is about equal to the amount of government to government aid going into those countries. The issue of government to government aid is that it fuels corruption. It is like giving alcohol to an addict to help him!

    Black empowerment in South Africa is going to the same few black business leaders.

    The issues is not money. The issue is corruption.

    Help must go directly to the poor. Not to their leaders!

  9. Frank Johnson says:
    #9 2005-08-08 00:33 (Reply)

    Good Service

  10. Rick Florance says:
    #10 2005-09-07 14:44 (Reply)

    Ran across this article looking for discussion on government "charity". What amazes me is how shallow most people’s thinking is. All governments steal most of their revenues from others. (They sure don’t earn them.) Then they give them to other people and call it "charity". What about "Thou shall not steal."?


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