What Would Jesus Say And Do

As we celebrate Christmas and the birth of our lord and savior, our nation faces many challenges.   We often hear the question posed, what would Jesus do, presumably if faced with people in need.  The answer depends on your perspective.   If you are a Socialist like President Obama,  you would say the "rich" need to pay more in taxes so government can help the less fortunate in our country.  

Conservatives, like this Blogger, believe that government is often the problem, not the solution and that the private sector, religious institutions and families can do far more to help the poor than government ever will.  Jesus instructed us that we are our brother's keeper; but Jesus certainly was not talking about Obama as "Big Brother" trying to control every aspect of daily life.   Instead, Jesus spoke of personal responsibility to help the poor, not government responsibility, saying leave unto to Caesar what is Caesar's.  

We live in a Judeo Christian country.  Moslems too are people of the Book.   Buddhists also recognize the need to help the poor.  Whether we are Conservatives or Socialists, we all know that we cannot turn a blind eye to the needs of the poor.   Our approach is just different; with Conservatives advocating self reliance and Socialists advocating reliance on government.   Either way, we all know we must act to help the poor, even though to win elections, Socialists would shamefully tell the world that Conservatives want to throw granny over a cliff and that we want poor children to starve, or go without medical care.  This is of course ridiculous. 

This contrast with countries like India whose values are predicated on the Hindu faith with a belief in reincarnation.   Hindus can look the other way when they encounter the beggar in the street because they believe that his fate is a punishment for past misdeeds and that if he lives a better life this time around, he may come back to a higher station in the next life.   Judeo Christians, whether Conservatives or Socialists, cannot accept this notion. 

Conservatives believe that if you give a man a fish, he will eat for day; but if you teach a man to fish he will eat for a life time.   Many studies show that Conservatives give far more to charities, especially those designed to intervene and change lives, than do Socialists that believe that government is the way to help the poor.   Sadly, no matter the good intentions, Welfare since World War II has destroyed the Black family and today 7 out of 10 Black children are born out of wedlock and as a result are more likely to live in poverty.   Clearly, history teaches us that government is not the answer.  Faith based charities are the answer. 

So what would Jesus do.   There is no way to know for sure; but it is highly likely that anyone seeing the end result of government intervention must at least question the value of such intervention when compared with the work and success of private faith based charities.   So rather than government redistributing income,  it is much better that Americans retain more of their income that they personally can donate to worthy causes to make a difference that is real.   We don't need government telling us to do good because Americans are the most charitable people in the world. 

And, while Jesus said that a rich man is as likely to go to heaven as a camel walking through the eye of a needle,  Jesus would have to acknowledge that the many charities, supported by the rich and those with less to give, really do a better job of helping the poor than government.   It is what it is.   

We are a divided country related to issues like social justice and redistribution of income.  Government has proven over and again that it is not the answer.   Obama's ugly Class Warfare, that divides our nation, is certainly not the answer either.   We are one nation under God.   Together, we can best help the poor and disadvantaged by using private faith based charities to intervene to work with dysfunctional families to change bad behaviors.   

Conservatives just look to history as our teacher.   Socialism where ever it has been tried in the world has led to poverty, misery and a loss of freedom.   Capitalism and the creation of wealth, with all its boom and bust cycles, is the best way to help the poor because it is what provides excess income for donation to good causes that change lives. 

Conservatives believe that the best way to help the poor is to restore economic growth and create jobs in our country.    Bigger government is a job killer and is therefore counterproductive.   More entitlements only make matters worse as the poor become even more dependent on government as the chain of poverty is never broken.   Rather than Food Stamps and Welfare, we need to revive our economy so that the poor have a job that will provide them a paycheck and the dignity that comes with it.   This is the lord's work and we are his angels seeking to preserve our freedom, our nation and way of life for the sake of our children, grandchildren and the poor.