Who's job is it anyway?

A recently released study that found 1 in 5 children in America live in poverty has Christian advocacy groups urging Congress to not cut financial safety net programs while attempting to reduce the national debt.~Christian Post

What should the proper Christian response be toward those that are in need?  We shouldn’t support government charity to solve poverty should we?  Should we support them by way of the church on the basis of mercy, grace and charity?  Isn't it sad that the only place to turn really is the government?

We have, over the years, let the government take our role in society of helping the less fortunate…the needy. The “War on Poverty” and social programs coming out of Washington have stripped away the church’s responsibility, yes-the church’s responsibility and we have let them take it from us.  It's a flawed idea that government-obligated redistribution of wealth is a good way to help the needy back onto their feet.  Quite the contrary, the result is entitlement programs and welfare that opposes a life-change in favor of a lifestyle of dependency; certainly no revelation there.

Only when the Christian community (with the help of secular charitable organizations for that matter) step up and live out the lessons of Jesus will we truly be in a position to help the poor, unemployed, widows, orphans, and anyone else in need.  That’s what needs to happen doesn’t it?  The church needs to step-in so that government is able to step out of the societal territory that belongs to the church. That can only happen when the church remembers the lessons of Jesus – that He wants our hearts.  That kind of change is going to require a huge leap of faith in the Christian community and church leadership must be willing to take huge risk to bring that about.  I would really like to believe that as Christians we can bring ourselves to sacrifice for the good of all.  The first century church gave of what they had so that no one was in need (Acts 2:44-45).  Today that kind of behavior at the community level is sadly defined as a cult and at the government level defined as socialism.  Call it what you like but I can’t help but wonder if that is where our societal solution lies.  If the Christian community (the church) cannot pull off caring for one another then why in the world should we expect the government to?  The fact is the government can’t and it shouldn’t.  I also understand that the times are different today than in the first century.  There are huge changes that would have to take place in the church today both logistically and administratively where her role changes from a worship-type of entity to that which resembles more the likes of a food bank and unemployment office.  I don’t know how such a shift in philosophy can be pulled off.  Maybe it can’t in these modern times.  I do know this though; the government can’t do much worse; and the church?  The church can and MUST do better.  When the church can only afford to exist, pay its bills and salaries at the cost of being charitable that is a problem especially when capacity is there to do so much more.  Only when the Christian community truly gives Jesus what he desires, their heart, will we be relevant in such a way that we care for one another and make a difference in the lifes of those in need.  No-Christian leadership should definitely NOT be calling on government to do what God has called us to do.  We don't need to delegate to "big brother" what our Father has called us to do.  This isn't a question of being hard, its a question of doing what is right.  If the local church exists with resources enough to only provide for it's own programs, members and paid staff then it's time to take a look at things.  It's interesting that the Christian Right Wing is so vocal about demanding less government and yet here are Christian advocacy groups calling for more government and entitlements at that!  Sorry pal.  As Christians we should be ashamed to demand that government TAKE from someone via taxes the resources to help the poor. This should come from us-what we should freely give.  Jesus never said it was going to be easy.