INTRODUCTIONMon peuple it is that time of the month again!! I cannot believe another month has come and gone. I keep telling you whatever the heart can conceive the mind can do just go ahead and do it. I am under siege in New Mexico right here at the Exxon Station next to Exit 62. It is a trading post similar to the ones in the old western movies. In those days they had hay now there is petroleum. I have been walking all day from Deming twenty miles away on my way to Lordsburg towards the Arizona border. I tell you people New Mexico is an arid land. They need to speak to Israel about fertility of the desert. Can you believe it? I have never walked on road like this in my life I am wondering if Jamaica has that quality road, not even donkeys could walk on it. I mean people you know the road is in need of repair the least you could do is put up a sign to advise unwary motorists and pedestrians like myself that the road is out of service and advise of alternate routes. Or is it Google who has failed to update their maps. I tell you people I had to go through some stones, thorny plants (makka) and being followed by a raven. I suppose the vulture thought I would not make It through. Oh, you are wondering which road I am speaking about that would be Highway 70, the frontage road for Interstate 30 in New Mexico. Google had that as the most direct route to my destination. When I reached the second stop at Exit 62 it was not an all-night stop by 8;20 p.m. they were running me out of the place. I reached at 8:00 p.m. I decided to camp there for the night. Of course, the genomic African mutants Bro. Anancy Nigerians and their equally genomic criminally challenged Canadian friends had gone ahead with their slander. As per usual everything was planned right down to the truck in the gas station to oversee my activities. Those of you who know that weapons are going to be formed but they shall not prosper, say Amen!
I could not close my eyes so first I decided to start writing my blog. Then I decided to practise my favourite sport at the moment stone throwing and do a little exercise. That is when I noticed men started moving. I was not aware that there were so many persons in the complex. The station was busy all night we even had two ladies coming to prayers in the middle of the night. I spent the night there and got up early the next morning and hit the highway. I was given a ride to Casa Grande, Arizona by a gentleman who also fed me. Thanks to the Wal-Mart in Casa Grande, good nutrition at a reasonable price. Casa Grande is a nice town. I got a ride out of town with one criminal who wanted to abduct me until I told him that I was a Jamaican and we did not torture people we shot them or killed them. He looked at me strangely. Then his Psychiatrist called him and tried to motivate for the rest of the journey. After going around in circles because I insisted I would not be stopping in no man's land he would have to return me to where he picked me up. One other the thing that saved me was the fact that I studied my maps in advance about any city or state I was headed for. I know the highways and towns along the route. If I get a ride and you veer to the right or the left I need an explanation. This culprit was all over the place. He finally left me in Marcopia nice city in Arizona. I decided to walk it out the next day. I could not find the library or the Wal-Mart. I got a ride from a Physicist who took me to Phoenix changing his plans for the day when we got talking. We had an in-depth discussion on the treatment of cancer and he suggested two books that I had to read. You might want to read them also, "The Emperor of All Maladies' and Gene'. He ended up paying for my trip to Los Angeles that is why I did not get to see Phoenix by foot. And feeding me just like Boaz did to Ruth he said make sure you take something for the journey. He is not a Christian in fact that is a discussion that we also had because he told me up front that he did not believe in God. He just wanted to do good. Isaiah 55 people there is no doubt in my mind when it is God and when it is not, none whatsoever.
Then I hit LA a city like the big apple and the Hispanics are after me. This time I placed my Transit pass in my Bible. I did not want a repeat of Atlanta, Georgia. The only things they were able to steal are my hygiene package with my toiletries and my $1.63 blouse from Wal-Mart the latter at the Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church out of my bag that I left with the security on Temple Street. There is a reason why my blouse only cost $1.63 that is because everything that I have has been stolen. Since I am still in America and the nazis are after my bag I cannot afford to waste money on things that will be stolen. I only spend money as needed. I also started my protest in LA Union Station, 7th and Hope Streets, 8th Street and Grand Avenue. The city inspectors ran me from this corner I was disturbing the business of Louie. Some high-class restaurant. The people could see me while they were eating their caviar. The final place I protested was at Temple and High streets right across from the Hall of Justice, The Criminal Justice Center, City Hall and The Los Angeles Superior Court just wanted to indicate that the USA had reached the place where justice was for the person with the most money. The statue of Liberty was now only symbolic, it had no meaning. My transit card had expired the previous day however, I was able to ride out of LA on the bus into Santa Barbara. It is hoped that I will be able to do this throughout California. Thus, far Santa Barbara has refused to have me drive on their Transit. I went into a bus and the driver told me I was not allowed. However, when I approached the bus after I had walked and was at the penultimate bus stop from my destination I was told that I had to pay. I was just testing their intentions. Keep her grounded and busted at all cost.
I am now at the university of California Santa Barbara typing my Blog. I am just reminded of how I miss University life.REFELECTIONS
I have stated on a number of occasion the false perception I had of the United States was shattered a long time ago. Coming into New York and being exposed to the level of homelessness was a shocker. This was only second to my witnessing the persons sleeping in the cold before the old City Hall in Toronto, Canada. Travelling around the country I realized that it was a nationwide problem. My query to the Lord has been from where I am sitting there seems to be no reason for persons to be homeless (except for persons like myself who are being pursued by criminal governments and churches) yet this phenomenon persists and in recent times has been exacerbated. What is the missing link here? Like my topics before when I want to understand something I do my research and do a blog.
This Blog will be looking at homelessness in the United States and Worldwide. The problem seems to be worldwide. We will also be looking at the way the social assistance system impacts on the former.
CRITICAL DEFINITIONS
Social Security/Assistance: The definition as per Merriam Webster
- The principle or practice or a program of public provision (as through Social Insurance or Social Assistance) for the economic security and social welfare of the individual and his or her family.
- Money paid through a social security program
- The health, happiness or fortune of a people
- Statutory procedure or social effort designed to promote the basic physical and material well-being of people in need.
- Financial support given to people in need.
- Extract from various sources
- Collect gradually and bit by bit
- Gather (leftover grain or produce) after a harvest
The definitions related to homelessness will be contained in the section on homelessness.
GOD'S SOCIAL ASSISTANCE SYSTEMI have already stated in a previous Blog Naomi could have sent Ruth to glean because she understood the economic system of Israel. We are going to look at that system as outlined in the books of the laws; Leviticus and Deuteronomy. God knows the creature He has made called man so He leaves nothing to chance. Any problem you have can be solved from the Bible you only need to get the initial principle as outlined in the Bible.
In the book of Leviticus, Leviticus 19 verse 10. God clearly gave instructions to the children of Israel on how the poor were to be treated. The fact that all the produce in any field was not to be cleared. They should always leave gleanings so that the stranger and the poor would have a sure supply of food. There were also instructions on usury, loans and the release of slaves. I remember in my own life one of the challenges of going to the market was the fact that you might not get the right weight from the higglers (persons selling foods in the market). Wisdom would determine that you leave the local higglers and stick to the people from the country (ever heard the saying honest country folks) who were a bit more honest in this area. Oh, blessed curry! (Coronation Market - Kingston, Jamaica), going to the market was indeed a social occasion. This was an equitable way of dealing with the matter and to all intents and purposes could have worked for the Israeli society which was not massive and based on their practices had ease of implementation.
However, let us look at how this translated in the early church after a number of centuries and Roman occupation. Let us back up for a moment and look at the teachings of John the Baptist. St Luke 3 verses 1 – 20 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+3%3A1-20&version=KJV in verses ten to fourteen it was not only about money but also about inter-personal relationships. All things being equal you and I should not be in the same fellowship and you have everything and I have nothing and you are aware of this and every Sunday you pass me and say bless you Sister. Show me in the teachings of Jesus and the Bible where that is to be found. How can a Pastor be a millionaire and there are members in his congregation who are having challenges with their security and safety needs? In case you don’t know what those are you can google Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. That teaching is outside the scope of this Blog the latter is in the area of Management 101. Then, look to Jesus I will not go pass the Sermon on the Mount St. Matthew 5 - 7. Acts 4 and 6 are the practical manifestation of these principles. Remember the disciple were first called Christians at Antioch because it could be clearly seen that they had been with Christ Acts 1 verse 26. Getting back to the book of Acts 4. In Acts 4 verse 32 - Acts verse 42, In verse 32 the bible says they had all things in common. The translation in our modern-day parlance is that each person needs were met. In order to facilitate this, people who had more than enough sold their goods and donated it to the community. I suppose it would be safe to say God was the first Communist, without the bureaucracy of course (or should we say party machinery).
Let us analyze through the centuries what has happened regarding this principle and see when the major shift happened to where we are now with this present model a church building for God and the major money-making arm of the ministry to the Pastor.
THE BEGINNING OF THE HOMELESSNESS PROBLEM
Let us look at church history coming down the centuries.
- Early Church. To talk about caring for the poor today we have to start with the early church. The early church took care of the needy among them and even the needy beyond their own circle. From time to people sold property and gave the proceeds to the Apostles who used the gift distributed food and aid to the needy among them—especially the widows and orphans. But beyond this service to its members, the early church also became known for helping strangers and poor people even those who were not believers. We cannot say they ever took on the entire welfare needs of the Roman empire—they were too small to do that—but they did become known as a people who helped the poor and needy. But it was not just an [organized] “church” responsibility—it was considered a personal responsibility. IN fact it was considered a certifiable sign you were truly converted to help the needy—how could a person be a real Christian of they did not help someone in need? 1 John 3 verse 17. So the church corporately had a welfare program, and the individuals personally had a welfare program. The state had none. States and empires taxed and ruled. Churches gave and cared.
- Christendom. Within a few hundred years of Constantine, Christians were no longer a minority. By AD 500 Christians ruled along with the empire and the church was large enough to take on almost all social welfare responsibilities. It did so for the next thousand years—AD500- AD1500. A “division of labor” between the church and state resulted. Governments taxed, ruled and went to war and the church handled the softer side—caring for the poor, the sick, the broken and the outcasts. Society was still largely agrarian so the family was the primary first front of the welfare system. People turned first to their extended family when they were old, sick, or dying. But there were some who had no extended family support: the “outcast poor.” These unconnected people had no family or farm to turn to when they were in need so the church stepped in as their care-giver—to the rejected, the wanderers, the orphans, the widows, the crippled, and the insane. For a thousand years this general division of labor between the state and the church continued, with the extended family being the first line of defense for the poor, then the church acting as backup where a person had no family network.
- Protestant Reformation. With the Protest Reformation “the church” became fragmented. Soon there were scores of “denominations” and not a single unified church. Protestants continued to aid the poor personally and corporately but the over-all approach was fragmented and became hit and miss. A plethora of denominations each had their own approach. Some cared for all needy who showed up, others considered their calling to only serve “their own” arguing that the early church had no needy “among them” and did not care for those outside the church. Some denominations married the state and became “state churches.” Eventually the Protestant Reformation spawned scores—eventually hundreds—of denominations fragmenting and disbursing church power. At about this time the “modern state” offered a stronger more unified central authority. While the church was fragmenting and losing unified power, the state was getting stronger, unifying and gaining power. Yet still, social welfare was the duty of the church—however fragmented and herky-jerky the approach was.
- Industrialization. Industrialization changed everything. People moved from their rural extended family networks to sprawling urban centers and became “workers.” Workers, that is, when they could find a job. They became poor when they couldn’t. And even when they found a job—they were often only the “working poor” barely able to feed a family. When they couldn’t work they were hungry. Poverty increased. The old extended family social welfare network had evaporated. Cities became jammed with poor people and the church tried its best to rise to this new challenge. They had been equipped to handle the “outcast poor” but handling this new wave of poverty overburdened them. Churches and Christians responded heroically though, with John Wesley being one of best examples in this period. But the response was inadequate. No longer was the burden for the smaller group of “outcast poor” but now the church tried to take on the teeming masses of—they did their best but it was just too much to handle. The church tried heroically but was fragmented in its response. Even though Christians responded vigorously and established city missions and hospitals and homes for unwed mothers and homes for recovering prostitutes and if someone in a city was hungry they could usually find a meal—and usually that was offered by a church, the response was just not enough to “solve” the problem. So, who had power great enough to respond to this new need?
- The Great Depression. The coming of the Great Depression overwhelmed doubled down again the sheer numbers of needy. “Workers” living in cities needed jobs, not just bread. The church had bread but no jobs. Christians stood at the bottom of the cliff helping those who had fallen over, but the fragmented church never even imagined how to work at the top of the cliff—creating an economic climate to keep people from falling off the poverty cliff. It just wasn’t in their repertoire. Churches put out extraordinary efforts during the depression but the situation did not improve. In America it was government that seemed to have the power, not the churches. Government now had new power derived from multiple wars. Government seemed to offer unified across-the-board solutions—bread and jobs. The Government provides “welfare” but also provided work—the CCC, the WPA, and a dozen other domestic jobs programs touted to boost the economy. Then World War II approached and government put virtually everybody to work connected in one way or another with the war effort. Churches still founded city missions and aided the poor, but the church’s work was rapidly eclipsed by government. Christians went along with this. Those with compassion for the poor saw the government had one ability they did not have: the power to tax. Church welfare ministries had been stuck with spending only the pittance they got voluntarily. Christian social welfare ministries felt they only got a few coins tossed their way by other Christians—like Dives in the Parable. Governments did not have to ask for donations—they taxed people and forced them to contribute. The contributor may have not gotten the benefit they would have gotten if they’d voluntarily donated the money- but the needy certainly got more benefits that way! Many compassionate Christians applauded this new role for government—indeed they believed this was the Christian thing for a Christian nation to do. Besides, they rather gleefully rejoiced that the government taxed all the unbelievers and non-church attendees too. They knew caring for the poor it was God’s work and were happy however God got His work done—by voluntary donations to the church or by taxation by the government.
- The modern welfare state. Government was eminently successful at taxing and spending. At least people saw the power and unified approach of government as stronger than that of the fragmented competitive churches. The poor were cared for, in a new arrangement: Government did lots but churches did the rest. But few Americans were satisfied with care for the poor—they wanted in on it. Government was so successful at taxing people and helping others that the middle class wanted in too. While old people used to live with their kids on the farm, now their kids had moved to California in a small house and had their own kids. Why couldn’t government offer some kind of social security for these parents of middle class kids who wanted to keep their own income? How about all these men coming home for the war—why couldn’t government help them get a college degree with some sort of a G. I. Bill? How about helping all middle-class families send their kids to college with subsidized loans? How about helping the “family farm?” Could they help old people with medical care—not just poor people, but middle class old people with something like Medicare? Maybe we could help these middle class old people with their drug costs too with George Bush’s Part D? Maybe churches could have done all these things but the church’s financial power was too weak. Churches could not tax people. They could persuade some of their own people to tithe but they could not make the 70% of the people in their town who did not attend church to tithe. But government could tax everybody—all denominations, even non-believers to do this work. Even more so, government had another power no church even dreamed of—they could print money! The role of government changed. Government’s care for the poor became care for voters, and welfare became “entitlements” most of which went to the middle class, and even to the rich. The straw that will eventually break the economic camel’s back will not be welfare for the poor—it will be welfare for the middle class.
- Evangelicals go along. Evangelicals have uneasily accepted a new division of labor. Government taxes and makes war, and also now also cares for the needy, and especially the middle class. Evangelicals like the idea of the church doing welfare ministry but they don’t like the budget it would cost. Now the church preaches and evangelizes and “does a little bit of ministry to the poor” on the side while the government carries the bulk of welfare ministry. Evangelicals are going along. The new more successful brand of evangelicalism is more like a business than a mission anyway. While evangelicals regularly recite their creed, “The church should be doing welfare for the poor, not the government” it is mostly a hollow doctrine recited to themselves—we do not act on it. We are quite content to collect our tithes and spend most of them on ourselves. Modern evangelical success requires this modern business approach. We need million-dollar buildings and a dozen staff persons to succeed in today’s competitive market. We want to be “missional” but the vast majority of our people are content with “photo-op ministries”—you know, the kind where someone goes for a day or week to help the poor then wears the tee shirt advertising their service for the rest of the year. We have some wonderful examples of 'missional' people, but they are the exceptions that prove the rule—they are rare, not average. Most evangelicals know down deep in their hearts that there is no way they could take back from the government welfare for the poor, let alone take back welfare for the middle class. In most towns in the USA. to pay for just the poor’s welfare we’d have to take every single dollar coming into every single church in the town—Protestant and Catholic alike, and use it for poverty programs. There would be no money left to pay the pastor, or staff or to cover the heat bill—let alone pay for a building. We like the notion of the church handling welfare, but when we crunch the numbers we see it just can’t be done. We can “help out” but we simply can’t match the government’s power and money. There is only one way evangelicals could actually take on a major burden of welfare for the poor: If every Christian would tithe.
The analysis also overlooks the fact that because of the entitlement mentality the government bill to the so call poor and middle class has ballooned. Many persons getting a Social Security cheque today in America should be gainfully employed.
HOMLESSNESS IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICALet us begin by defining a number of terms related to this area by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development - Office of Community Planning and Development:
Definition of Terms Please note: Key terms are used for Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) reporting purposes and accurately reflect the data used in this report. Definitions of these terms may differ in some ways from the definitions found in the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act and in Housing and Urban Development (HUD) regulations.
Chronically Homeless Individual refers to an individual with a disability who has been continuously homeless for one year or more or has experienced at least four episodes of homelessness in the last three years where the combined length of time homeless in those occasions is at least 12 months.
Chronically Homeless People in Families refers to people in families in which the head of household has a disability and has either been continuously homeless for one year or more or has experienced at least four episodes of homelessness in the last three years where the combined length of time homeless in those occasions is at least 12 months.
Continuums of Care (CoC) are local planning bodies responsible for coordinating the full range of homelessness services in a geographic area, which may cover a city, county, metropolitan area, or an entire state.
Emergency Shelter is a facility with the primary purpose of providing temporary shelter for homeless people.
Homeless describes a person who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.
Housing Inventory Count (HIC) is produced by each CoC and provides an annual inventory of beds that assist people in the CoC who are experiencing homelessness or leaving homelessness.
Individual refers to a person who is not part of a family with children during an episode of homelessness. Individuals may be homeless as single adults, unaccompanied youth, or in multiple-adult or multiple-child households.
Other Permanent Housing is housing with or without services that is specifically for formerly homeless people but that does not require people to have a disability.
Parenting Youth are people under age 25 who are the parents or legal guardians of one or more children (under age 18) who are present with or sleeping in the same place as that youth parent, where there is no person over age 24 in the household.
Parenting Youth Household is a household with at least one parenting youth and the child or children for whom the parenting youth is the parent or legal guardian.
People in Families with children are people who are homeless as part of a household that has at least one adult (age 18 and older) and one child (under age 18).
Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) is a housing model designed to provide housing assistance (project- and tenant-based) and supportive services on a long-term basis to formerly homeless people. HUD’s Continuum of Care program, authorized by the McKinney-Vento Act, funds PSH and requires that the client have a disability for eligibility.
Point-in-Time Counts (PIT) are unduplicated 1-night estimates of both sheltered and unsheltered homeless populations. The 1-night counts are conducted by CoCs nationwide and occur during the last week in January of each year.
Rapid Rehousing is a housing model designed to provide temporary housing assistance to people experiencing homelessness, moving them quickly out of homelessness and into permanent housing.
Safe Havens provide temporary shelter and services to hard-to-serve individuals.
Sheltered Homelessness refers to people who are staying in emergency shelters, transitional housing programs, or safe havens.
Transitional Housing Programs provide people experiencing homelessness a place to stay combined with supportive services for up to 24 months.
Unaccompanied Homeless Youth (under 18) are people in households with only children who are not part of a family with children or accompanied by their parent or guardian during their episode of homelessness, and who are under the age of 18.
Unaccompanied Homeless Youth (18-24) are people in households without children who are not part of a family with children or accompanied by their parent or guardian during their episode of homelessness, and who are between the ages of 18 and 24.
Unsheltered Homelessness refers to people whose primary nighttime location is a public or private place not designated for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for people (for example, the streets, vehicles, or parks).
Veteran refers to any person who served on active duty in the armed forces of the United States. This includes Reserves and National Guard members who were called up to active duty.
THE HUD REPORT EXTRACT
On a single night in 2017, 553,742 people were experiencing homelessness in the United States. For every 10,000 people in the country, 17 were experiencing homelessness. Approximately two thirds (65%) were staying in emergency shelters or transitional housing programs, and about one third (35%) were in unsheltered locations.
Homelessness increased for the first time in seven years. The number of people experiencing homelessness increased by a little less than one percent between 2016 and 2017. This increase reflected a nine percent increase in the number of people experiencing homelessness in unsheltered locations, which was partially offset by a three percent decline in the number of people experiencing homelessness in sheltered locations.
Recent increases in homelessness were driven mostly by specific changes happening within cities. Increases in the numbers of unsheltered individuals in the 50 largest cities accounted for nearly all of the national increase. The number of people experiencing homelessness in families with children declined by five percent between 2016 and 2017— 10,055 fewer people and 3,294 fewer family households.
As of 2017, 184,661 people in families with children were experiencing homelessness, 33 percent of the homeless population.In 2017, 40,799 people were experiencing homelessness as unaccompanied youth—that is, people under the age of 25 experiencing homelessness on their own. Most unaccompanied youth (88%) were between the ages of 18 and 24. Unaccompanied youth were more likely to be unsheltered (55%) than both all people experiencing homelessness (35%) and all people experiencing homelessness as individuals (48%).
Between 2016 and 2017, the number of veterans experiencing homelessness increased for the first time since 2010. Nonetheless, homelessness among veterans dropped 45 percent since 2009. The two percent increase during the past year was almost entirely accounted for by increases among unsheltered veterans in major cities.
There were 12 percent more individuals with chronic patterns of homelessness in 2017 than in 2016 but has declined by 27 percent since 2007. Unlike other increases in the last year, the increase in chronic homelessness included both sheltered populations (8% increase) and unsheltered populations (14% increase).
Percent of Homeless People By Household Types and Sheltered Status, 2017
| All people | Individuals | Family with Children | Unaccompanied Homeless Youth | Veterans | Individuals with Chronic Patterns of Homelessness | |
| 2017 PIT estimate: | 553,742 | 369,081 | 184,661 | 40,799 | 40,056 | 86,962 |
| Change from 2016 | +1% Δ | +4% Δ | -5% Dec | - | +2% Δ | +12% Δ |
- Distrust of the system, and
- Entitlement Mentality people treat the government like their father or spouse
Homelessness has spiked for the first time in seven years after the recession and California is responsible for the surge. Unexpectedly it is the rich Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties (page 12 HUD Report), homes to the famous Silicon Valley with 76,000 millionaire and billionaire households that saw the highest increase in homelessness from 2016 to 2017. Having the largest income gap and facing the highest number of homeless deaths, this rich state has 134, 278 homeless and 91,642 shelter-less people now (page 13). Sleeping in vehicles, living in makeshift tents on Los Angeles thoroughfares or hiding in uninhabitable places, these Americans have no place to call home Homeless In America.
Veterans – I am of the opinion that America being the nation that it is always engaging in wars that every church should have a Veterans' Service at least once per month. The veterans have unique situations which they are battling and I am convinced only the power of God can break the strongholds over most of their minds and meet them at their point of need. Case in point I met a war veteran over there in San Antonio when I was leaving. I missed my bus which was clearly orchestrated by the powers that be. When I arrived at the bus stop after 7 a.m. he was there from before 6 a.m. waiting on a bus that was coming at 8:30 a.m. to take him to the Casino. He looked pretty young so I asked him why he was going to the Casino on a Monday morning if he did not work. He advised that he was a former veteran and he was 39. He advised that he was diagnosed as being bipolar and was on disability. He advised that at one point he had stop taking the drug but the doctor said he should recommence. I asked him what he wanted from God we prayed I told him to throw away the drugs find a church and go look a job. He said he wanted to get married I told him no woman wanted a man who went to the Casino during the week and was being looked after by the government. Get his life in order.
REVIEW OF HOMELESSNESS WORLDWIDE
Before we all start pointing fingers and getting uppity your nation is not doing so well either as you will see from this review of homelessness worldwide. Statistics would indicate that this is on the rise worldwide as per the United nations UN HOMELESSNESS REVIEW MAP and summarized by Wikipedia . In Nigeria alone, there are 24.4 million people homeless for varying reasons. You genomic African mutants Bro. Anancy people your monies and energies are misplaced. All of you people who want to fly away oh to glory, you now realize why God is up there and paying you all no mind because the heavens of the heavens belong to God and the earth He has given to man. All you rich Pastors in America that are in maintenance mode you are going to lose your money if you do not get busy the next President shall tax out your life to pay Social Assistance. India has 78 million people who are homeless, every time I do a blog all I see is work, work and more work. I am going to Europe to relax it is too overwhelming. Lord help my Holy Ghost.
The crux of the matter is with the advent of industrialization the status of the extended family as we know it changed.
THE DEBATE ON SOCIAL SECURITY/ASSISTANCE/WELFAREThe issue of welfare is very clear biblically: We are to help those in need. There may be disagreements about how much help is necessary and who should receive it, but there should be no disagreement on the necessity to feed, clothe, and shelter the poor.
Welfare for the poor is biblical and necessary. The fact that the government has assumed that function of caring for the poor does not negate our responsibility.
Even though the church is no longer the prime mover in meeting the needs of the poor; the government is. There is no doubt that that from this base of government welfare the "great society" has grown. This society has developed many families in permanent poverty, and because of this many Christians have developed resentment and indifference to the real poor.
The Purpose of Welfare
In Deuteronomy 15 verse 11 "For the poor will never cease to be in the land; therefore, I command you, saying, 'For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.' The Word of God says that there will always be needs in the world around us. The purpose is twofold:
- to test our commitment to obedience St. Matthew 25 verse 40 ;
- to create an attitude of interdependence 2 Corinthians 8 verse 14.
It's impossible to read the epistles of James and John without recognizing the requirement to help others in need. John uses the lack of concern for the needs of others as evidence of the lack of love 1 John 3 verse 16 - 18. Therefore, we know that the true purpose of welfare (meeting the needs of others) is to prove (demonstrate) God's love through us. An outside observer would have to conclude that there is little evidence of God's love in America. That is exactly the conclusion many unsaved come to. The church is more interested in buildings, programs, and promotions than in caring.
Effects of Welfare
It is interesting to see the contrasting objectives of biblical welfare and government welfare. The effects of sharing with others in need, out of God's love, are threefold:
- a sense of fellowship and belonging 2 Corinthians 9 verse 13;
- a stronger family unit 1 Timothy 5 verse 8;
- a high standard for work, which prohibits laziness 2 Thessalonians 3 verse 9 - 10.
Additionally, most welfare recipients resent the system and, ultimately, the society that supports them. Why? Because of the degrading method in which the funds are distributed and the stigma attached to "taking someone else's money" Or 'getting free money.' Welfare must be voluntary to express any kind of caring. Government welfare recipients must adopt an attitude of "you owe it to me" to justify receiving the money, even if they have legitimate needs. After only one generation, a welfare mentality and permanent dependence develops. The temptations of free money attract more and more recipients until, finally, there are fewer "givers" than "takers."
Biblical Absolutes – Thy Word is Truth
Christians are given clear and absolute direction about welfare in God's Word. Fortunately, the standards for welfare also are given. Indiscriminate welfare traps the recipients by making them dependent. Biblical welfare meets needs and always looks toward restoring individuals to a position of productivity.
Qualification for welfare
Poor - In Scripture, being poor literally meant those who were unable to meet even the most basic needs. Those who were poor (not lazy) were worthy of support Deuteronomy 15 verses 7 - 11; 2 Samuel 12 verses 1 - 5; Proverbs 14 verse 31, Proverbs 19 verse 17.
Diligence - There are many people who are lazy by nature. They do not qualify for support and, in fact, require a good swift kick for motivation. Supporting these people is just as unscriptural as not supporting those with legitimate needs. "A worker's appetite works for him, for his hunger urges him on" Proverbs 16 verse 26. Also see Proverbs 19 verse 15, 20 verse 4, 24 verse 33 - 34; 2 Thessalonians 3 verse 10.
Widows - A qualified widow is defined as a woman 60 years or older whose husband has died 1 Timothy 5 verses 3 - 10. In the first century it was acknowledged that families took care of their own widows. In our generation, the qualification could well be extended to those who cannot get help from their own families (divorcees included).
Orphans - It would seem evident that being parentless is a nearly impossible situation. All children belong to God's family. If Christians fulfilled their function, every child would have parents. Even if we can't adopt them all, we most assuredly can care for their needs both material and emotional Deuteronomy 10 verse 18 .
Benevolence - This is nothing more than material "obedience." Welfare means long-term care; benevolence means meeting immediate needs. In James 2 verses 15 - 16 we are admonished to help those in need. It does not qualify them as "poor" or "widows" but only as "lacking of the daily food." Such temporary needs can easily be the result of illness, imprisonment, or unemployment. Benevolence means giving to the obvious needs of another.
Lifestyle - Legitimately, many Christians ask what constitutes a need in another's life. The Scripture seems to indicate a moderate lifestyle but not one of poverty. "For this is not for the ease of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality"2 Corinthians 8 verse 13 . Reason would indicate that a need is relative to the society and times. A Cambodian's needs probably do not include an automobile. But for many Americans, a car is necessary for earning a livelihood. Since there are no absolutes on this issue, it would seem that God allows individual discernment. However, the need for food, shelter, and clothing to survive are absolutes and, unfortunately, there are many people in our world who are dying for the lack of these things.
At present, the governments of the world account for nearly 95 percent of all the care to the aged, ill, and impoverished, and the evidence shows they are using it as a tool to spread atheism. Is it any wonder that the unsaved are rejecting Christianity? In the matter of caring, it has become just another religion rather than a "faith." (Obviously, there are exceptions, and many Christian organizations do a great job of meeting the physical and spiritual needs of others, but they are few in comparison.) It is not a question of ability or direction. Christians in America have the resources to do at least ten times what we are presently doing for the poor, with little or no alteration of lifestyles.
Many Christians are going to be very ashamed to face the Lord and explain how they hoarded money for indulgences while others went hungry at the same time. "And he said, And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?" St. Luke 12 verse 18 - 20.
The Way Forward At present, the governments of the world account for nearly 95 percent of all the care to the aged, ill, and impoverished, and the evidence shows they are using it as a tool to spread atheism. Is it any wonder that the unsaved are rejecting Christianity? In the matter of caring, it has become just another religion rather than a "faith." (Obviously, there are exceptions, and many Christian organizations do a great job of meeting the physical and spiritual needs of others, but they are few in comparison.) It is not a question of ability or direction. Christians in America have the resources to do at least ten times what we are presently doing for the poor, with little or no alteration of lifestyles.
Many Christians are going to be very ashamed to face the Lord and explain how they hoarded money for indulgences while others went hungry at the same time. "And he said, And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?" St. Luke 12 verse 18 - 20.
- Welfare was transferred from the church because the church neglected it. It can be recovered, and the church can become a leader in caring about personal needs. This is not an option from God; it is an imperative. "He who gives to the poor will never want, but he who shuts his eyes will have many curses" Proverbs 28 verse 27.
- Committed Christians should encourage their church leaders to establish a body life ministry. A portion of every church's budget should be designated for needs in the fellowship and in the community. There should also be an outreach to starving people in other countries. If the denomination doesn't have a "care" program, support a good, independent ministry that feeds the hungry.
- Each church should have a resource committee set up to counsel families in need, to determine who does and does not qualify. There should be such an atmosphere of sharing and caring that members would feel as free to share a financial burden as they would a physical burden Acts 6 verse 3 .
Ultimately, within the Christian community there should be health and child care centers, vocational training centers, and employment agencies, so that when faced with needs from within the Christian community or the secular community we could respond without relying on government help.
CONCLUSION
What can I say people this is one of my most fulfilling blog to date? I rank it above "The Little that the Poor Man Has Shall be Taken Away." I have been mulling over this subject from I hit New York. God is so good that I am actually writing this blog in California one of the richest state in the Union with one of the richest county in the world with the most challenges in the area of homelessness in fact this county caused the homeless situation in the USA to increase for the first time in seven years. The state with the most chronic situation is New York. This more than anything else reveals to me that it is not a money problem. Hence, the reason I want to land this baby without a bump like those Air Jamaica pilots used to land those big iron birds at Palisadoes.
What can I say people this is one of my most fulfilling blog to date? I rank it above "The Little that the Poor Man Has Shall be Taken Away." I have been mulling over this subject from I hit New York. God is so good that I am actually writing this blog in California one of the richest state in the Union with one of the richest county in the world with the most challenges in the area of homelessness in fact this county caused the homeless situation in the USA to increase for the first time in seven years. The state with the most chronic situation is New York. This more than anything else reveals to me that it is not a money problem. Hence, the reason I want to land this baby without a bump like those Air Jamaica pilots used to land those big iron birds at Palisadoes.
The missing link in the homeless situation all over the world is the church. One of the things that I have been searching for especially in New York is a home that is run by a church that I could use as a bench mark. I have been given a list of churches and their programmes all over New York and they run soup kitchens, pantries and feeding programmes. I am saying to myself the church used to build universities, be in charge of Art and music and run hostels and we have now been relegated to running soup kitchens a couple days out of the week or have a food bank. That is those of us who have a conscience. The Evangelicals live in a vacuum from where Jesus will be delivering them. You could not live in a society where there are social inequities and your example of evangelism is to fly to Africa with a few gentle use clothing or bore a well and then return home and tweet about it, WhatsApp about and FB about it. The Bible says you have had your reward. Then you carry on with your 'la spectacle' on a Sunday. In short, the evangelical church’s retreat from poverty alleviation was fundamentally due to shifts in theology and not–as many have asserted–to government programs that drove the church away from ministry to the poor. The church needs to return to its mandate of occupying until Jesus comes. Can you imagine if each church took on the city that they were in and send out workers into the field? Then hold the government accountable. The Homelessness situation in most cities would be non-existent. The homeless are people just like us most of them with a mistrust of government bureaucracy. Who have the answers to the mental problems is it the Psychiatrist who is in transition trying to work out whether he/she is fish or fowl? People are tired of becoming statistics for government departments and politicians during election time. The church is the only institution with the integrity to deal with the situation above board. Ensure they are screened well.
In addition, Welfare as we know it in 21st century America, as administered by the government, looks nothing like the biblical model. Cases of welfare abuse are rampant, and little has been done to curb the ever-growing tide of able-bodied, able-minded adults milking the system simply because they can. This causes a breakdown of the family. The breakdown of the family contributes to the problem. A catch 22 situation. The latest statistics indicate that over 40 percent of babies are now born to unwed mothers, the majority of which will be sustained through the welfare system. And the cycle continues. Misplaced compassion has created a culture of people who have little motivation to make wise decisions and avoid painful consequences because they’ve learned the government will always be there to mitigate those consequences. As a result, entire families live, grow up, have babies, and train their children how to live off the welfare system, creating generational patterns that deplete resources for the truly deserving. We have created a culture that lacks social responsibility.
Whether or not a Christian should go on welfare depends entirely upon the reasons for such a choice and the other options available. A Christian should keep in mind God’s perspective on work and the value of honest labor. 1 Timothy 5 verse 8 says, “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.” Teaching our children to play the welfare system is not what God means by “providing.” When a needy family must utilize welfare in order to survive, the parents can demonstrate to their children their thankfulness that God has provided temporary help (manna) until they can find work. Honorable people will seek to leave the welfare system and earn their own living as soon as possible.
The Scripture passage that deals most directly with the “welfare lifestyle” is 2 Thessalonians 3 verses 6 - 14. Paul exhorts the church to avoid laziness and idleness. In fact, in verse 6 he instructs the church to “to keep away from every believer who walketh disorderly and does not live according to the teaching you received from us.” Welfare abuse seems to have been a problem even back then, and Paul goes on to say, “We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quietness and eat their own bread” (verses 11–12). He even repeats a command he had at one time given them verbally: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat” 2 Thessalonians 3 verse 10.
The problem is not insurmountable it is one person at a time on a daily basis. Where there is a will there is a way.
This is Lillene's baby girl coming to you from Santa Clara the land of Silicon Valley location millionaires and billionaires.
This is Lillene's baby girl coming to you from Santa Clara the land of Silicon Valley location millionaires and billionaires.
À bientôt
REFERENCES
Is Welfare Scriptural?
Homeless In America
Should the Church be doing Social Welfare instead of the Government
Jesus, the Bible and Food Stamps, Can a Christian be Against the Welfare State?
