SHOULD NATIONS HELP THE SICK AND POOR?

[Richard Aberdeen]

Apparently to justify their undying support of the Republican so-called 'free' market agenda, Evangelical and other conservative Christian leaders have invented an axiom seemingly taught religiously to their congregations, that only individuals and, not nations collectively, should help the sick and poor.

Fortunately for the sick and poor and, unfortunately for those who promote such nonsense, various prophets in the Bible and God himself seem to have the opposite opinion. Rather than debate with folks who apparently believe Jesus was a capitalist, let's see what the Bible actually says about this:

In Leviticus 23, God commands the nation of Israel: "When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field when you reap, nor shall you gather any gleaning from your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the stranger. . ."

From Wikipedia: "On one of the two occasions that this is stated in Leviticus, it adds that in vineyards, some grapes should be left ungathered, a statement also found in Deuteronomy. These verses additionally command that olive trees should not be beaten on multiple occasions, and whatever remains from the first set of beatings should be left. . . Deuteronomy commands that it should be left for widows, strangers, and paternal orphans."

Imagine if in the modern United States, 10% or even 5% or even 3% of all taxation was devoted annually to house and feed the poor. Soon enough, there would be no poor people left to house and feed. Or, imagine if 10% of all monies collected by religious organizations was earmarked annually for helping the poor. Likely the same result would soon occur.

Both Malachi 3:6 and Zecharia 7:10 warn us not to oppress immigrants and the poor but rather, help them. In Exodus 22, unlike the Trump and Biden administration, God says: "you shall neither mistreat a stranger nor oppress him. . ." And, God is strongly against charging any interest to the poor, rather than the 30% plus often charged by modern capitalist banks.

Jesus in the New Testament, teaches us to take the stranger in, rather than build a wall to keep poor refugees out and far worse, deliberately separate immigrant children from their weeping parent's arms. And in the so-called "dark" ages, it was considered barbaric to charge more than 5-6% interest.

According to the prophet Ezekiel (16:49), a primary reason God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah is because they were a proud and haughty people who refused to help the poor and needy. Virtually all of the prophets were angry with political leaders and the nations of Israel and Judah for not helping the needy, poor and oppressed and, for often making their lot worse, like the Republican agenda does in modern-day America.

In Nehemiah chapter 5, Isaiah 3 & 10, Jeremiah 7 & 22, Amos 6 & 8, Michah 2 & 3, Zephaniah 3 and Habakkuk 2, the prophets are angry with political leaders and the nations of Judah and/or Israel for not helping and worse, often harming the poor. Moses likewise admonishes the children of Israel as a collective nation, to open their hand to the poor and needy.

In the New Testament, early followers of Jesus shared all things in common, distributing to each according to need. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, the foundation of socialism is "to each according to need". Conservative Christian leaders call socialism "evil", even though the real followers of Jesus seem to have believed giving our excess to the poor is Godly, moral and correct.

Early "assemblies" of Jesus, that is groups of people, not buildings or religious organizations, often took up collections for the sick and poor. They seem to have forgotten to take up collections to build temples made with hands or for anything else that modern so-called 'churches' typically do.

It's rather difficult to imagine Jesus deliberately attempting to take healthcare away from the sick and poor, like Republicans have repeatedly tried to do. And, rather than attempt to list the myriad of places where Jesus teaches in both word and deed to help immigrants, the sick, the poor and the otherwise oppressed, it is wise to check out the four biographies of Jesus in the New Testament for our self.

[placebofactor]

Apparently to justify their undying support of the Republican so-called 'free' market agenda, Evangelical and other conservative Christian leaders have invented an axiom seemingly taught religiously to their congregations, that only individuals and, not nations collectively, should help the sick and poor.

Fortunately for the sick and poor and, unfortunately for those who promote such nonsense, various prophets in the Bible and God himself seem to have the opposite opinion. Rather than debate with folks who apparently believe Jesus was a capitalist, let's see what the Bible actually says about this:

In Leviticus 23, God commands the nation of Israel: "When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field when you reap, nor shall you gather any gleaning from your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the stranger. . ."

From Wikipedia: "On one of the two occasions that this is stated in Leviticus, it adds that in vineyards, some grapes should be left ungathered, a statement also found in Deuteronomy. These verses additionally command that olive trees should not be beaten on multiple occasions, and whatever remains from the first set of beatings should be left. . . Deuteronomy commands that it should be left for widows, strangers, and paternal orphans."

Imagine if in the modern United States, 10% or even 5% or even 3% of all taxation was devoted annually to house and feed the poor. Soon enough, there would be no poor people left to house and feed. Or, imagine if 10% of all monies collected by religious organizations was earmarked annually for helping the poor. Likely the same result would soon occur.

Both Malachi 3:6 and Zecharia 7:10 warn us not to oppress immigrants and the poor but rather, help them. In Exodus 22, unlike the Trump and Biden administration, God says: "you shall neither mistreat a stranger nor oppress him. . ." And, God is strongly against charging any interest to the poor, rather than the 30% plus often charged by modern capitalist banks.

Jesus in the New Testament, teaches us to take the stranger in, rather than build a wall to keep poor refugees out and far worse, deliberately separate immigrant children from their weeping parent's arms. And in the so-called "dark" ages, it was considered barbaric to charge more than 5-6% interest.

According to the prophet Ezekiel (16:49), a primary reason God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah is because they were a proud and haughty people who refused to help the poor and needy. Virtually all of the prophets were angry with political leaders and the nations of Israel and Judah for not helping the needy, poor and oppressed and, for often making their lot worse, like the Republican agenda does in modern-day America.

In Nehemiah chapter 5, Isaiah 3 & 10, Jeremiah 7 & 22, Amos 6 & 8, Michah 2 & 3, Zephaniah 3 and Habakkuk 2, the prophets are angry with political leaders and the nations of Judah and/or Israel for not helping and worse, often harming the poor. Moses likewise admonishes the children of Israel as a collective nation, to open their hand to the poor and needy.

In the New Testament, early followers of Jesus shared all things in common, distributing to each according to need. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, the foundation of socialism is "to each according to need". Conservative Christian leaders call socialism "evil", even though the real followers of Jesus seem to have believed giving our excess to the poor is Godly, moral and correct.

Early "assemblies" of Jesus, that is groups of people, not buildings or religious organizations, often took up collections for the sick and poor. They seem to have forgotten to take up collections to build temples made with hands or for anything else that modern so-called 'churches' typically do.

It's rather difficult to imagine Jesus deliberately attempting to take healthcare away from the sick and poor, like Republicans have repeatedly tried to do. And, rather than attempt to list the myriad of places where Jesus teaches in both word and deed to help immigrants, the sick, the poor and the otherwise oppressed, it is wise to check out the four biographies of Jesus in the New Testament for our self.

Yes, we should help the poor. Your post reminds me of the left (socialist and communist) nonsense I read every day in the paper. It's easy to give money away, money that has been stolen from others. Most of what you wrote is nonsense. Here's the truth.

Christianity has played a major historical role in caring for the poor, sick, and uneducated. Here is a short, clear list of some of its most significant contributions, each tied to concrete historical evidence.

Christians were the first to create public hospitals in the 4th century A.D., evolving from earlier charitable hostels called xenodocheia. These institutions offered food, shelter, and medical care to anyone in need, a revolutionary idea in the ancient world.

Many of today’s major hospitals trace their origins to Christian charities, including some of the oldest and highest-ranked hospitals in the U.S., founded explicitly to treat the poor.

Monks and nuns established the first schools in Europe, preserving manuscripts and teaching literacy when few others could.

Christianity played a central role in founding the earliest universities—Bologna (1088), Paris (1160), Oxford (1167)—which became the backbone of Western higher education.

Early Christians created poorhouses providing beds, meals, and clothing for the homeless and struggling families. These were among the first organized welfare institutions in history.

Christian communities became known for radical compassion, offering aid without expecting anything in return — a stark contrast to pagan norms.

Christian teaching on mercy and human dignity fueled major humanitarian movements, including healthcare expansion, charitable giving, and social reform.

The Christian worldview helped shape a Western culture where philanthropy and compassion became widely accepted moral duties. From the earliest centuries, Christians emphasized healing the sick, seeing the church as a “hospital” and Christ as the “physician.” This mindset helped drive the development of organized medical care.

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In Leviticus 23, God commands the nation of Israel: "When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field when you reap, nor shall you gather any gleaning from your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the stranger. . ."...

Why do you think that is about nation and not about individuals?

Imagine if in the modern United States, 10% or even 5% or even 3% of all taxation was devoted annually to house and feed the poor. Soon enough, there would be no poor people left to house and feed. Or, imagine if 10% of all monies collected by religious organizations was earmarked annually for helping the poor. Likely the same result would soon occur.

Why are you asking money, when the Bible speaks letting poor people gather their food from the land? Is it because you think the poor should not need to do anything to get their food?

Both Malachi 3:6 and Zecharia 7:10 warn us not to oppress immigrants and the poor but rather, help them. In Exodus 22, unlike the Trump and Biden administration, God says: "you shall neither mistreat a stranger nor oppress him. . ." And, God is strongly against charging any interest to the poor, rather than the 30% plus often charged by modern capitalist banks.

I think that is a good teaching, and people should not forget it. To me the problem is, why the non immigrants are treated worse than the immigrants? Non immigrants must work to get what they have and then the evil governments take vast share of their effort. And then it is expected that immigrants don't have to do anything and they get all that the workers get for free. If immigrants would be treated the same way, they would also have to work and government would steal vast amount of what they earn.

But, I agree, no one should be treated as inhumane way as the non immigrants. I hate when the good teachings of the Bible are used so unfairly against people who work for their living and are not lazily expecting others to do everything for them.

In the New Testament, early followers of Jesus shared all things in common, distributing to each according to need. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, the foundation of socialism is "to each according to need". Conservative Christian leaders call socialism "evil", even though the real followers of Jesus seem to have believed giving our excess to the poor is Godly, moral and correct.

Basically the difference between socialism and Christianity is this:
A Socialist says, "give me your money".
A Christian says, "how can I help you".

It works until the number of Socialists exceeds the number of Christians. And it explains why former Christian countries that turn into socialism eventually collapse.

But, it is true that Christians shared. And it is good to help. But, I think it would be also good to remember these:

Let him who stole steal no more; but rather let him labor, work-ing with his hands the thing that is good, that he may have something to give to him who has need.
Eph. 4:28
For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: "If anyone will not work, neither let him eat."
2 Thess. 3:10
…the laborer is worthy of his wages...
Luke 10:7
For the Son of Man will come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will render to everyone according to his deeds.
Matt. 16:27
Don't be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that will he also reap.
Gal. 6:7

Yes, don't mistreat immigrants, but also, don't mistreat non immigrants and act like greedy and lazy...

It's rather difficult to imagine Jesus deliberately attempting to take healthcare away from the sick and poor, like Republicans have repeatedly tried to do. And, rather than attempt to list the myriad of places where Jesus teaches in both word and deed to help immigrants, the sick, the poor and the otherwise oppressed, it is wise to check out the four biographies of Jesus in the New Testament for our self.

I am not convinced that the "healthcare" is good, but Jesus healed people without charging their whole properties. Maybe we should also heal others freely? Is it not sick to demand vast amounts of money to help a person who is sick?