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Old 07-11-2009, 05:21 PM
 
817 posts, read 851,800 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ovcatto View Post
I am curious as to how "Christian conservatives" reconcile their views about "redistribution of wealth," and the programs designed to alleviate the suffering of the poor with Christ's teachings and the teachings of the Bible?

You know:

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy."
-Proverbs 31:8-9

"He who mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker; whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished."
-Proverbs 17:5

"Jesus answered, 'If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.'"
-Matthew 19:21

"Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life."
-1 Timothy 6:17-19

"Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy."
-Ezekiel 16:49

"There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land."
-Deuteronomy 15:11
Your comparing apples to oranges.
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Old 07-11-2009, 05:21 PM
 
35,016 posts, read 39,090,038 times
Reputation: 6195
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chatteress View Post
I would have no issue with the government using tax dollars to help those in need but why are the governmental bureaucrats paid so much and have lavish benefits in order to provide this service?
Which federal social service agencies are these that give their employees high salaries and lavish benefits?
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Old 07-11-2009, 05:28 PM
 
Location: The Chatterdome in La La Land, CaliFUNia
39,031 posts, read 22,983,871 times
Reputation: 36027
Quote:
Originally Posted by KevK View Post
I would have to know more- like what they do and what they get paid for it. I can pretty much say that they do not make anywhere near what private sector employees get for the same level of responsibility. My thing is how much, as a percentage, of the money goes to help the poor and how much for administration. I get a pension on my job after 30 years or when age+time=75 whichever comes first and I am just a technical worker. The government pays poorly. That is why they give good retirement and other benefits.
I was a former clerical employee of a large city and my yearly salary minus the benefits were way higher than what clericals made in the private sector. Add my pension and other benefits that many in the private sector don't enjoy, I was extremely well paid and my job was not complex in the least. I also noticed a lot of waste in my little department as well. The government does not have unlimited resources so the question remains, how much of the budget is used for operating expenses and overhead costs (such as employees) and how much is actually used in the programs serving the poor?
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Old 07-11-2009, 05:42 PM
 
Location: Jonquil City (aka Smyrna) Georgia- by Atlanta
16,259 posts, read 24,713,689 times
Reputation: 3587
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chatteress View Post
I was a former clerical employee of a large city and my yearly salary minus the benefits were way higher than what clericals made in the private sector. Add my pension and other benefits that many in the private sector don't enjoy, I was extremely well paid and my job was not complex in the least. I also noticed a lot of waste in my little department as well. The government does not have unlimited resources so the question remains, how much of the budget is used for operating expenses and overhead costs (such as employees) and how much is actually used in the programs serving the poor?
I don't know which city you work for. Few of them pay high (Chicago and New York do). Most of them pay like crap. That is why places like the City of Atlanta always have job vacancies. Even the cops, who have to have fairly high intelligence, start at $34,000 a year which is not much money here. The dispatcher jobs at the 911 centre are about $13 an hour. For the level of knowledge, education and responsibility, you can make much more in the private sector. There are people that dispatch trucks and wreckers that get paid more than that.
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Old 07-11-2009, 05:57 PM
LML
 
Location: Wisconsin
7,100 posts, read 9,096,576 times
Reputation: 5191
I have NEVER understood how a Christian could either preach or believe the "prosperity gospel" that so many of the mega churches preach these days. It goes against every single thing that Christ taught.
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Old 07-11-2009, 06:42 PM
 
Location: Minnysoda
10,659 posts, read 10,701,824 times
Reputation: 6745
I find it humorous for someone who holds the Word of God in such disregard to try to use it to chastise or test believers.......You are back on ignore.....................
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Old 07-11-2009, 06:48 PM
 
Location: The Chatterdome in La La Land, CaliFUNia
39,031 posts, read 22,983,871 times
Reputation: 36027
Quote:
Originally Posted by LML View Post
I have NEVER understood how a Christian could either preach or believe the "prosperity gospel" that so many of the mega churches preach these days. It goes against every single thing that Christ taught.
I agree ... most Christians I know are against the whole prosperity gospel as well. My mega church does not preach this either.
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Old 07-11-2009, 06:53 PM
 
2,654 posts, read 5,454,334 times
Reputation: 1946
Quote:
Originally Posted by LML View Post
I have NEVER understood how a Christian could either preach or believe the "prosperity gospel" that so many of the mega churches preach these days. It goes against every single thing that Christ taught.
Agreed. I drive the Trinty Broadcasting facility in OC all the time & seriously doubt Jesus would be anywhere near that place.
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Old 07-11-2009, 07:05 PM
 
31,387 posts, read 36,975,677 times
Reputation: 15038
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chatteress View Post
Let me ask you this. Have you ever worked for the government? I used to be a governmental employee
Ah, yeah. I ran a city wide summer jobs program administrative costs were a tiny percentage of operating expenses, I quit to make some money.

Quote:
and let me tell you that employee salaries and benefits take up a huge chunk of the operating budget.
Have you ever worked for a charitable non-profit, better yet, have you run one. If you think administrative cost are high in the public sector...

Anyway, all that is besides the point. Question, what private charity is capable of efficiently providing uniformed, quality provisions for the needy on the scale provided by the government? Perhaps you would like to point out the private charity that was able to provide such benefits prior to the government assuming that role?

Of course none of this has anything to do with the topic.
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Old 07-11-2009, 07:08 PM
 
2,104 posts, read 1,440,122 times
Reputation: 636
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chatteress View Post
Where does the Bible state that it's the GOVERNMENT's job to provide for the needy? The Bible essentially calls us, the people, to VOLUNTARILY provide for those in need through charity and other good deeds. Since when is forced taxation VOLUNTARY?

By the way, I do support safety nets for folks who fall on hard times but we really need to reform our current system to ensure that those that are really in need are actually receiving government assistance and get rid of fraud. We don't have an unlimited supply of money and no matter what our politicians state, it will always be the middle class that will bear the burdens of increased taxes with our current tax system.
"...government of the people, by the people, for the people..."

The government is us, and we are the government. There is no magical line in the sand.

And yes, I have worked for the government, as a soldier and as a government employee after I finished my Service commitment.
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