When was it decided that taking care of the poor, sick, and underprivileged is the government's reponsibility. The bible I read tells me that it is the local church's responsibility.
"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world."
James 1:27 (ESV)
"...all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need."
Acts 2:44-45 (ESV)
For all it's talk about community the local church isn't very good at doing it. The church is good at getting people to gather at a given place and time, but gathering and having coffee and cookies does not equate to experiencing community. The bible's word for community is koinonos which means, " a sharer, i.e. associate :- companion, × fellowship, partaker, partner." (—Strong's Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary) If the church is going to model true community it is going to have to come along side of the poor, sick and underprivileged which means being involved in their life in a way that exhibits the love of Jesus on a very personal, incarnational level. It seems like many christians have chosen to deal with these people by writing a check, (or using a card). Funds are important to meeting needs yet I wonder if sometimes writing checks is way to avoid getting one's hands dirty. It is certainly more convenient. How will they see Jesus if they never get to see the person who wrote the check. They will not experience His love until we invite them into our homes for lodging and meals. They will not understand His provision until the His body takes upon itself the responsibility for physical care of their body as well as their soul.
Maybe if our local churches would have kept doing biblical community, the health and human services department either wouldn't exist or be a fraction of its current size, there would be no health care debate and we would not be living in what is considered post-christian America.
