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Post by And Such Were Some Of You on Jan 23, 2006 16:09:55 GMT -5
Just something simple to think about.............
If welfare is of God, then why are many so ashamed by it?
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Post by elderbeck NSI on Jan 23, 2006 16:22:28 GMT -5
Its well and its fair... Nothing to be ashamed about... LOL. Just dont expect anything more than that if thats all you want. I think the condemnation comes from when people build their lives around it and settle. I believe its orginal purpose was to help people who didnt have a job to survive until they get another job... but sadly many people have made it the ONLY means of income and survival.
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Post by MsKayLander on Jan 23, 2006 16:28:12 GMT -5
But on the flip side, I was reading a series of articles today about those that have come off of welfare. Overwhelmingly, they were forced to go back on welfare after getting positions because they could not afford the insurance, daycare, rent and other things they received along with welfare benefits. It's easy to tell someone to get off the roll, but for them, difficult to maintain a lifestyle that will help them in the end....in one instance a woman went for getting $2,996 in welfare and benefits to $1300 a month on her job, more than half of that went to rent which while on welfare she only had to pay $71 a month, off of welfare she had to pay $557 a month.. after utilities, groceries, transportation and daycare, she didn't have much left to survive.... She fought herself every day.. should she quit her job to continue getting welfare benefits which gave her more $$ or keep working and TRY to make ends meet....
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Post by lanl ns on Jan 23, 2006 16:35:08 GMT -5
Misskay, the story you told is so typical when one is transitioning from welfare to work.
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Post by elderbeck NSI on Jan 23, 2006 16:47:15 GMT -5
Agreed Misskay!Insurance and other things such as child care(cost of living) makes it hard to transition from welfare to work. But they have low income programs in most places like (chip) and other things to help bear the burdon. In some cases(not all) the individual just doesnt want to work( why should I work, when i can get it for free) thinking... that is what brings the shame and other things involved...
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Post by Jasmine nsi on Jan 23, 2006 17:45:43 GMT -5
Yes, and as a mother single mother with an income of $1300 dollars, she should still be receiving benefits from welfare. She shouldn't be paying anything for medicaid, she should be getting at least $250 in "food stamps", and she should also be receiving day care assistance from the state. At the most should would only have to pay $20. dollars and the state cover the rest. She probally wouldn't receive any TANF (cash), but she shouldn't have just been cut off like that.
A good friend of mine work for at the Department of Welfare, and while it may vary from state to state, it is actually the same system. $1300 dollars is not enough to provide shelter, food, clothes and medical care for her or her children.
If i was her, I would go back in there and demand that my case be scheduled for a hearing.
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Post by Beulah5 on Jan 24, 2006 6:37:27 GMT -5
I am more curious with what God's position is on the matter.
That is my starting ground because no matter what is going on in my life and what my circumstances are-what does God's word teach us about the poor and caring for them.
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Post by MsKayLander on Jan 24, 2006 9:08:22 GMT -5
Some info that I found.....Interesting....
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.
--Deuteronomy 15:11
Welfare targeted at just the truly needy encourages some able-bodied people to fake neediness, thus encouraging unproductive and immoral behavior. For example, aid to single mothers discourages marriage.
The Bible classifies the causes of poverty into four different categories. The first cause of poverty is oppression and fraud. In the Old Testament (e.g., Prov. 14:31; 22:7; 28:15) we find that many people were poor because they were oppressed by individuals or governments. Many times, governments established unjust laws or debased the currency, measures that resulted in the exploitation of individuals.
The second cause of poverty is misfortune, persecution, or judgment. In the book of Job we learn that God allowed Satan to test Job by bringing misfortune upon him (1:12-19). Elsewhere in the Old Testament (e.g., Ps. 109:16; Isa. 47:9; Lam. 5:3) we read of misfortune or of God's judgment on a disobedient people. When Israel turned from God's laws, God allowed foreign nations to take them into captivity as a judgment for their disobedience.
The third cause of poverty is laziness, neglect, or gluttony. Proverbs teaches that some people are poor because of improper habits and apathy (10:4; 13:4; 19:15; 20:13; 23:21).
The final cause of poverty is the culture of poverty. Proverbs 10:15 says, "The ruin of the poor is their poverty." Poverty breeds poverty, and the cycle is not easily broken. People who grow up in an impoverished culture usually lack the nutrition and the education that would enable them to be successful in the future.
We need a welfare system that emphasizes work and initiative and does not foster dependency and laziness.
In the Old Testament, there were two means to help the poor. The first was through the gleaning laws listed in Leviticus 19:9-10 and Deuteronomy 24:19-22. As farmers reaped their crops, they would leave the corners of their fields unharvested, and anything that fell to the ground was left for the poor.
The second method used to help the poor was the tithe. In Leviticus 27:30 we find that the tithe provided funds both for the church and for the poor. The funds were distributed by the priests to those who were truly needy.
In the New Testament, the church also had a role in helping to meet the needs of the poor. In 1 Corinthians 16, Paul talks about a collection that was sent from the churches to the Jerusalem believers. We also find many scriptural admonitions calling for Christians to distribute their resources to others compassionately (2 Cor. 9:7; 1 Tim. 5:9-10; 6:18; James 1:27).
These verses concerning the gleaning laws and the tithe seem to indicate that both the government and the church should be involved in helping the poor. Ideally, the church should be in the vanguard of this endeavor. Unfortunately, the church has neglected its responsibility, and government is now heavily involved in poverty relief.
Poverty is as much a psychological and spiritual problem as it is an economic problem, and it is in this realm that the church can be most effective. Although salvation is not the sole answer, the church is better equipped than the government to meet the psychological and spiritual needs of poverty-stricken people. Most secular social programs do not place much emphasis on these needs and thus miss an important element in the solution to poverty.
People are poor because they are poor. An individual who grows up in a culture of poverty is destined for a life of poverty unless something rather dramatic takes place. Poor nutrition, poor education, poor work habits, and poor family relationships can easily condemn an individual to perpetual poverty.
Christians to use their gifts and abilities to help those caught in the web of poverty. Doctors can provide health care. Educators can provide literacy and remedial reading programs. Businesspeople can impart job skills.
This kind of social involvement can also provide opportunities for evangelism. Social action and evangelism often work hand in hand. When we meet people's needs, we often open up opportunities to reach them for Jesus Christ.
This leads to a third solution. Christian involvement can lead to spiritual conversion. By bringing these people into a relationship with Jesus Christ, we can break the culture of poverty. Second Corinthians 5:17 says that we become new creatures in Jesus Christ. Being born again can improve attitudes and family relationships. It can give new direction and the ability to overcome handicaps and hardships.
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Post by ybrown on Jan 24, 2006 9:20:05 GMT -5
There are few hundred passages dealing with the poor, all similar in commandment, tone and purpose, to Deuteronomy 15:11 which says: "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." That passage is very representative of how we are to care for the poor. Anytime God addresses the poor, it's always a matter of man taking care of his fellow man. So, I can say for sure that welfare, the practice between men (general) is biblical. As for the welfare nation in this country, that's a whole other story. It has changed the course of history for millions and I don't believe it has benefitted the recipients or their descendents one bit. Welfare in this country is a state of mind. It has essentially robbed millions of their Godly inheritance here on earth and it actually has breeded a brand folks that now put a reverance and reliance on the government, both of which God intended for us to place on Him. |
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Post by And Such Were Some Of You on Nov 15, 2008 13:12:03 GMT -5
bump
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Post by krazeeboi on Nov 15, 2008 21:01:55 GMT -5
During the 60's and 70's, welfare morphed into something very awful that played a very significant role in the increasing dysfunction of Black communities, particular in the inner cities. I am convinced of that.
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Post by And Such Were Some Of You on Nov 15, 2008 21:04:26 GMT -5
During the 60's and 70's, welfare morphed into something very awful that played a very significant role in the increasing dysfunction of Black communities, particular in the inner cities. I am convinced of that. I "ditto" that! |
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Post by keita on Nov 16, 2008 12:23:15 GMT -5
During the 60's and 70's, welfare morphed into something very awful that played a very significant role in the increasing dysfunction of Black communities, particular in the inner cities. I am convinced of that. As an African American and former welfare recipient, I ABSOLUTELY agree. Excepting those who are actually physically and/or mentally incapable, or otherwise authentically dependent (ie., children and some elderly), I'm in total agreement with the the scriptures on the matter of welfare: "Work not, eat not." 2Thessalonians 3:10And members of the Body of Christ should live and lead by example. |
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Post by true on Nov 17, 2008 10:37:27 GMT -5
Everything is of God!!!!!! Nothing was created that wasn't created through him. ALL things are of God. Even things we perceive to not be all came from one source, God.
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Post by Poetricia (G.A.P.) on Nov 17, 2008 12:53:24 GMT -5
Everything is of God!!!!!! Nothing was created that wasn't created through him. ALL things are of God. Even things we perceive to not be all came from one source, God. Side note: Sigh, the above is not an accurate statement, nor is it rightly dividing the scriptures. I long for the day when we refer to scriptures in context. The portion of the scripture underlined below refers to CREATION. ALL things are NOT of God!! AS FOR MY COMMENTS ON THIS DISCUSSION: [ "Work not, eat not." 2Thessalonians 3:10And members of the Body of Christ should live and lead by example. "A" to the "MEN" as Madea would say!!! As a single mother of twins at 19 I had a part time job working 25 hours a week. Welfare gave me some food stamps and I think I received WIC (coupons for forumla) for about 8 months until my job moved me to full time AT WHICH TIME I STOPPED RECEIVING ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE. I didn't de-fraud the system, as so many of the girls I ran with at the time did. Nor did I even seek to see what else I may be legally entitled to. I felt that I got the help for the time I needed it and that was that. Many people I dealt with at the time told me how stupid I was to let Welfare know that I was now full time and so on. These were some of the same women that used their babies social security numbers for credit cards and such. Well, thank God for deliverance anyway, cause about 8 years later I got reclaimed and found a different set of friends with a different set of values and morals. |
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