Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Demotivational Christianity




This letter was in the Waco, TX newspaper on November 18, 2010......



Put me in charge of food stamps. I’d get rid of Lone Star cards; no cash for
Ding Dongs or Ho Ho’s, just money for 50-pound bags of rice and beans,
Blocks of cheese, and all the powdered milk you can haul away. If you want
Steak and frozen pizza ..... Get a job.

Put me in charge of Medicaid. The first thing I’d do is to get women
Norplant birth control implants or tubal ligations. Then we’ll test
Recipients for drugs, alcohol, and nicotine and document all tattoos and
Piercings. If you want to reproduce or use drugs, alcohol, smoke or get tats
And piercings .... Get a job.

Put me in charge of government housing. Ever live in a military barracks?
You will maintain our property in a clean and good state of repair. Your
“home” will be subject to inspections anytime, and possessions will be
Inventoried. If you want a plasma TV or Xbox 360 ..... Get a job and your
Own place.

In addition, you will either present a check stub from a job each week or
You will report to a “government” job. It may be cleaning the roadways of
Trash, painting and repairing public housing, whatever we find for you. We
Will sell your 22 inch rims and low profile tires and your blasting stereo
And speakers and put that money toward the “common good.”

Before you write that I’ve violated someone’s rights, realize that all of
The above is voluntary. If you want our money, accept our rules.. Before you
Say this would be “demeaning” and ruin their “self esteem,” consider that it
wasn’t that long ago when taking someone else’s money for doing absolutely
Nothing was demeaning and lowered self esteem.

If we are expected to pay for other people’s mistakes we should at least
Attempt to make them learn from their bad choices. The current system
Rewards them for continuing to make bad choices.

Alfred W. Evans, Gatesville, Texas


So while I agree with the heart and soul of this letter........I'm not sure how it corresponds with my Christain beliefs.

We are called to give all we have to those who don't. It's plain and simply stated and there is no argument there from a biblical perspective.

But what are we to do with those that "milk" the system.

We all recognize the "institutional poverty" is a very real thing. It's why 14 year old girls hurry to have babies - so they can get on the "payroll".

It's the motivation to have more and more.

All the while, it continues to feed the poverty cycle.

And while it is certainly true that folks can escape that cycle, most don't.

The motivation is just not there.

So how do I feel about it........

Truthfully, it depends on what side of the bed I got up on.

Peace.

1 Comments:

Anonymous sw said...

Alfred is my new hero!! It makes perfect sense. Only the US is too politically correct to implement such guidelines. And that's too bad.

2:20 PM  

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