← Autodidact Archive · Original Dissent · Happy Hacker
Thread ID: 14066 | Posts: 1 | Started: 2004-06-05
2004-06-05 15:45 | User Profile
My signature: "But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel." 1Tim 5:8
It is a Christian duty to take care of your immediate family, including both your parents and your children, so that they will not be a burden on others. And, so they won't be a disgrace to your family. These are who you should care for first.
It is a Christian duty to take care of your extended relatives so they will not be a burden on others. These people are next in your priorities.
By extension, it is a Christian duty to take care of those of your race. Is not your fellow Englishman not a closer relative than the Nigerian? God provides the example of racial consciousness with the Hebrew people. Do not the Hebrew laws require the Hebrew people to care for their race first?
By extinction, it is a Christan duty to take care of your fellow countryman, starting with your community. This is why there are nations and why God has provided national leaders. Meet the needs of your own nation before you support a nation far away.
First Timothy Chapter five also explains that those we care for should be truly needy and godly: "3Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. 4But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God. 5The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help. 6But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives... No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, 10and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the saints, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds."
Paul instructs the Church to kick out immoral people (1 Corinthians 5). Also, we see that the Church's primary focus of caring should be those in the local congregation. It is a Christian duty to prioritize those he cares for by both closeness and godliness of the person to be helped. If you have a reprobate brother, you should not burden yourself or your church with his needs.
By extension, caring does not just include financial aid to needy and godly widows, but appropriate aid to anyone. For example, churches should provide a quality, godly, and affordable alternative to government schools for Church members. Those with businesses should practice Affirmative Action in hiring, not for strangers of another race, but for the close, godly, and qualified in need of a job. If your son needs a job, would you not hire him above others?