To The Reader’s Forum:

The Rev. Benjamin Cremer is the author of this quote. “I have been getting a lot of questions about how to respond to the concept of [how the government should be] helping the poor theologically as a Christian.

But for now, I want to just simply say nowhere in the Bible does it say that those who follow Jesus should stop the government from helping the poor and the needy. That is libertarianism and a rugged individualism, not the teachings of Jesus.

To be anti-poor is to be Anti-Christ.

To be anti-sick people getting health care is to be Anti-Christ.

To be anti-stranger is to be Anti-Christ.

To be anti-homeless relief is to be Anti-Christ.

To be against treating prisoners as human beings is to be Anti-Christ.

To be anti-neighbor is to be Anti-Christ.”

“For I was hungry, and you gave me nothing to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink. I was a stranger, and you did not invite me in. I needed clothes and you did not clothe me. I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me. They (Jewish teachers of the law) also will answer, ‘Lord when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or imprisoned and did not help you?’ He will reply, ‘truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of those least of these you did not do for me.'” Matthew 25:42-45

Libertarianism and rugged individualism are concepts of this world, not the world of Jesus Christ. Christ’s world is a world full of selflessness, empathy, and compassion. We say “in God we Trust” on all our money, of all places. What we are really saying is we trust in our ability to make money. We live in a selfish world of me first. “The others don’t deserve my help because they are lazy. I worked for my money they should too!” Is the common mantra.

Where in the world of Christian theology does it say we deserve to go to heaven? If we are a Christian nation that promises in our pledge of allegiance, “one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all” what do we mean by that? Who is the “all” referring too? If we are under God’s rule, then it is His Executive Orders we must be listening to, not our president, who is defiling the Executive Orders of God Law, to treat others as we wish to be treated! Ultimately, we are responsible for how our government treats the poor, the sick, the oppressed, the mentally ill, and the LGBTQ community. Christ died for all, not the privileged few! The very least we can do is to love all our neighbors and be a neighbor to all!

Edward Vos

Jamestown