"Knowing The Truth" with Pastor Kevin Boling is a live, call-in radio program providing Doctrinal Dialog, Cultural Commentary and Insightful Interviews with some of today's foremost Christian authors and leaders.
As the article HERE indicates, the number of people receiving food stamps, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), is falling. Especially in those states that have reinstated work requirements. In some counties within those states the participates on welfare programs has decreased by as much as 85 percent.
"After Kansas reimplemented its work requirements in 2013, nearly 60 percent of people who had been removed from the program found employment within 12 months, and those people who had been removed saw their incomes rise on average by 127 percent per year."
The Trump Administration "has proposed a budget that would cut $193 billion to the program over 10 years." Many people are applauding this effort to reduce spending on a program they see rewarding people for being lazy. Others say this budget proposals like this are "Draconian" - a reference to a 7th century Greek Statesmen who sought to implement a code of laws which prescribed death for almost every offense.
So which side should we be on?
Well I think that there are two primary considerations that we should concentrate on as we form our opinion on this issue.
One, how did we get to this point as a nation and as a society where we are paying literally multiple millions of people for not working at all? What is the historical context? Is this how it always been in America? Looking to our past, may be the key as to how we proceed in the present.
And two, how does our Theology impact our thinking on this issue.
Christian's, of course, are interested in being compassionate to the poor. When Methodism spread across America in the 18th century, many American simply followed John Wesley's advice "Put yourself in the place of every poor man and deal with him as you would God deal with you."
That begs the question, how would we want God to deal with us? It is interesting to note how dealing with the poor changed over the years as people changed their view of God.
On the broadcast today, after reading the attached article, I will discuss that point.. The Theology of Welfare.
The “Knowing The Truth” Radio Program, originates in Greenville, SC on a 50,000 watt station covering all of South Carolina as well as parts of North Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia. The program airs live on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 11:00am – 12 noon EST on Christian Talk 660AM and 92.9FM. Additionally, the program is broadcast live nationally via video webcast on SermonAudio.com.
The host, Pastor Kevin Boling, has conducted over 500 interviews with some of today’s foremost Christian authors and leaders. His guests have also included presidential candidates, ambassadors, senators, congressmen, governors and other political and social leaders.
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