During winter
the appearance of homeless camps on city highways, byways and bike paths becomes
more prevalent. A recent newspaper reported, “This is not a city government
issue. This is a community-wide issue.” Homelessness certainly effects our
communities, but to me the statement implies that homelessness is somehow the community’s
responsibility. Paul would disagree and warns against idleness, “For even when
we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not
eat.” We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy;
they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the
Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat” (2
Thess 3:10-12 NIV).
1 comment:
Gail;
-----I agree with the newspaper and Paul. Homelessness is in a large part the community’s issue. It isn’t totally, but maybe it is the larger part.
-----When God said, “Let us make man in our image,” He wasn’t just saying man was going to somehow look or be like God. Man’s nature of being in God’s image is an aspect of reflectivity. The greatest psychologists of history, coincidentally, also the greatest political philosophers of history (must be a connection there,) noted man’s penchant for reflecting behaviors and ideas as one of the most fundamental attributes of human nature. By that reflectivity fascism grows out of group behavior into such train wrecks as Nazism, communism, and even advanced socialism. Yet the church also gains some benefit from man’s tendency to reflect, as well as reaps some wind by the same. Before Eve bit the apple, it was an entirely good attribute, for man was reflecting righteousness. It tainted by her snack. For now man has the choice to reflect evil.
-----One of government’s responsibilities is to provide beneficial characteristics for its citizens to reflect. A weak example of this are the yellow triangular signs we often see along Colorado’s mountain highways reading, “THINK!” That’s likely a good thing to reflect along the Million Dollar Highway. When I was a child I remember the public announcements that ran at least a couple times every evening showing the silhouetted man and his wife and kids and a little church and school. The message spoken with the picture was an encouragement to go to church, go to school, and respect authority. I wish we had that today. Also, through the second grade I remember beginning each school day with prayer. We even sang a patriotic, Christian hymn along with saying the pledge of allegiance. Only the pledge of allegiance was there to begin my third grade year. That also was a message, “Ein…Zwei…Drei…Veir! Actung!” Oh my.
-----Today, the community’s message to the homeless is, “Oh what an unfortunate little puppy you are. Oh, so sweet! Go hop around somebody’s feet and get a scrap while we find a way to tax the productive for your shelter and provision.” The community message should be, “Go ahead, make my day! You don’t want to contribute; you won’t have anything to eat. Go find mommy and daddy, maybe they’ll give you a free ride. If not, maybe brother or sister. If not them or a cousin, then you really ought to think about being productive towards others for a change. Otherwise, all your going to get are the scraps of generosity an overburdened public is willing to spare.”
-----In a news commentary last night I heard tell of a California town where the beggars sat on a street corner poking their little beg-cups out of a rather opaque cloud of marijuana smoke. Somehow the community has failed the homeless by what they‘ve made available for reflection! I think its again time to have that public message of the early 60’s running on our TV screens multiple times a day, as well as some prayer and respect for the Lord and His Holy Bible in the schools seasoned with a patriotic hymn or two. And maybe those “THINK!” signs should be scattered throughout the town streets, especially where tin cups are most usually poking out of dense clouds of pot smoke. And I particularly think community responsibility includes giving every liberal a tin bathtub, a paddle, and a free ride to the Atlantic coast where they can launch their way back to Europe, where their land is.
-----God is not a free rider. So what business does man have reflecting that image?
Love you all,
Steve Corey
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