In reality, both my husband and I were extremely politically ignorant when we were first married back in 1985. I thank God we both grew in the same political direction. Though honestly, if you truly understand the difference in the Democrat and Republican platforms, I have a difficult time fathoming how any maturing Christian could become a Democrat. Notice that I put out the disclaimer: if you truly understand the difference in the platforms of the 2 parties. Many Christians don’t, and therefore, wind up registering democrat. I guess I keep forgetting that Obama is a Christian.
Even though my husband doesn’t enjoy fiery political debates as much as Tieki Rae and I do, it does not mean that he is not passionate about the issues, because he is. It’s just so cute how we produced an offspring who just happens to be Christian and Conservative too. Thank you Jesus!! 
Whenever I post on social issues, such as here and here, it’s typical to get comments questioning my Christianity. Many times, I even get emails using Scripture from the Word about how heartless I am, and that I need to realize that the Bible is always talking about giving to the poor. True, God does want us giving to the poor, but who do these ignorant Christians that email me think the poor are? From what I understand reading through the Bible, the poor are the widows, orphans, and the disabled. I find nowhere in the Word where God instructs me to give to the lazy, the whores, liars, cheats, and con artists. In my not so humble opinion, I believe it’s high time that Christians started to learn the difference.
I know an elephant that posts on the vileness of universal health care. This particular elephant professes to be an atheist (though I will always hold out for that to change) and she gets attacked by so-called Christians harping on her about universal health care being all the rage and the moral thing to do.
I have a problem when Christians start thinking it’s fine to steal from wealthy, hard working people, and give it to those who have chosen not to work as hard. I have a problem with Christians who are so stupid as to buy into the lies of socialism and communism being Christian forms of government. If these Christians really believe this, why wouldn’t they move to utopias such as China or Cuba? If socialized medicine is so fantastic, why not apply for Canadian citizenship and seek your medical care up there? I wonder if these socialists would enjoy waiting their turn? And, as the brilliant Dr. John Lott points out:
Is it just a fluke fact that when Fidel Castro was sick he had to have a surgical team from Spain to do the operation?
So, for all those libtard Christians, you are going to force me to wear this shirt.
Hi Tammi - Good points and excellent distinctions. Liberal Christians often pervert “giving” to mean “taking other people’s money to give away.” The Bible doesn’t teach to be like Robin Hood, it teaches to give your own money - and with discernment! Don’t give to those who can work but refuse to. You hurt them and the people who really need your money.
Hi Neil,
Yes, the Bible definitely teaches us to give and using discernment is the key. The Bible teaches us not to steal, and much to the dismay of the left, that would include not stealing from the rich.
Thanks for stopping in Neil.
You need to get a copy of Marvin Olaskey’s book, “The Tragedy of American Compassion.”
Giving and confiscation are not to be confused, nor is direct giving or “alms” doing a good deed, but harm.
Thank you for the link love, Tammi.
Ya know, Ayn Rand had a few things to say about charity and giving money away. She had no problem with it per se, but has a few caveats:
1) it has to be your own money; your morality is not a claim on the products of someone else’s labour; and
2) your need is not a claim on your fellow man. If your fellow man feels compassion for you, or wants to see you succeed, or otherwise feel as if you can make better use of his money than he can, he may give it to you. Otherwise, you have no right to enslave him by commandeering his salary. After all, those who are forced to work and cannot keep their wages are indentured servants or slaves.
Back to Christianity. There’s a few passages that talk about supporting your family and about not being a burden upon others. There are also a LOT that talk about not screwing around before marriage. Heck, if you even start reading the Bible, you find out that God commanded Adam to work in the fields for his food. Yeah, that’s right: the Bible tells you that if you want to eat, you have to work for it.
“Thou shalt not steal” is also pretty relevant - you cannot force money from your neighbours, whether by thievery or other confiscation. At least with thievery, the government can help you recover your money; with taxation, the government is a party to the theft.
Rant over.
“I have a problem when Christians start thinking it’s fine to steal from wealthy, hard working people and give it to those who have chosen not to work as hard.”
Hah! You could never be a Democrat with an attitude like that :).
Hi Bridget,
You are welcome for the link love!
Unfortunately, all of us may have been down and out at one time or another. I know when we were younger, we, personally, were not that bright and made some goofy decisions financially. It’s nice to have friends and family there to lend a hand and teach you the errors of your ways during these times. The problem comes when we feel entitled to the benevolence of others. And that, is exactly how 90% of welfare recipients feel — entitled.
Hi no2liberals,
Thanks for stopping in. That does sound like a book I’d be interested in. Truth is, it’s not really giving if it’s stolen from someone else in the first place, right?
Hi Kevin!
I know! Bummer dude. Just kidding, I don’t wanna be no stinking thieving RAT.
I agree. My friends and family have certainly helped me - heaven only knows where I would be without them. I think the mentality is always to pay it back and pay it forward: repay, if possible, and do the same for others when older and so able.
Tammi, great post. The idea that Jesus was the first socialist is believed by a lot of people and is way off track. Socialism is a utilitarian idea based on the idea of people as objects to be used. The taxes of the masses are taken by the government and put to some use. Those people who were forced to contribute that money are not real people but numbers.
Great overview of Ayn Rand here:
1) it has to be your own money; your morality is not a claim on the products of someone else’s labour; and
2) your need is not a claim on your fellow man. If your fellow man feels compassion for you, or wants to see you succeed, or otherwise feel as if you can make better use of his money than he can, he may give it to you. Otherwise, you have no right to enslave him by commandeering his salary. After all, those who are forced to work and cannot keep their wages are indentured servants or slaves.
This is what I love about Ayn Rand (though I don’t agree with her selfishness ideal. I think that’s an area where she was missing something important about human existence).
Thank you, Aurora.
I think that Ayn Rand’s “selfishness” is better phrased as “rational self-interest,” where we allow people to order their own lives according to their own values. If you value someone else’s happiness above your own time or money or stress-free existence, great. Do whatever is in your own interests (which includes how you relate to other people). Many of her characters happily risked their lives for others, which isn’t “selfish” as we think of the term but certainly in their own rational self-interest.
Thanks Aurora! I’m so glad you stopped in.
I appreciate everyone taking the time to leave their thoughts and knowledge.
“I find nowhere in the Word where God instructs me to give to the lazy, the whores, liars, cheats, and con artists.”
This sentence is beautiful! What is taken in taxes does not equate to charity. Some of us give to a variety of charities and causes because we feel that it is the right thing to do. For some reason buying cigarettes for the deadbeat boyfriend of a young mother on welfare doesn’t seem like a noble use of tax dollars.
True story Sam! I was reading some goofy article at ABC news talking about how the poor could not afford to buy fresh fruits and vegetables for their children. I couldn’t help but think of all the people on food stamps I know who cannot afford to purchase their own food but by golly they find money for those smokes!
Hi Tammi,
If I remember my Biblical teachings correctly, it sets the level of charitable giving at 10% for everyone, not just the rich. Apparently, God is smart enough to understand that one tenth of one million is larger than one the same portion of ten thousand. Oh, and that is above and beyond any tax paid to the Government.
On the topic of who is rich and who is poor, the liberal Democrats have just made that decision. Rich is a single person making at least $150,000 per year or a couple making $200,000. Poor is everyone else. This appears to be based on research into voting trends at different income levels, and blocks out a sufficient pool of voters that are to get Government handouts to give the liberals a step up in future elections.
It’s also important to note that liberals only want to make a show of trying to help the poor without actually solving their problems since if that happened the ex-poor would vote Republican.
the Grit
Hi Grit!
Yes, God is real smart that way.
Though, the 10% in the Bible is what is referred to as the tithe. I know it might upset some Christians, but you are correct, He requires it of all Christians, not just the rich ones. In other words, God expects someone with an annual gross income of $75,000 to tithe 10% of that, or $7,500. AND he expects someone who earns a gross income of $20,000 to tithe $2,000 of that income. Offerings are actually what is given over the required tithe.
Offering real solutions to the poor would indeed be devastating to the DemonRATS.
It’s always such a pleasure when you stop in.
As much as I admire much of what Ayn Rand had to say about the spirit and value of men, her atheism has always troubled me.
What she described herself as, was an “objectivist.” She believed altruism was, at best, wrong and did not serve man well.
See what I mean? She could think and write things that inspired me, then with one quote, make me feel very uncomfortable.
I forgive her though, she was unique, and shaped by her experiences, and at least she was a vehement anti-communist.
“I find nowhere in the Word where God instructs me to give to the lazy, the whores, liars, cheats, and con artists.”
I love this…with your permission I would love to put some of this on my blog. Awesome post!
I certainly understand what you’re talking about no2liberals. As a believer, I am always uncomfortable with atheism (nothing personal Bridget hun!). Not sure that it would be possible not to be, but that’s just my opinion. Of course vehemently anti-communist is always a good thing.
Jessica,
Thanks for stopping in 
Help yourself!
Hi Tammi,
It’s always a pleasure to spend time here, and I would do so more often if She Who Must Be Obeyed, my wife, wasn’t so insistent on having everything perfect for the Holidays. Oh, and that running a farm thing takes up far too much time in this season. Still, it’s nice to know there’s a certain winner here when I have the odd free moment.
the Grit
No2Liberals,
1. Nobody is perfect.
2. It’s an understatement (and a knock on her) to say that she was “at least” anti-communist. Communism pretty much shaped her philosophy - she lived it, saw its effects, and, like a lot of people who got out of Russia during those years, HATES it and make it their life work to oppose it.
3. What’s wrong with atheists?
To be serious about the last point: Ms. Rand declined to go a step further. That does not make her wrong, nor you right, nor the other way around. Any religion that teaches its adherents that they are worthless scum will be a scourge upon the Earth. Many religions are collectivism imposed by threat of eternal damnation. Look at Islam. It teaches that its followers are bad, that they can only redeem themselves by serving another, that women are worthless and only there to be exploited, and a host of other horrors. In order for any religion to at least do some good in the world, it must teach that the individual has worth.
Now, I could be wrong, but I recall that you are a Christian. I could also be wrong, but I think that the Bible says something about man being created in God’s image.
Is that truly inconsistent with what Ayn Rand was saying? Is that not just another step on her analysis, one which she declined to take? She says that need is not a claim upon others, nor a license to enslave; she posits (brilliantly) non-religious reasons why a collectivist system does not work. Reducing to absurdity, she posits that man MUST be of value for himself. Christians teach the same exact thing. They teach that individual humans are extraordinarily valuable beings - from being made in the image of God, to having Jesus die for each of us, to the sanctity of life.
Same concepts. She arrives at them from a different place, building them from the ground up. She is under no obligation to pretend that Christianity is the only justification for those reasons, nor that principles which exist in the Christian tradition cannot be justified but on the Bible - that they have no correlation to the world we live in.
theobromophile,
I don’t see how you were able to deduce my saying I am uncomfortable with someone’s atheism, to saying she is wrong, or that there is something wrong with all atheists.
My perspective set you off somehow, and I don’t believe it was anything I typed. If you would, read my comment again, and compare it with what you went on about, and tell me how different our observations are. She was a brilliant woman, as I said, shaped by her experiences…i.e. her home of origin, and the communism she escaped. I also said I thought she was inspiring. Did you not see that?
Yes, I am a Christian, and I have no idea what your belief system is or is not, and it doesn’t matter. Try not to misinterpret what I say, or perhaps remove your filters before you read them.
Hi No2liberals,
Because I think both you and Bridget are terrific, I do want to say that I think her comment is more light hearted than you took it as. Just saying.
Happy Thanksgiving kids!