Who Is Responsible for What?
Untied Methodist has a good post and subsequent discussion about the role of the church and the government in ensuring that people have the opportunity to work and to be paid a fair wage. Dean at Untied Methodist draws heavily on the United Methodist Social Principles. Today our Social Principles and Social Creed cover everything from environmental concerns to family life, but when the first Social Creed was adopted in 1908, it dealt almost entirely with labor-related issues.
Few question whether the church should help people obtain skills, find work, and meet their basic living needs. But United Methodists, and Christians as a whole, still disagree on whether the church should petition and pressure the government to pass legislation that protects workers and ensures laborers better compensation. I feel that the church should be involved in such advocacy efforts, but allow me to back up. I would like to suggest that churches use a three-tiered approach to help workers (both those currently employed and those looking for work). You can read that last sentence two different ways: that churches do use this approach, or that churches should start using this approach. I mean both. Anyway:
1) The church needs to help the working poor (and the poor in general) meet their basic needs. Many churches put significant effort and resources into providing needy persons food, shelter, clothing, and so forth. Congregations could more effectively meet these needs with financial and logistical support from local, state, and federal governments.
2) The church needs to help people move forward. Again, many congregations are already doing this. I know of several churches and church-affiliated programs in my area that offer job-training and job-counseling, English classes for immigrants, programs to rehabilitate criminals and prostitutes, programs to help people overcome addiction, and so forth. All of these efforts help people find work and take steps toward financial security. Here also, the more the government helps out, the better.
3) The church needs to be involved in advocacy. The idea that "those who work hard will be OK, and those who aren't OK aren't working hard" is silly. When I was in high school, making little more than minimum wage was great. I could bowl three games and get a malt at Steak 'n' Shake every night, and the money never ran out. I couldn't believe that anyone complained about money. Once I had graduated from college, making little more than minimum wage was not sufficient. I couldn't pay for basic living expenses without help from my parents, a luxury that many people don't have. And, of course, I didn't have benefits.
But this isn't about me. Millions of people are working hard (sometimes working multiple jobs) and not getting by. While we shouldn't rely on the government to solve all of our problems, the government (local, state, and federal) has a responsibility to provide for the common welfare. If affordable housing is lacking, the government needs to find ways to create more affordable housing units. If millions of people lack healthcare, the government needs to initiate programs to make sure that these people are taken care of. Today the minimum wage is ridiculously low, many people work full-time and live below the poverty line, and the disparity between the haves and have-nots continues to grow. The government must do something to increase wages.
Churches are called to minister to people in need, but churches simply do not have the resources to both meet people's basic needs and help people take the next step forward, especially when government policies ensure a continual flow of needy persons and families. Even while the church reaches out to the poor, the church must petition and pressure the government for legislation that will help solve the underlying problems of poverty. According to Jim Wallis, one out of every sixteen New Testament verses deals with poverty andor social justice; the ratio in Matthew, Mark, and Luke is one-in-ten; in Luke alone, it is one-in-seven. Poverty andor social justice is the second most prominent topic in the Old Testament. (Idolatry is first.) Clearly, effectively fighting poverty is a biblical imperative.
Further reading:
Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich
Sweet Charity by Janet Poppendieck
God's Politics by Jim Wallis
Also see:
The Fair Wage Plan
Few question whether the church should help people obtain skills, find work, and meet their basic living needs. But United Methodists, and Christians as a whole, still disagree on whether the church should petition and pressure the government to pass legislation that protects workers and ensures laborers better compensation. I feel that the church should be involved in such advocacy efforts, but allow me to back up. I would like to suggest that churches use a three-tiered approach to help workers (both those currently employed and those looking for work). You can read that last sentence two different ways: that churches do use this approach, or that churches should start using this approach. I mean both. Anyway:
1) The church needs to help the working poor (and the poor in general) meet their basic needs. Many churches put significant effort and resources into providing needy persons food, shelter, clothing, and so forth. Congregations could more effectively meet these needs with financial and logistical support from local, state, and federal governments.
2) The church needs to help people move forward. Again, many congregations are already doing this. I know of several churches and church-affiliated programs in my area that offer job-training and job-counseling, English classes for immigrants, programs to rehabilitate criminals and prostitutes, programs to help people overcome addiction, and so forth. All of these efforts help people find work and take steps toward financial security. Here also, the more the government helps out, the better.
3) The church needs to be involved in advocacy. The idea that "those who work hard will be OK, and those who aren't OK aren't working hard" is silly. When I was in high school, making little more than minimum wage was great. I could bowl three games and get a malt at Steak 'n' Shake every night, and the money never ran out. I couldn't believe that anyone complained about money. Once I had graduated from college, making little more than minimum wage was not sufficient. I couldn't pay for basic living expenses without help from my parents, a luxury that many people don't have. And, of course, I didn't have benefits.
But this isn't about me. Millions of people are working hard (sometimes working multiple jobs) and not getting by. While we shouldn't rely on the government to solve all of our problems, the government (local, state, and federal) has a responsibility to provide for the common welfare. If affordable housing is lacking, the government needs to find ways to create more affordable housing units. If millions of people lack healthcare, the government needs to initiate programs to make sure that these people are taken care of. Today the minimum wage is ridiculously low, many people work full-time and live below the poverty line, and the disparity between the haves and have-nots continues to grow. The government must do something to increase wages.
Churches are called to minister to people in need, but churches simply do not have the resources to both meet people's basic needs and help people take the next step forward, especially when government policies ensure a continual flow of needy persons and families. Even while the church reaches out to the poor, the church must petition and pressure the government for legislation that will help solve the underlying problems of poverty. According to Jim Wallis, one out of every sixteen New Testament verses deals with poverty andor social justice; the ratio in Matthew, Mark, and Luke is one-in-ten; in Luke alone, it is one-in-seven. Poverty andor social justice is the second most prominent topic in the Old Testament. (Idolatry is first.) Clearly, effectively fighting poverty is a biblical imperative.
Further reading:
Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich
Sweet Charity by Janet Poppendieck
God's Politics by Jim Wallis
Also see:
The Fair Wage Plan
posted by Tinley | 8:22 AM
2 Comments:
The problem here is that many Christians, such as myself, believe that the best way to create better living conditions is to encourage business growth and individual education.
I'm not a big fan of looking to the government for any social programs; I believe those should come directly from the Church and commited Christians.
I don't think that using government force to serve the needs of the poor and needy is particularly moral. What is Christian about stealing from person A to give to person B even though person B is poor? Person B might benefit, but you've legitimized thievery.
It's worth noting that Jesus advocating helping the poor and suffering, but never advocated government action.
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