Tuesday 8 March 2011

Possibly the earliest existing welfare state

In the Old Testament, God set laws in place for how the nation of Israel was to be governed. Whilst I do not want to recommend that we use these rules to run a modern state, I believe that it gives insight into God's heart and the sort of principle's we might want to base our laws on.

Contrary to popular myth and many right-wing Christians who often refer to the Old Testament, this does not show a God lacking in love. My contention is that the laws put down in Old Testament amount to probably the first welfare state that ever existed.

Take for instance these verses from the book of Deuteronomy Chapter 14

 28 At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year’s produce and store it in your towns, 29 so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.

Throughout the Old Testament laws as expounded in the book of Moses concern is placed to look after the elderly, the sick, the widows and indeed the foreigner. Deuteronomy 10:18-19, 16:11-12, 24:17-21, are all good examples where those who are unable to fend for themselves are to well treated, some would say even given welfare, for out of the tithe, like a 10% tax on income, these groups of people were to be looked after.

Some argue that the Old Testamant is full of hatred and bloodshed, and perhaps this is Chronicled, but from the Law one can see that this is not God's heart, take Exodus 22:21 for example “You shall neither mistreat a stranger nor oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. Explicitly outlawing racist behaviour in the land Israel.

Therefore it is my contention that those on the right of politics have misunderstood God's heart if they have ever used christianity to promote policies that either seek to undermine the welfare state or promote any racist attitudes, because God's heart is to care for those less fotunate and indeed he was prepared to use the vehicle of the State to ensure those ends were met.

Sunday 6 February 2011

Christianity and politics

In a thread on another Blog (The Greenbenches) I stated that Christian teaching has two poles, one love and the other holiness. Many people place emphasis on one of these poles and tend to ignore the other. However both are necessary for completeness and order. I believe it is these two poles that shape my political beliefs and bring an eclectic mix to my policy stances.

If you place the emphasis on holiness or in its secular form morality, to the exclusion of love then the tendency to become judgemental is prevalent. I believe this outlook is common among many right-wing politicians whether they claim to be Christian or not.

If you place the emphasis on love or compassion, to the exclusion of holiness then the effects can be less immediate but this leads to a lack of moral compass, an anything goes culture which can destroy lives, families and ultimately society. Rome was destroyed largely by decadence. This outlook is more common among left wing politicians especially those of the liberal left.

Jesus clearly taught both love and holiness, God is love and we are called to be Holy as God is Holy. This means that we as Christians are to walk in compassion on this earth, without judging individuals but at the same time eschewing compromising with amorality in the world.

It is my intent to expand on these starting points in forthcoming posts.