Okay, so as I was trying to think of a title for this piece, I didn't intentionally target any particular news outlet. Huffington Post just came to mind. My blog posts are usually inspired by what I read on Facebook (or through fill in the blank social media) on a daily or weekly basis. I try my best to just be a casual observer as my wide variety of Facebook friends post their political and non-political thoughts. I came across one last week associating Jesus himself as a political figure in our modern times. What would Republican Jesus Do? It read "Cut food stamp benefits, cut affordable healthcare, demonize the homeless, and block equality rights) Jesus wasn't a democrat, republican, socialist, anarchist, etc. Jesus was (if you're a believer) as the Bible tells us the son of God. While I will not make this post religious, Jesus can't be equated with what our government should or should not do.
Jesus gave out of the kindness of his own heart. Giving someone food, clothing, shelter, love are beautiful things, but doing it voluntarily, not through government force is another. Being against food stamps is not being a mean person. If you're for food stamps and government assistance, it doesn't make you a better person than the person who is against it. Give of your own time. Volunteer at a local food shelter, donate clothes, make Christmas shoe boxes for children around the holidays, but whatever you do, do it because YOU want to. Not because someone tells you. Giving out of the goodness of your heart will mean ten times more than sitting back and expecting our government to do it.
Yes, government assistance is a necessary thing on occasion, and even though I don't think it should be a means of living, I understand people endure struggles, and I'm not heartless enough to understand that.
But please, please do not say that Jesus would be aligned with any political party of our modern times because you think the government taking care of people is caring. Do something on your own. That's what Jesus would do.
