What Would Jesus Do?

I've been getting some liberal commenters blasting me for not supporting the SCHIP, because that is what Jesus would have done, right?

Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s” (Matthew 22:21)

Should we pay our taxes? Yes. But that is where the line is drawn of Christ ever mentioning the government in relation to his ministry. And it was to make sure we knew the difference between what was God's and what was Caesar's. Never did Christ ask us to come together as a government and help the poor. He called us as Christians to help the poor. Each of us. Individually. It's interesting to note that in the New Testament Christ refers to how employers should treat their employees, how people should treat those who are in debt to them. He told parables about employees being generous and how they had a right to do with their money as they wished.

Christ never called on his followers to band with the government to help the poor. And he could have easily done so. It is wrong to bring Christ's teachings into politics unless it concerns moral issues. When moral issues are being forced upon us by the government then it is right to respond with Christ's message. Whether it be abortion, gay marriage, the death penalty, persecution, or civil rights for minorities. It is right to stand up for what we believe Christ would want us too. And we don't have to always agree with what that is, but it should stand on moral grounds.

Although it is fine to confront political issues with our religious belief, this is not demanded of us in our faith. That is our own decision. Many good and holy people live lives of giving and never enter the political process and that is fine. We answer the call we are given.

Now, that having been said, I do believe in a safety net for the poor by the government, but not because of my Christian beliefs, but because it seems to be the easiest way to provide that care for those who cannot take care of themselves. But we are so beyond a "safety net' right now. We have give a way programs that take away our hard earned money in billions and billions of dollars of fraud every year. That is wrong.

We are over taxed, over regulated, and over governed. Too much government is wrong for a free people.

So my liberal friends can stop lecturing me on what Christ would want. I have spent my entire life trying to make sure I am doing exactly that. It doesn't mean I haven't failed many many times, but nothing matters more to me. But you will never convince me that Christ was political in any way. He was about one thing and one thing only...our salvation. That's it. Period.