My interview on "Turley Talks" with Dr. Steve Turley, on the Christian doctrine of ordered loves and how it applies not just to personal ethics but to public policy, on key issues such as immigration.
Well done again! I have so many questions! Could you address Jesus’ mandate to feed the hungry and poor? I know he mandated us to help other groups, but I want to hear your thoughts on feeding just this group! Who are the hungry and poor? Is it Biblically ok to self-identify and bae our food gifts based on this premise? Is it the churches role to feed the poor, but does Jesus mandate the government to feed the poor? My Christian friends are appalled I ask this question. Is it ok that I gift people I perceive the perceive as poor? That seems so judgment-y. Is it all people under a certain income level?. Is it people who “look” poor? If I unknowingly feed the poor that really aren’t poor, aren’t they breaking the stealing commandment of because they are taking of the truly poor? And if I knowingly help a person not really hungry or poor, am I helping them steal? My questions comes from soup kitchens I have worked where staff tell patrons that they wanted more numbers of people to come, so bring your friends to the soup kitchen. WHO ARE OUR POOR? Thank you! I am SO struggling and can’t ask my pastor because she will theologe me under the table!🤣
I think the Lord is quite clear in telling us that "A man who does not provide for his family has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." We are to love God first and foremost, and then our family. Our family is hungry if we don't feed them.
We are to love everyone, but love some people more. Love is a verb more than it's a feeling, as we see in 1 Cor. 13.
This works well, because my family depends on me, and other people's families depend on them. I do not have unlimited resources and cannot take care of them all.
At the same time, as in the case of the Good Samaritan, if there is a need right in front of me, I am to take care of that regardless of who it is, to the degree that I am able.
None of this precludes all manner of charity. It simply prioritizes resource allocation.
Well done again! I have so many questions! Could you address Jesus’ mandate to feed the hungry and poor? I know he mandated us to help other groups, but I want to hear your thoughts on feeding just this group! Who are the hungry and poor? Is it Biblically ok to self-identify and bae our food gifts based on this premise? Is it the churches role to feed the poor, but does Jesus mandate the government to feed the poor? My Christian friends are appalled I ask this question. Is it ok that I gift people I perceive the perceive as poor? That seems so judgment-y. Is it all people under a certain income level?. Is it people who “look” poor? If I unknowingly feed the poor that really aren’t poor, aren’t they breaking the stealing commandment of because they are taking of the truly poor? And if I knowingly help a person not really hungry or poor, am I helping them steal? My questions comes from soup kitchens I have worked where staff tell patrons that they wanted more numbers of people to come, so bring your friends to the soup kitchen. WHO ARE OUR POOR? Thank you! I am SO struggling and can’t ask my pastor because she will theologe me under the table!🤣
I think the Lord is quite clear in telling us that "A man who does not provide for his family has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." We are to love God first and foremost, and then our family. Our family is hungry if we don't feed them.
We are to love everyone, but love some people more. Love is a verb more than it's a feeling, as we see in 1 Cor. 13.
This works well, because my family depends on me, and other people's families depend on them. I do not have unlimited resources and cannot take care of them all.
At the same time, as in the case of the Good Samaritan, if there is a need right in front of me, I am to take care of that regardless of who it is, to the degree that I am able.
None of this precludes all manner of charity. It simply prioritizes resource allocation.
Excellent
Thanks for this. Great elaboration. This is my take - quite a lot of overlap https://oswald67.substack.com/p/love-thy-neighbour-and-immigration?r=2r3au