tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23528497.post115219659810235382..comments2023-07-14T11:39:32.270-04:00Comments on Poiesistheou: Brian McLaren, Hell, Systemic Sin, and Rural AmericaChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002617931455281500noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23528497.post-1153192498966739162006-07-17T23:14:00.000-04:002006-07-17T23:14:00.000-04:00Chris, great words, great questions. While I agree...Chris, great words, great questions. While I agree with backwoods on some points, I disagree that the governement should not take a role. The church in America is not in a possition of majority and does not have the power to end poverty. Though, I would agree that the church should play a much larger role than we do and that we can make a big difference. Our governement has a responibility. I would rather see my tax money go to those in need, in a wise fashion, than go to many of the other things we pay for.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07939984108331588658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23528497.post-1153142094436509872006-07-17T09:14:00.000-04:002006-07-17T09:14:00.000-04:00Chris,Here are a couple verses for your perousal o...Chris,<BR/><BR/>Here are a couple verses for your perousal on this subject.<BR/><BR/>1 Thess. 4:9-12<BR/>2 Thess. 3:6-13Benjamin P. Glaserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02728290792232181473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23528497.post-1152217200524859392006-07-06T16:20:00.000-04:002006-07-06T16:20:00.000-04:00While I agree with your premise that we as Christi...While I agree with your premise that we as Christians should focus a lot more on "social gospel" than we presently do we need to have a frank discussion on how to best accomplish this. Firstly we must get one thing strait we cannot and should not go forth into "social gospel" with a white guilt mentality. Secondly we cannot and should not rely on govermental agencies or goverment in general to deal with the poor. It is the job of the Church to help the poor not the government. Thirdly we must not just feed and clothe them but must ensure that after they receive care from us that they will no longer be in that condition. This must be accomplished by first presenting the Gospel and then giving training and other non-monetary related services to help ensure that they will not be in "poverty" any longer. Fourthly we need to really understand what we mean by "poverty". Poverty is not living without a televison. Poverty is not living without non-essential services. The idea of poverty in America and the idea of poverty in other countries is much different. The poor in America and the poor in Africa bear no real resemblence. We must first understand this as an essential building block that all poverty is not created equal. This is just a short list but I believe that an essential tenet to getting rid of poverty is to re-imagining the fight and we can only do this by dialoguing and critiquing in a positive manner.Benjamin P. Glaserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02728290792232181473noreply@blogger.com