Probably for all of us at one point in our lives we have come to a place where we feel like we are entitled to something. We have a right to something.
We have all probably also encountered others with an entitlement mentality. It is often a mentality I hear people groaning that we create as well meaning citizens, although we don't mourn or reflect that we have begun this process with the way we hand out charity, instead we talk down upon those who have grown accustomed to whatever they feel entitled to (choices, food, money, dignity, etc) whether their entitlement is right or wrong.
As I read this, this morning, from an article put out by NCC,
Inspired by a common spiritual conviction that God has called on all Americans to protect the vulnerable and promote the dignity of all individuals living in society, the faith community has worked along side the United States government for decades to protect those struggling to overcome poverty in the U.S. and abroad. Without a sustained federal commitment to these programs, the interfaith leaders fear that their Houses of Worship will be unable to solely support the country’s most vulnerable in their time of need.
I was very saddened. I think it is very serious the discussions going on in our capitol. I think that our government has lots of big decisions to make and haven't displayed the classiest behavior towards one another the past few years. But I think that we serve a God big enough to support the vulnerable. I don't think we, who are called, should ever sit back and feel entitled that our government can fix our problems. Whether our taxes go up or down, whether programs are cut or not, I believe Jesus himself had similar situations that he encountered and he said something like this,
"Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?”But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away." Matt 22:15-22
I think it's very important for us to remember our role. The churches job is to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, care for the widow, and the alien. That's our job! It makes me sad when I see us getting angry that the government won't do it. It's really what we are called to do. We should do it well, with joy, and ask God to provide when we aren't sure how to.
