Does Christianity encourage Sharing and Helping fellow humans?

Question

If so, then why are many (American) Christians against social program for people in need?

I'm not talking helping other countries, their own country.

Charity is different from Social Programs, such as Health Care.

Answer 1

You have an excellent point.

Yes, Christianity encourages sharing and helping fellow human beings. Many American Christians are swayed by the interests of the Republican Party, whose members are often in bed with Big Business. The very rich don't want to pay their taxes, and they don't want their taxes going to uplift the poor.

Also, many argue that government social programs, like welfare, are ineffective and damage the poor. While I don't object to the existence of government social programs, they are often run poorly. Unfortunately, many who object to social programs don't create or support the private programs that would help the poor in the place of government programs.

When God established Israel, he commanded that the farmers leave the corners of their fields unharvested, and leave the produce that fell to the ground alone, so the poor, the widows, and other disadvantages peoples could have it. To me, that sets a godly precedent for a degree of socialism in a capitalist world.

Answer 2

The reason for that tends to lie behind political views as well as religious ones, maybe more so. Christians do believe that we should help others, in fact, that is one of the primary teachings of Christ. Some, however, believe that social programs tend to numb that in people, by passing a responsibility which is the community's onto the government.
It has often been said that if Christians followed Christ's teachings for how we should care for one another, there wouldn't be any need for social programs, and it's true. However, Christians, like anyone else, are imperfect human beings, and we mess up too, so things aren't as nice as they would be in a perfect world.
I wouldn't say that there are a very large group that are against social programs. There are a large group of Christians that are republican, though not as many as the media would like to believe (indeed, there are not even as many Christians in America as people believe).
The reduction of social programs tends to come with the republican ticket, because republicans believe that there should be more money with people and businesses so that there will be more job opportunities, while democrats believe that more social programs protect people against poverty through those programs. Neither is a bad way to look at it, and both have their strengths and weaknesses.

Answer 3

If you have noticed here lately, most of the Christians have sinned more than a sinner. No offense please. I am just saying, I went to a church and everyone there was trying to out do each other on the way they dressed, the cars, how they dressed their children, etc... So my friends and I had this idea to have a race and see who could raise the most money and we would give it to those who needed it the most. Well it ended up going to the church and all it needed instead. What's funny is, the church had everything. I also wonder about the question you ask. My friends and I wondered the same things when we went to church. I do not go to church anymore b/c I realized it is easier to be a Christian at home than around people who only act like they are better.

Answer 4

Personally, I'm a christian and I encourage Sharing and Helping others... what you're saying is very stereotypical. I'm sure if you ask all American Christians 100% would not answer that they were against the program. Contrary to popular belief, not all christians agree on the same things, I mean, look at all the different branches of christianity. They all believe in the same religion but they all have different opinions.

Answer 5

Christians as a whole tend to resent government programs that help the poor, because they think "God" may not be aware of what's taken out in taxes to support such programs. They prefer to contribute to charities personally, which makes them feel they're scoring brownie points with "God".

Churches, particularly the Republican-based churches, which most are, have come up with the excuse that government programs are insufficient or flawed or whatever, which of course is just an excuse.

Answer 6

Yes, Christianity does support sharing and helping fellow humans.. I can't really answer the next question, but I think it's because, as Christians, many of us have wrongfully assumed that God created us to be us, and some of us are so self-absorbed, we have a hard time helping others, because we want others to help us.

Answer 7

apparently countless christians answering on listed right here are perplexed so I basically had to assert there in NO information proving the bible or that Jesus Christ existed. And for those of you who imagine there is information perchance you should look on the information and not in any respect basically sprout out what your church tells you. different then that I agree. Christianity isn't the real faith. there is not any such element as a "one real faith". faith changed into standard basically to regulate mass populations. If contained in the starting up Rome had chosen muslim somewhat of christianity we may have all been muslim. All there is to it. there's a better skill available, yet i'm not so ignorant and egotistic that i might want to ever imagine i might want to comprehend him and what he needs for this international.

Answer 8

I am Christian and I am not against stuff like that. If you don't have your Christianity to fall back and rely on I definately think you need to get the help somewhere else. I guess I don't know what you mean exactly.

Answer 9

Christians believe in helping others not in government policys.
leave somthing up to old uncle sam and you can bet hell do a crappy job. also social programs dont always work perfect like the feds would have you belive often its abused or neglects people. if we all help people on our own govenments hand wont be dipping in too. ask yourself what governments role should be to protect? to make decisions for us? to provide our every need? to provide nothing? to be land lord? to be a lord at all?

answer these questions and youll answer your own.

Answer 10

Greed. Christianity does not make people better, nothing really does. I would go as far as saying that thinking you know the truth when most of the world doesn't, and then being told you are of god's chosen people, and god loves you and will listen and consider everything you say in prayer to him would make someone self-centered and self-righteous.