Opus 2017-144: Middle Class Morality: Concern for the Poor

One of the political mantras that is used to manipulate the masses is “concern for the poor”.  Most of what we hear is nothing but contempt and deceit.  If the left cared about the poor they would teach them self respect, independence and force them to work their way out of poverty.  Instead they talk about self-esteem, rights, entitlements and perpetual dependence.

The real concern for the poor comes from the Bible and has always been a part of Christian culture.  Think about the institutions we think are normal but have been carved out of the centuries by applying Christian ideas.

Hospitals are a Christian concept.  Consider all the hospitals in town that are affiliated with a Christian group.  I am not sure of my history on this but I think the idea of a hospital was generated by medieval monks as they tried to care for lepers and other poor sick people.  The poor had a doctor come to their home and servants to care for them.  The poor had the monks.  Today we think it is normal.

We have all heard of Sunday Schools.  The original concept came from the Christians of England concerned about all the children working six days a week.  The only day they had free was Sunday so they started teaching them to read on that day.  The idea of universal education was the result of the Protestant emphasis that the Bible was the authority and that each individual needed to be able to read it. 

Rejection of Slavery has its roots in Christianity.  While it is true that the Bible does not forbid slavery it tells masters to treat their slaves like brothers.  It is hard to maintain the institution when it is family.  William Wilberforce was motivated by his Christian faith.  Leaders of the underground railroad tended to be people of faith.  These are not concepts that were generated by the pagan or Muslim world.

Nobles Oblige is a concept that needs to be revived.  It is a Christian concept that says those who are blessed are expected to use their blessings for those less fortunate.  The world has always had elites and always will have elites.  They are the blessed who have power, wealth and influence.  They run things.  The problems we are having today is a surfeit of narcissistic elites and a lack of servant elites. 

(Proverbs 31:5 KJV)  Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

The idea of being created equal is Biblical, not philosophical.  We need to get back to our roots.

Viva la middle class morality.

To be continued...

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