Is it everyone's calling?

Michael Collum said:

Nope, reading your own narrative into scripture is eisegesis.

The church does this quite often, for some reason doesn't want to help the poor. For some reason wants nothing to do with God. For whatsoever you have done to the least of these, you have also done unto God.

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Be careful with your understanding. Lord Jesus was speaking about the brethren, not the world. It is good to help the poor, but it is essential to help other Christians who are in need.

Paidiske said:

Agreed. The Biblical vision of justice is one where the strong and powerful use their resources for the common good, especially of those who are without strength and power.

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Yes.

For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; but that there is equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality. As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.” -- 2 Corinthians 8

Paidiske said:

And those who are excluded from participation? Those who are denied an education, those who are not able to access employment, those with disabilities?

A level playing field as a starting point is a complete fiction.

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That's why there are grades A through F, and medals Gold through Bronze. There's 'entry level' through CEO, and everything in between.

Sadly (or happily) "most people rise to their lowest expectation" then pop a cool one and hit the couch.

That's no adequate response to a world in which 800 children a day die due to lack of access to clean water.

Michael Collum said:

Nope, reading your own narrative into scripture is eisegesis.

The church does this quite often, for some reason doesn't want to help the poor. For some reason wants nothing to do with God. For whatsoever you have done to the least of these, you have also done unto God.

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The church, and the government, is basically...overwhelmed.

Paidiske said:

That's no adequate response to a world in which 800 children a day die due to lack of access to clean water.

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Why does it take an organization in New Hampshire to provide clean water for Africa?

Build Clean Water Wells for Africa | The Water Project

I'm a donor btw (from Wisconsin).

OldWiseGuy said:

Why does it take an organization in New Hampshire to provide clean water for Africa?

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Perhaps a better question might be, why shouldn't New Hampshirites - and everyone who has the means - contribute to changing that dreadful statistic?

Clare73 said:

What is your bias against the body of Christ?

The above do not exclude what I posted.

Why are you so opposed to other parts of the NT. . .eisegesis?

Not all works of faith involve society, some do not.

I guess you aren't familiar with Paul's letters.

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You are ignoring what the general context of the phrase is saying and replacing it with other teachings, and not acknowledging what the text actually says.

In several contexts you have decided to edit out the teachings about helping the poor and needy through emphasis and use some theological formula to justify your actions.

So I can't just give you a pat on the back for that kind of behavior, now can I?

Aussie Pete said:

Be careful with your understanding. Lord Jesus was speaking about the brethren, not the world. It is good to help the poor, but it is essential to help other Christians who are in need.

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That understanding runs afoul of what Jesus taught,

Luke 6
32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.

33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.

34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.

35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

Matthew 5

43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

OldWiseGuy said:

The church, and the government, is basically...overwhelmed.

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Might be because of how the sermon ends.

Matthew 7

24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

People like to make this about their on pet doctrine, but it's about the contents of the sermon on the mount, before that statement it's even said

21 ¶ Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

This speaks of those sayings. The church has been building itself off of the foundation set by Jesus for too long, and it has fallen into ruin - Just like Jesus said it would. Perhaps time to repent?

ChicanaRose said:

How would you respond to someone who says,

"Social justice is not my calling"?

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And depends on what someone means by the term.

And not being one's calling doesn't mean they can never do any of it.

eg One may not be a janitor by profession. That doesn't mean one can't grab a mop sometimes and mop a floor. Or one may not be called to be a Pastor. That doesn't mean one can't a Sunday school teacher.

Every human being to a point and degree can be doing a few social justice things but I think one has to be very careful about one thing. Some think God has called them to produce a morality revolution and by doing so they've advanced the Kingdom of God but I'd say the heart or top main thing God has called us to do is to create a spiritual transformation in the spirits of men by getting them born again by the life and power of God. You do that and the morality will take care of itself. You try to force morality without their heart being changed it can lead to bewilderment and futility.

Paidiske said:

Perhaps a better question might be, why shouldn't New Hampshirites - and everyone who has the means - contribute to changing that dreadful statistic?

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Many countries have made huge contributions to change conditions in Africa, and have been successful in some areas. However, cultural norms are often hard to overcome.

RDKirk said:

Yes.

For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; but that there is equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality. As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.” -- 2 Corinthians 8

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Again, referring to the brethren, the church.

A level playing field as a starting point is a complete fiction.

OldWiseGuy said:

That's why there are grades A through F, and medals Gold through Bronze.
There's 'entry level' through CEO, and everything in between.

Sadly (or happily) "most people rise to their lowest expectation" then pop a cool one and hit the couch.

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A complete fiction, as it should be. Who promised a level playing field?

Put a chipmunk and a lion on a bare level field and see what happens.

Michael Collum said:

That understanding runs afoul of what Jesus taught,

Luke 6
32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.

33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.

34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.

35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

Matthew 5

43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

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I'm not saying that it is wrong to help poor unbelievers. However, it definitely necessary to help believers. Lord Jesus said that the way we treat the brethren is the way that we are treating Him. Our small group helps homeless and less well off people. However, we make sure that the brethren are looked after if they have a need. And yes, we give, we do not expect to be repaid.

We do not do this to impress God. He has put the desire in our hearts. He has supplied the means to help. It's not a law, it's an inner motivation from God.

Michael Collum said:

You are ignoring what the general context of the phrase is saying

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As you are ignoring the rest of the NT on the subject?

and replacing it with other teachings, and not acknowledging what the text actually says.

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As in considering the whole counsel of God on the subject, rather than just part of it?
"Without holiness no one will see the Lord." (Hebrews 12:14)

In several contexts you have decided to edit out the teachings about helping the poor and needy through emphasis

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So the principle is: truth is based on "emphasis," what is not emphasized, therefore, not being true...

Where did you say you learned hermeneutics?

and use some theological formula to justify your actions.

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That "theological formula" happening to be the God-breathed Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:16).
Imagine that. . .using the word of God written to present your argument!
What a concept!

So I can't just give you a pat on the back for that kind of behavior, now can I?

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Right. . .no pat on the back for your "principle of emphasis."

For some reason, you prefer to consider only parts of the NT, rather than the whole counsel of God.
I suspect the whole counsel of God does not fit into your theology.

How novel.

OldWiseGuy said:

Many countries have made huge contributions to change conditions in Africa, and have been successful in some areas. However, cultural norms are often hard to overcome.

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It's not just lack of resources, it's poor government of the resources they have.

OldWiseGuy said:

Many countries have made huge contributions to change conditions in Africa, and have been successful in some areas. However, cultural norms are often hard to overcome.

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It's like pouring water down a rathole. . .who has the resources to fund poor governing?

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Clare73 said:

It's like pouring water down a rathole. . .who has the resources to fund poor governing?

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Some people need a constant supply of free fish as they are unable or unwilling to fish for themselves. The consequences of not providing the fish to them would be greater than the cost of providing the fish.