From Howard Kershner’s Commentaries, distributed by the Christian Freedom Foundation.
One minister who opposes our conservative views cites the Scripture in an attempt to show that we are wrong: “But whoso hath this world’s goods, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” (I John 3:17). Obviously our critic has not followed our writings sufficiently to understand that we are not opposed to relieving the needy; in fact we urge it. We believe it should be done by individuals and privately organized charities, rather than by the state.
Private charity is curative. It brings a blessing both to the giver and to the receiver. So-called state charity, on the other hand, soon induces the beneficiary to think that the government owes him a living; that it does not cost his fellows anything, and that he therefore has a right to it. He expects it, demands it, and grows indignant if he does not receive it. On the other hand, the individual who is heavily taxed in order to provide for many loafers and wastrels (not all welfare recipients to be sure, but many of them) develops resentment because he feels that he is being robbed. That leads to a decline of effort, for unless men are assured of being able to enjoy the fruits of their labor, very few will put forth maximum effort and most of them will only produce enough for a meager living for themselves and their families.
Our correspondent also cites the following: “The righteous considereth the cause of the poor; but the wicked regardeth not to know it.” (Proverbs 29:7) It is my contention that the man who has the ability to use capital productively is considering the cause of the poor far more effectively than the man who passes the dollars out to be spent immediately without lasting improvement for the poor, who need productive jobs. Our correspondent heaps scorn upon us, but he is wrong. The most effective service one can render is to help by his saving to build the capital of a country so it can employ more and more people at steadily increasing wages, thus producing a higher and higher standard of living. This is the way to conquer suffering, poverty, disease, and ignorance.
