Your Opinion: Churches turn to government

Dear Editor:

On Nov. 18 more than 60 Missouri pastors cried out to the "no-god of government," in an effort to convince the governor to forcibly extract, and redistribute, more money from Missourians. I wonder what Scripture directed them to go to "Caesar" for money. There are many passages in the New Testament where Christians are called to help those in need, but I haven't found one that suggests we should ask government to force such assistance.

God wants us to be cheerful givers, (I like the Message Bible version of II Co 9:7 "I want each of you to take plenty of time to think it over, and make up your own mind what you will give. That will protect you against sob stories and arm-twisting. God loves it when the giver delights in the giving.") The government has no right to rob me of the "delights" I enjoy when I share my money with whom I choose.

Mention is made of the outrageous fees a church member paid to a Pay Day lending establishment. Who forced the man to take out a loan? (Perhaps the pastor needs to preach more messages on the folly of borrowing money.) Why did the man not get the money he needed from those at his church? Are we to believe that no one in the entire congregation could provide assistance?

Serious problems in education were mentioned. The refusal of parents to provide their children with even rudimentary skills prior to attending school would seem to be a growing, very serious problem. I wonder what programs their churches are sponsoring to instill responsibility and accountability for ones actions. Rev. Cassandra Gould believes that some proactive measures should be put in place. I couldn't agree more. We all need to be far more proactive instilling a sense of accountability for ones actions, especially in our young people.

The leak in the dam, the downfall of society as we have known it, is growing at an ever increasing rate. All government does is hand larger buckets to those already in the bucket brigade; instead of doing something to stop the leak. Government's answer is, as always, to force more load on those who are already shouldering the burden for others irresponsibility.