The atheist groups never seem to show up to help those in need.

History is replete with examples of Christians responding to those in need during times of destruction, disease, and death.

During Katrina, the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) Disaster Relief teams distributed aid and food and otherwise ministered to survivors. In fact, the SBC channeled at least $40,000,000 into Katrina relief plus millions of volunteer hours in clean-up. The Salvation Army, Adventist Relief Organization, the United Methodist Committee on Relief and Samaritan’s Purse were also heavily involved. About half of the shelters in the first few weeks were operated by Christian groups.

Recently, Samaritan’s Purse was the first relief group to land on St. Martin with food, water, and other supplies. The Southern Baptists and other groups are deeply involved with relief efforts because of Harvey, Irma, and now Maria even before the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) arrived.

According to Greg Forrester, CEO of the Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD), “About 80% of all recovery happens because of non-profits, and the majority of them are faith-based.” However, some of those churches who helped in Texas following Harvey want to be reimbursed by the federal government for their losses! Three Houston Texas churches sued FEMA for barring them from relief funding and the President took their side as do almost everyone–except me. The President is wrong.

Churches helping those in distress is one thing but getting reimbursed with tax dollars for that service or receiving money to rebuilt is something else. President Trump and many other political and religious groups want to provide financial support for churches damaged by Harvey. But churches should never get taxpayer money for any reason: day cares, schools, feeding the homeless, etc.

The churches’ attorneys claimed, “The churches are not seeking special treatment; they are seeking equal treatment.” Well, just a minute. The many other businesses that were destroyed do not enjoy tax exempt status. While it is praiseworthy that the three churches served 8,000 meals and housed the homeless, they do not deserve cash–a commendation is sufficient. Some will declare not getting reimbursed to be unfair and unreasonable, but in my mind it is unconstitutional to reimburse church benevolence.

The U.S. Supreme Court was wrong in its decision to fund a Missouri Lutheran Church school playground. Why should atheists help fund a Christian school? Why should Jews or Baptists support with their tax dollars a Christian school? The school’s supporters pled that all kids have a right not to get skinned knees. However, if a school does not have to use its money to provide a safe playground, then they can use their money for religious and educational purposes. Government should not be in the business of supporting churches or church schools.

No one has mentioned that the churches could have purchased insurance–another reason not to have taxpayers rescue them from their difficulty that any prudent person would have covered with insurance.
Someone asked, “Why would the government turn away humanitarian assistance from one of the biggest pools of support?” However, the question is not based on a solid premise. No one is saying churches cannot help during disasters; it’s just that they can and should help but should not expect to be reimbursed for their work or their losses. They should even refuse reimbursement! What would we think of the Good Samaritan if he’d been reimbursed?

Yes, Christian groups have been ubiquitous during the cleanup; however, they should be remembered, respected, but not reimbursed. I agree with my old “friend” and debate partner, Barry Lynn who said, “We know a lot of people in Texas are suffering, and we are sympathetic. But the fact that something bad has happened does not justify a second wrong. Taxpayers should not be forced to protect religious institutions that they don’t subscribe to.” Barry is right and Trump and most of my Christian Conservative friends are wrong.

Christians should want to help others and that attitude is taught in the Gospels but it is to be without reciprocity, reward, or recognition. A Christian’s attitude toward helping others is exemplified in Luke 10 where Christ told of the Good Samaritan who helped a hated Jew. The Samaritan (a hated minority) found a wounded man on the Jericho Road. The Samaritan cleaned and bandaged his wounds after applying medicine to them. Then placing the suffering Jew on his own beast (while he walked), he took him to an inn and paid for his care and promised to pay for any additional help. The kind Samaritan paid about $300 in our money to help a suffering stranger. And he didn’t expect to be repaid.

This was an astounding act of kindness since there had been visceral hatred between Jews and Samaritans for hundreds of years. While travelling to Galilee in the north, Jews would go out of their way to not go through Samaritan country lest they make contact with a despised Samaritan.

During this period, the whole land of Judea was infested with hordes of banditti; and it is not unlikely that many robberies had been committed on that very road to which our Lord refers, the major road that still unites Jerusalem and Jericho. In fact, that road that I’ve travelled many times was known as the “way of blood” and was fifteen miles from one city to the other with many opportunities for ambush.

At least twelve thousand priests and Levites lived in Jericho, and as their business was at Jerusalem, they constantly travelled that road. You would expect a priest or Levite to show compassion for a fellow Jew but they were too busy, in too much of a hurry, or too callous to stop and help a suffering man. After all, the Samaritan was “out of place” since he was not in Samaria. It is noteworthy that both the priest and Levite were “full time” religious servants but had no time for a suffering human.

This teaches that how we treat others should have no relationship to their religion, race, or rank; not that these are unimportant but they are irrelevant when it comes to common decency, kindness, and benevolence–even when the sufferer is considered an enemy. Otherwise, many suffering people will be left dying in a ditch along the Interstate of life.

Had the Samaritan sent the Jew a bill for his kindness or expected the state welfare system to reimburse him, it would have destroyed the lesson Christ was trying to make. Any church that asks to be reimbursed because they helped the unfortunate or seeks tax funds for help in repairing, or rebuilding, or replacing their damaged buildings is a shock to the principle of benevolence.

Historically, Christians believed they had a responsibility to help others, so during times of famine they shared their food; in times of sorrow they wept with the bereaved; and in times of pestilence, they nursed the sick and dying. The non-Christians and the pagans took notice of such kindness–and at a time when other institutions were discredited and often dissolved, the Christian churches were enhanced. When William McNeill wrote of Christians reacting to suffering, he observed, “Pagans fled from the sick and heartlessly abandoned them;” however, Christians stayed and served–and died.

But nobody got paid for their Christian benevolence since if one gets paid, it is not benevolence and he loses his eternal reward!

Boys’ new book Muslim Invasion: The Fuse is Burning! was published by Barbwire Books; to get your copy, click here. An eBook edition is also available.

I used to feel like the cartoon character carrying a sign with an ominous message on front and back: “Prepare: The End is Near.” I’m not alone anymore. Famous money man, Jim Rodgers said, “Be prepared, be worried, and be careful.” He told the media, “Eventually, the whole world is going to collapse.” He declared, “This is going to end badly.” That’s what I’ve been saying, but few have listened, even those close to me have thought I had run off the rails.

In preparation for bad days ahead, I suggest that everyone develop a second profession or trade. A lawyer should learn carpet laying; a physician should learn plumbing; an accountant should learn carpentry; and a salesman should learn small engine repair. When survival is the major concern, people will not use lawyers, physicians, and accountants except in extreme situations. Everyone should have a part-time income since every job is insecure. Furthermore, everyone should plant a garden, and not only to have nutritious food to eat but to have any food to eat.

Make plans now to get out of debt personally and corporately. Churches and businesses should start debt retirement projects. If I were a pastor of a church that owned multiple acres, I would seriously consider selling a few acres to pay off the debt. I would look closely at any major expenditure. Of course, churches cannot put every expansion program on hold and not make moves that circumstances require, but I would move slowly with any building program whether for a church, a family, or a business.

Moreover, you cannot count on your pension plan being available or sufficient to replace your working income because your 401 (k) plan may end up worth $401.00 to finance your retirement! Consequently, don’t plan on retiring! Retirement is never found in the Scripture. Adam was to work to the day of his death. There is something carnal about waiting all your life until the day when you can lie around all the time, fishing, hunting, and generally playing. Of course, bad health may force you to retire.

Moreover, those under 50 are very foolish or naïve if they plan on Social Security to provide the necessary retirement income. Work is in your future, and a wise move on your part would be to plan for that now. If not, plan to be a stock “boy” at the local supermarket, greeter at Wal-Mart or item checker at Sam’s.

Regarding investments, what should prudent Americans do about a major financial and social catastrophe that is about to hit us right between the eyes? After getting out of debt, you should consider selling your stock and bonds or buying mutual funds that provide a guaranteed minimum for a premium. Take any temporary rise in prices as an opportunity to sell any stocks except possibly precious metals or energy stocks. Sell your stocks and bonds; after all, something is better than nothing.

If (when) total financial collapse comes, the cities will be madhouses, so make plans to get your family to safety—that means at least 20-30 miles from a metropolitan area. Property values are still reasonable in small towns and a wise investment might be to buy a rental where you could move to when dangerous times arrive. On the other hand, you could buy a lot on a lake or a mountainside and put a mobile home on it. You could always rent it or retire there if the future turns rosy.

We are already seeing three generations living in the same house because of lack of jobs and the difficulty in renting or buying a house. DUMPies—Destitute Unprepared Mature People will be everywhere. Few people will drive a new car and vacations will be short, or non-existent. People will once again learn to “make do” with what they have.

It would be prudent to purchase some freeze-dried food from some survival outfit and a few five-gallon cans of wheat and corn. The food you ate today traveled 1500 miles to get to your table. If “peaceful” terrorists hit delivery trucks or bridges and tunnels leading to major cities, will food and fuel be transported? You should also have many gallons of water packed away for an emergency. Most people think such suggestions are extreme, but when you face those times, you won’t think so.

Our grandparents would not have considered having empty pantries. After all, disasters do happen, don’t they? A wise person plans for all contingencies as much as is possible. If the water is not used, pour it on your garden, and eat the stored food. After all, the price of food will not go down.

If there is a financial collapse, you can count on a breakdown of law and order. Surely, there is no question about that. In event of riots, it would be wise to have a couple of guns and ammo available! What, a Christian shooting someone? Yes, in my home it will happen if necessary. If a mob kicks down my door, be assured that they will be shot. If you knock on my door asking for food, you will be fed but if you kick down my door, you will be dead! Then I will expect a commendation from the governor for doing all people in Georgia a favor!

It is very Christian to protect your family.

Copyright 2013, Don Boys, Ph.D.

http://bit.ly/1iMLVfY Videos of my lecture at the University of North Dakota, “A Christian Challenges New Atheists to Put Up or Shut Up!” Watch and pass them on!