Charity

Guest post by
Suzann Darnall

I know this is an old topic that has been repeatedly flogged in media, social media, conversation, speeches, and across pulpits, but I feel the need to address it again today. Probably due to some recent conversations I have had with people where we touched on charity and on needs.

Enforced “charity” where the government takes from citizens and gives to other citizens is not “charity”. In my opinion, it is theft that is sanctioned and, indeed, perpetrated by the government.

There are numerous definitions of “charity”. One is, “the voluntary giving of help, typically in the form of money, to those in need”. You will note the word “voluntary”! One synonym is “voluntary organization”. Another definition is, “an organization set up to provide help and raise money for those in need”. Our government was not and is not intended to be an organization to provide money for those in need, but they are trying to force all of us to be a part of their enforced charity. Some bible dictionaries define “charity” as “love”. However, my favorite definition of “charity” comes from the LDS bible dictionary definition where is is called “the pure love of Christ.”

I am quite sure that the welfare programs supported by the government’s enforced “charity” is nowhere near the pure love of Christ. Especially as so many of the programs are rife with fraud, waste, and abuse.

I think our government needs to get out of a lot of the side businesses they’ve added to governing. They really need to practice a much more limited form of governing. They are terrible at “charity” which actually improves the living situations of people. People in need should be guided towards taking care of themselves, when possible. They should not be encouraged to make a career of getting freebies. I think true “charity” comes with a hand up and not just as a handout. Our government’s form of “charity” has simply created an ever increasing welfare state.

Even worse, in many places across our nation, bureaucracies have made it impossible or difficult for actual charitable entities to help those in real need. It is almost as if government wants a monopoly on being charitable. They are even giving less and less benefits to those who participate in providing “charity” to others. But, they keep wanting to ramp up forcing taxpayers to support government-sponsored “charity”.

Anyway, this is my two cents worth on “charity”. I am in favor of “charity”. I like to give and to do for those in need. I just do not like to be forced to pay extra taxes for my government to do a less compassionate and efficient job of what they falsely call “charity”.

Sayonara,
Suzann
http://www.suziezoo.com
http://www.woolymammoth.org