From a Christian perspective, I fell like this is actually quite a difficult issue. While Matthew 6:1-4 is very clear that charitable deeds should be done in secret in order to be rewarded by God, but in a cutthroat society such as ours, sometimes I feel like even the idea that someone, somewhere out there is at least trying to do some good in the world can be a worthwhile reminder that kindness is not dead.
Shame on him if it was an attempt to virtue signal to his paying clients, but if it was a genuine attempt to do some good, I can’t condemn him.
I mean, they kinda are. And necessary as though they sometimes might be, I think it’s a mistake to believe that they are the ultimate solution to everything that ails society, because they always end up creating their own set of problems, like entitlement mentality, welfare dependency, and even fraud.
And perhaps that’s what Jesus was onto with the thing about not sounding the trumpet before you when you do it, because isn’t that what politicians who promote these sort of things often end up doing? Running on a platform to increase welfare spending is pretty much the definition of tooting your own horn about how much of a good person you are, because it seeks to create the impression that you care more about the poor than everyone else, when you’re in fact spending other people’s money to do so.
Sorry, but that really has nothing to do with real charity IMO.
“But I want credit for my acts of kindness.”
-The Righteous Right
I think a lot of people read this as “I want credit for my kindness”
I actually think the real animator of the right is much worse.
They want to choose who is deserving of their kindness.
They want to be able to choose who gets help. Person that did something they don’t agree with, no help. Person that’s sympathetic to them, help.
That’s the reason they dislike systematic assistance. Because someone that doesn’t deserve help might get some.
From a Christian perspective, I fell like this is actually quite a difficult issue. While Matthew 6:1-4 is very clear that charitable deeds should be done in secret in order to be rewarded by God, but in a cutthroat society such as ours, sometimes I feel like even the idea that someone, somewhere out there is at least trying to do some good in the world can be a worthwhile reminder that kindness is not dead.
Shame on him if it was an attempt to virtue signal to his paying clients, but if it was a genuine attempt to do some good, I can’t condemn him.
Oh, agreed. I’m not condemning the owner for charity. I’m condemning those who are critical of social programs as a form of ‘forced charity.’
I mean, they kinda are. And necessary as though they sometimes might be, I think it’s a mistake to believe that they are the ultimate solution to everything that ails society, because they always end up creating their own set of problems, like entitlement mentality, welfare dependency, and even fraud.
And perhaps that’s what Jesus was onto with the thing about not sounding the trumpet before you when you do it, because isn’t that what politicians who promote these sort of things often end up doing? Running on a platform to increase welfare spending is pretty much the definition of tooting your own horn about how much of a good person you are, because it seeks to create the impression that you care more about the poor than everyone else, when you’re in fact spending other people’s money to do so.
Sorry, but that really has nothing to do with real charity IMO.
How can I get into heaven if I don’t get the points myself? Collective good works are only half credit.