Peace, justice, equity, prosperity, and care of the poor—these are things all civilized people want and pursue. Biblical justice demands that we care for “the widow and the orphan,” which is the biblical idiom for people with no visible means of support. Christians are obliged to God to help those who—for whatever reason—are incapable of caring for themselves. 

Whose job is it to care for the poor? Jesus says it’s yours and mine. As we love the Lord, we are to serve his image in every human being, building the dignity and self-worth of every person regardless of their worldly condition, for as we tend to them, we serve and honor Christ. 

But what is the relationship between Christian people and the government in which they live? Can service in Christ’s name be done by the government—by any government? If a government provides for the poor, are they doing God’s work, or are they taking it out of our hands? Here’s the thing: when a government takes over the business of caring for the poor and the outcast, how are Christians to serve? In an honest government, what becomes of the morality of its particular citizens?

Politics can force generosity—usually by taxation—but to do so robs the people of whatever charity they may have enacted out of their own hearts. Granted, that a government actually uses tax dollars to help widows and the orphans—and imagine that it can and does—then what can you and I say we are doing for the poor? It’s either, “Nothing, because the government does it for me,” or “Plenty—I paid $16,000.00 in taxes—I’m hugely giving to the poor!” So which is it? 

Who are the agents of generosity—you and me as individuals or the good government that passes down our taxes? If the government doubles your taxes to care for the widow and orphan, can you and I say we have generously contributed to the diminishment of their suffering? No, because the choice to give was taken out of our hands. When giving is compulsory, true generosity is no longer possible. 

Some would say we can’t trust people to be generous enough to care for the poor. To wit: “Greed rules and greed takes over, so we must have a government that will force this kind of giving. Money corrupts, and we can hardly expect rich people to give their wealth away willingly. Giving goes against their grain—their very nature—which is to acquire as much as and increase their control over things. Isn’t it better to have a government that will provide the desired outcome of caring for the poor than one which defends the rights of the rich to hoard their resources?” 

What do you think? Either side of the argument presents a negative view of humankind (which resonates well with our doctrine of total depravity). One side believes that wealth so corrupts human hearts that the rich, by nature, will not do what is right. Remember, most camels don’t make it through the needle’s eye. 

Those on the other side may respond, “But power corrupts and does so most efficiently when instituted in a self-righteous government. Remember what the Sanhedrin did to Jesus, as well as the lessons from Hitler’s Germany, Mao’s China, and Stalin’s Russia.”  

A government that takes from some people to give to other people is neither virtuous nor godly, for such a government robs each citizen of their moral agency. If you are compelled to give, you are not the giver but the victim of a government that gives on your behalf. 

Even so, Christians can and must refuse to have their generosity stolen from them. Should taxes double or treble, we are to be givers. When Caesar’s high taxation was breaking the Jews, Jesus commanded that they should pay their whole tax and not neglect their Temple tithes, either. Give and give to both. He says if a government soldier forces you to carry his pack for a mile, then carry it a second mile as well. Don’t be robbed of your generosity. If a rich man sues you for your shirt, give him your coat as well. Christians are not to put conditions on our generosity. We can always do both.

It’s clear: whatever the government does—good or evil—we, the followers of Christ, must continue to be generous givers. We are not to allow our generosity to be taken away from us.  †