Faith Based Community Initiatives

I've been reading quite a few articles that are addressing Obama's plans to provide government funding to religious organizations to combat homelessness, hunger, and poverty, in general. He says the church is closer to the need than the government. With our government, it isn't just organizations, but every individual is closer to need, hunger, and homelessness, at this point! I also read an interesting editorial on the topic of faith based community initiatives, by a conservative writer. He, of course, doesn't think it's a very good idea for the government to fund the church or the church to be dependent upon the government . . . something about "what happens when Christians cozy up to the government." I think we know what happens any time anyone or any entity gets funded by the government, they become owned. Although our government is certainly not new to making poor investments and throwing money at problems without accountability, that will not be the case when it comes to religious organizations. Every 501c3 comes at a price. The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association sent me a letter years ago about the fine line that must be walked to keep the government officials from removing a religious organization or minister's "not for profit status." This country is loaded with not for profit, prophets and they are loaded . . . and tax exempt! I find that odd, since Messiah himself paid taxes. He didn't have any problem at all keeping G~D and Caesar separate and He clearly taught that G~D was not dependent upon Caesar.

So, what's going to happen if Obama is elected and he starts doling the dole out to the churches to help the poor, saying it's the Lord's work? I'm guessing the conservatives are going to be up in arms! Undoubtedly, the government will have to become more invasive into our lives and more stringent with our First Amendment rights to ensure that there is no partiality. As if that were even possible in anything related to politics. I've already read a few comments and I don't know what's taken so long. I find it fascinating and, well entertaining, that this Faith Based Community Initiative idea, that Mr. Obama addressed, is offensive to many religious conservatives when it was one of the first things put in place in the George W. Bush administration.

And Y'shuah answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to G~d the things that are G~d's . . . New Testament