More from Pastor Matt: "Biblical style redistribution"

Pastor Matt Uldrich undertook this message because he was inspired by a challenge from Chuck Swindoll: "Pastors must be willing to speak to the issues of the day."

The current health reform legislation has raised many thoughtful questions among believers. Is socialized medicine really wrong? What is the Bible's teaching on redistribution of assets? Does the church have a role in this different from or similar to the government?

In yesterday's blog, Pastor Matt took us back to a teaching in Deuteronomy 15, which was later revisited in Jesus' own teaching in Matthew 26:10-13. The following notes are from Matt's Sunday pulpit commentary on these passages:

The Biblical idea of redistribution is:
the Body of Christ bringing resources together to empower people in a community of need.

We have all heard that it is better to teach a man to fish than to feed him a fish. Helping people to become self-sufficient enables them to help others.

1. The Posture of Redistribution

The poor are those in need or want, either through a poverty of condition or poverty of being. Our posture toward them should be open-hearted and open-handed. They may need financial counseling, deliverance from addictions, and other types of ministry.
We all know that Matthew 26 says that the poor are always with us, but Jesus goes on to commend the open-heartedness and open-handedness of the woman. This is further illustrated in the parable of the Good Samaritan - a portrait of pity moved to action.

2. The Purpose of Redistribution

The first purpose of redistribution (in a Biblical sense) is to remind us that God owns everything. We should have a spirit of gratitude rather than a spirit of entitlement. Instead of praying, "What do you want me to give?" we should probably pray "What do you want me to keep?" The second purpose is to remind us to depend on God's provision (as opposed to the government or any human agency). The third purpose is to remind us of who we are as God's people.

3. The Practice of Redistribution

We must go beyond charity in order to help the poor get to a better place. The greatest resource we have to give is ourselves. Guilt does not work; it is not sustainable. Grace works.