Again, it'll be two links, not one. Part A and part B. Did you catch it immediately? Did you catch it immediately? It caught up. It booted a whole lot faster than normal. Maybe I'll just shut it down from now on the same way. Did you miss a lot of our discussion? I don't know. We will find out. No, it, it went until it just, it went out. I don't think we missed much discussion. All right. So these are practical things for us as individuals, people who are panhandlers, things like that. How many of you have had experience? You had a panhandler, they're after food and you offer them food and what happens? They leave. Has anybody ever had someone, you offer food, they take you up on it? And what was the result? Right. But it's rare, isn't it? So I had a couple of times where, yeah, I'd ask them. Oh, man. That's jubbly. It's got chocolate in it, so I've got to get one. All right, that looks good. Thank you, whoever did it. Thank you. So this is why you should come to class. We share goodies. If you're on Zoom, I'm sorry. Go to your cupboard, raise your fridge, do something else. You can't have ours because, well, you're not here. We'd love to be charitable with you on Zoom. So this is a constant thing, is they turn you down, but they do love you if you're actually meeting a real need. What's the main problem with doing that? Is it the finances? No, if you're going to actually feed somebody. There's a place right here. I'll take you over there. I'll buy you whatever you need. And they still turn you down. Once in a while, you may have someone who will take you up on that. What becomes the problem? time. It's time. Why do you think they're hitting you at gas stations and places like that? Because you're already in a rush. You just, you're in there, get gas, you're going to be on your way. So it's an easy way to make you a mark of, okay, just give me some bucks and off we go. Or if they're sitting by the grocery market and you said, well, pull something out of your bag and hand it to them. They just look like, what's wrong with you? And like, I don't want that. And I guess you're not hungry. If you're hungry, then you'd be glad for whatever you got. So we have to be careful. Need has to be assessed. That's the real point here. What's the real need? So if someone's panhandling, find out what the real need is. If you can, meet the real need, not what they're claiming. Because most of the time, if it's after money, it is after a means for supporting something they shouldn't be doing. Now, I'm a little more hard-hearted, I remember we, boys were young, we got off the exit, we were in Chicago going to a conference, and you get down there and there's this lady panhandling, and she's busy smoking up a storm. It was hot, the window was down, and I said, I'm not giving you anything, you're burning up. You're burning up what you should be able to eat. Don't you tell me about cigarettes, then don't ask me money to support your cigarette habit. Can you do that? Yeah, actually you can. Okay, what's the real need? If she's really that hungry, should she be smoking a pack of cigarettes there? No, she shouldn't. Okay, do you give money to a drunk? A druggie? No, because now you're just enabling them to continue and a half that's bad. Will you go feed them? Sure, I'll feed them. Haven't had that much here before we moved out here in LA. It was very common at gas stations. to get hit up for a couple of bucks for fuel. And I always offer, well, where's your car? I'll fill it up. Car was never anywhere to be found. Well, let's find a, you know, find a, get a can or something. We'll get a gallon in it and then come back and I'll fill it up. Never could do that. Always assess an actual need as opposed to the claim need. That's my only point with that. So we have to be careful. The poor tend to be more generous because their hearts aren't into their wealth. People are wealthy, their hearts are there. And so often they're not very generous. Let's talk a little bit about charitable institutions. What qualifications should a charitable institution meet before a Christian gives to you? An important one because you have lots of institutions constantly coming to church or to church people wanting your support. How do you assess whether you should support it or not? have to provide both the spiritual need and the physical need of them. That's going to be the first thing you want to assess with your charitable institution. What actually are you doing? Okay. We're going to give, we want to meet real needs, but we recognize the spiritual needs are as or more important than the supposed physical needs. Are we going to actually help them? So you're going to have to ask that question. That's a proper allocation of what you have. There's lots of charities out there. They claim lots of things. What are they actually doing? We've cut some groups out from church support because when we found out that they really were not concentrated on giving the gospel along with what they were doing. One institution even wouldn't let you talk about the gospel. Well, then we have no need to support you, do we? Because you are not a mission. I'm glad for the work you're doing, but you have no claim on us as Christians. There are plenty of institutions around doing the same thing you're doing that understand the gospel's part of it, and they're going to focus on that. That's going to be one of the first qualifications. What other kind of a qualification should you look at? It's a Christian institution. They actually give them the gospel. Are there other things you should assess? Government support. Well, government support, that may cut them out. whether they're affiliated with like LGBTQ. What else are they supporting? They may have a gospel, but which gospel? So what are their other affiliations? All right, how about what percentage of the funds go to administration as opposed to actually to help to do what they're saying they're doing? Charity is big business. And a lot of them, if you dig into it, you're going to find that it's 25%, 50%, 75% sometimes, and a few even more, goes to administration rather than the supposed need of trying to meet. A good institution is going to have a very small percentage for administration. That does cost money to administrate it. There's no question about that. But we want to make sure it's actually going for what is being claimed, not with You're paying the CEO of it $150,000, $200,000 a year to administrate it. I saw that figure not too long ago. American Red Cross, the president of that, it's millions they get paid. Why would a charitable institution be paying millions to a CEO? Because it's big business. So United Way, maybe $0.60 on a dollar makes it where it's supposed to go. So it's not worth giving. Whereas a Salvation Army CEO doesn't have a salary. So that's another thing. So assess the actual ability of that group to carry out what they're saying. Otherwise, you feel good. I'm helping out, and you're not. You're funding somebody's private jet. It's always good to examine the leadership and board of directors, too, for their moral quality, if you're able to. Among charitable institutions that are Christian, Evangelical Financial, EF, FCA, there is a group that assesses them for their financial accountability, making sure they're actually doing what they're claiming. So that's a good thing to look for. Look for some of the paperwork. Don't let your heart be so compassionate that your brain stopped. Think through it. Be wise in what you're doing. Ask some questions. What qualities in a charitable institution should excludes it from receiving gifts from Christians? Well, we already talked about some of that, right? They don't give the gospel. They don't want you to give the gospel. Their affiliations are with groups that are contrary to righteousness. their overhead is so high that you're not actually getting money to where it needs for this post-charitable work. Maybe watered-down gospel. Or it's a watered-down gospel. That one's very common now. They have a gospel. Well, what exactly is your gospel? Tell me. you know, is it actually that you're trying to get sinners to repent, to have faith in Christ and who he actually is? Or just feel good gospel. So 19 was to help you try and think through what is your grid of priorities as well. There's a lot of charities, a lot of things you can give to. How do you start thinking through what you should give? And does your grid have to match somebody else's? It doesn't. OK. OK, there's medical missions. How high does that rate on your grid? You're helping doctors get out who are volunteering their time to go help kids with cleft palate. But I think the priority would still be the gospel as the number one. The gospel has to be. Everything else falls under them. So you've assessed it. Let's say it's announced God. It is given the gospel. It's fundamental in its gospel. It's actually the gospel. It is low overhead. So actually the work is going out to it. It's a good financial accountability. They're efficient with what they're doing, but what particular kinds of things are they doing that should receive your support? Because there's a lot of things out there, right? Well, this is where it kind of comes down to your own compassion on toward the particular thing, and there'll be a lot of factors that'll go into that. It could be that they're doing a particular medical kind of thing, and you had a relative that had that problem, and you're just really compassionate toward that. So you want to help that particular thing. Some of the more obvious ones are disaster things. Good Samaritans are really good at that. Salvation Army actually is good at that, but their gospel is not there. but they're really there, and they're actually helping. American Red Cross, well, no gospel, high overhead. There's other groups, but what particular kind of things? There's all sorts of things, particular missions. What about groups that help children get an education, provide some basic funding for them so they can have a place to eat, have something to, or a place to sleep, some eating, something to eat, something to get some basic education. Are those good? Yeah, a lot of them are very good. All right, you might start looking to see, well, how are they actually doing it? Are they going through a local church? so that it's actually being administered very well. You have to be careful there too, because some of them are really good. I'll give you an example at Compassion International. Some of it's really good, and some of it's really bad. It depends on what local church they're working through. Sometimes it can be a good thing to do, but you need to do enough digging around to find out. We had quite a few people that were supporting kids in Dominican Republic in the area we were working in. We actually knew the kids. We've met the kids. That's very different than, okay, I got a picture and it looks nice, but I really don't know what's going on. The more information you can get, the more you can assess properly, am I actually doing what I'm trying to do? and then let God lead you in the particular area that you're gonna be wanting to help, okay? 20, what dangers exist for a Christian charitable institution to take government funding? We've talked about that. It can be very dangerous. When did American government entities become involved in charitable work? I talked about that a little earlier and the results in getting involved. Well, eventually you ended up They took over. They could not do what was needed to be done. Okay. Political systems. So I don't know if anybody, if anybody, Chrissy did. Chrissy did, wow. And what nice, neat, small handwriting. All right, the whole point with this is to help you start thinking through political systems, because there's a lot of them out there. And they're very different from each other. The question is, what political system best matches the basic biblical principles we understand about economics, charity, helping the poor, right? Or if you want to use it on helping the poor, what political system does the best job at actually helping those who are poor? And it's certainly not what's being taught in our universities. I'll just put it that. Okay. So this is just help you get a grid. And also, I don't know how many of you ever thought that there were that many different political systems and we could break these down into more categories. Okay. Cause most things are a mixture. Okay. Of something. It's also depending on the country, how they implement it. Yeah, it can be very different. Well, let's talk about some of the principles here. A political economic systems list in the previous page, which are the close to biblical principles already discussed? All right. So in talk about democratic capitalism, where would that fit on property ownership? Can you have private property? Yes. Yes. Okay, what about lazy affair capitalism? Yes, crony capitalism. Yes, you can have property ownership. European social democracy. Well, you can still have property, but a lot of it is becoming more state-owned, but you still can own your own property. Authoritarian socialism. Now we're getting in the realm where state control of it, they may own it. Revolutionary Communism? It's going to become state-owned. Pure Communism? Absolutely a state-owned. Liberation Theology? State-owned. Because Liberation Theology is a mixture of some top Roman Catholicism and Communism. That's the best way I can describe it. Okay. Fascism? Which one is the Cuba? Cuba would be a a revolutionary communism. Yeah, it's not pure communism because there is no pure communism. It doesn't work. So it's always stopped short of that. They end up with what would be more authoritarian socialism. All right, how about fascism? Something that's usually not understood. Can you own property in fascism? Absolutely you can. Okay, now here's where the difference starts coming in. Democratic capitalism, take control of it. High, low, medium, what? It'd actually be medium, okay? We are a democratic capitalism moving toward crony capitalism, probably a mixture in there someplace. So there is state control, it's moving toward that, but it's low compared to most of the other systems, okay? And the idea of being there is that because of democracy, the people have a chance to try to put a block on it, okay? Laissez-faire capitalism, state control, minimal. It's enough, okay? In democratic capitalism, there's enough control trying to keep it from being a jungle so that there are rules set to keep everybody playing fair. Laissez-faire is without control. So it's just whatever happens. Laissez-faire capitalism actually is very dangerous. Does that mean that there are no laws? Well, the state has nothing to say about it. There are no rules in there. So laissez-faire capitalism, if we're going to financial things, there's no rules talking about what you as a fiduciary responsibilities are to your client. It's just, hey, if I can get him to give me money, and I say I'm going to give him money in return, and that's between me and him, and you have nothing to say about it. So I can work in my own interest and make I'm thinking I'm working in his interest. I say he has nothing, no control about that. Instead, there are laws in a democratic capitalism where you as a fiduciary are required to work in the best interest of your client. Okay. Crony capitalists, everybody know what crony capitalism is? You know what a crony is? A crony is your friend that you are working with to benefit each other. Crony capitalism is where we are in the United States. A lot of the stuff is, we'll think, especially when the Democrats are in control, what companies get the government funding and why? It happens with Republicans too, it just works with Democrats. Okay, think of the Obama administration and how many companies got millions and millions and millions of dollars per product they never produced because they were cronies of those who got elected. Okay. Again, it does happen with Republicans. It's just the Democrats are a lot worse out. Is that faster different from like using the lobbyist for your particular interest? Well, lobbyist was the idea is that you're trying to sway them. Crony capitalism is a little more personal is these are my friends. And so I am going to make sure the government contract is going to them because in turn, they're going to kick back some money toward my campaign next. So it's crony capitalism. It's laws for like, okay, all the electric vehicle laws. What is that? That's actually a form of crony capitalism because a lot of it is going to particular people that were the friends of those in power making the law. So it's designed to go that direction. The whole thing with the government shutting down businesses during the whole COVID crisis, who was it attacking? Was attacking big business? Did McDonald's shut down? Did your local diner shut down? Yeah, a lot of them did. Okay, we lost a lot of businesses here along route nine. They couldn't make it. Look at the essential company. It's the perfect, what are the essential companies? So that's part of crony capitalism, okay? So state control, Indirectly, but there is a state control. It's a matter of the contracts are going to these groups and they're going to out-compete. You can't get your startup going. European social democracy, much higher control by the state and all the regulations than in a democratic capitalism. A authoritarian socialism, complete control. Revolutionary communism, complete state control. Pure communism, absolutely state control. Liberation theology is to move you to a state control. And then fascism. Fascism is a crony capitalism. The state is determining who does what. So you can own your company, but the state is going to tell you what you do with your company and how you run your company and what you're going to come out with it. The difference between fascism and socialism or communism is the state doesn't own it. You get to own it. The state just controls it. That's why Hitler could make the trains run on time because he could control it even though they were still supposedly independent. Did they get still the profit? They can get a profit, but remember, you're in bed with these. You're going to have to make sure you're keeping them fed, otherwise, you know. OK. Distribution of goods is different. Democratic capitalism. By free market. By free market. Capitalist. Lazy fare. It's free market. Crony capitalism. Free market with a lot of tweaking of the government of what's allowed into the market. Right. OK. European social democracy. It's more controlled by the state of what is allowed in there. So you're already moving towards a socialism, a very strong, that's why it's social democracy. Authoritarian socialism, It's determined by the government. They decide how goods are distributed. Who gets what? The rest of them all the same. In all forms of communism and fascism, the state controls the distribution of goods. Who gets it? Now, how much of that do we have within our own society already? Let's see. Who gets the welfare checks? Let's see, who gets helped with FEMA dollars? How is it that billions went with something that had nothing to do with federal emergency management? All right, so you already have a problem. Distributions of goods is not going up based on a capital system, free market, or actually be able to call it fair market. The free market would be a laissez-faire. fair market is the rules apply to everybody. You're not allowed to get a monopoly and then control the market. So that's what a democratic capitalism is trying to prevent is monopolizing so that the market is controlled by certain companies that squash everybody else. And of course, that's always a temptation. Okay, incentive and motivation in each democratic capitalism It's self-interest. Guess what humans are? Self-interested. Lazy fair capitalism, self-interest, crony capitalism, self-interest, European social democracy. It's getting to become a mix, right? There's self-interest, but there's also is you're supposed to motivate supposed to be is because you care about everybody else. Yeah. Okay. If you get into socialism, communism, the motivation is supposed to be the center of this. Everybody's being taken care of. Everybody's equal. Does that actually happen? No, because you have self-interest that becomes either authoritarian, revolutionary, or liberation theology, or fascism. So pure communism of the motivation, we all care about each, what's the famous line for Marxism? From each according to their ability, to each according to their need. Ever hear that? Okay, that's the famous line for communism. Has that ever happened in the world? No, because people are selfish and it's from each, according to their ability, to me, which I distribute according to how I would like it. That's exactly it. So the same thing you can see when it comes to individual freedom. Which ones have high individual freedom? Democratic capitalism? Lazy fair capitalism? Very high. Crony capitalism? a little less because you can get squashed by the cronies. European social democracy, less freedom. Otherwise the farmers in Holland would not have been protesting about regulations that were to keep them from being able to farm. And there's like, and how are you going to get food if we can't farm? So authoritarian socialism, communism in all forms, fascism, individual freedom, we don't have it. Some worse than others. So when you look at all these systems, which one would best meet basic biblical principles? Democratic capitalism, right? So that's why that was the form of economics that was formed here in the United States. And of course, it developed more of the rules and regulations with an idea of how do you keep it fair? That's the goal. How do you keep it fair? So that if a startup can start up, it can actually get a chance to start up before being squashed by a larger company. so that everybody gets to play by the same rules. But as soon as you start moving into more crony, the government's funding it, you're getting a government contract, well, you're gonna see more. Other things that can do that, for example, trades. A lot of trades, you have to have a local license to be in that trade. So who controls getting the licensing? The government. So a lot of them have a lot of rules that you have to be within the, the guild, local guild before you can get it. I'll give you an example. I had my, I have a degree in agriculture biology. There are a bunch of the government licensings you can get and private licensing. So we're for the government, you have certifications for Certifications for working in private industries. The government has a control making sure you're going to go and follow the basic rules So you're not spraying poison and killing people. Okay, so you have to pass and get a license But there's also local licensing of who can go into a home and do the spraying even if you have the government certification To get that you must work for a local uh, insect control corporation of some sort for a minimum of two years. Now, what do you think they pay you while you're doing that? Especially if they know you want to go in business. So it's to keep you out. Same thing with a lot of the trades. It keeps you out. You have to do that for electrical, right? If you want to work locally, if you wanted to work in the city of Poughkeepsie, what licensing do you have to have as an electrician? And how do you get it? Is it pretty much then anybody can get into it? you have to prove that you were working in that field for a long time before you could sit for it. So, you have a lot of regulations. Now, part of that regulation is probably good because you probably want a guy who's an electrician that actually knows what he's doing. Yeah, except in Dutchess County, you don't need a license, only for the city to pick it. That's why I picked the city. Yeah, same thing for Bloomington. So, it depends. Now, if you want to go to Westchester, what do you have to have? And can you just transfer a license down there? I think so. I think they honor it. It depends on the guild. I know you're talking about just electrical. Yeah, it depends on the guild, whatever it is. because it varies a lot from place to place. They all want their money. So you can see some of this could be good, but you can also see the negative side is it does try to keep people from coming in to make it. Barber's licenses and stuff like that are crazy. It's been a problem for military. If you move to a different state, and your wife wants to work, and she has lice in that state, getting a transfer to the other state is, I'm out of business. So you can see there's pluses and minuses. That's just trying to get you to think through some of the issues that arise with governmental systems. In what ways do all forms of communism, socialism, fascism violate basic biblical principles? They have a fourth view of man. Man is essentially good, for example. And that's the main problem. All of them do. They think somehow you're good innately. And that if we just control the environment, you will continue to be good. Has that ever worked? Hasn't yet. In fact, all of them are the people in those systems. better or worse than people in the capitalist system? It tends to be worse, because with all of them, they start going against God too, and they become atheistic or against God. Fascism, the state starts taking control of what God should. Communism, the state is to be God. Socialism, a mix. So why do some Christians then fall for or advocate communism, socialism, or fascism? What is the attraction to that? Equality. It sounds so compassionate. Equality. It is attractive and it's used a lot. When I was in Ukraine, that was one of the topics that came up. What about the advocation among Christians for a return to communism? And they're going to bring up particular verses, like in Acts. They all shared together. They had a wonderful commune. OK, they had a nice commune. I'm really glad for Acts. So what was the motivation for the people in Acts to share everything they had? Further God's kingdom. They wanted a further God's kingdom. What was the relationship with one another? They loved each other. They loved each other. Did anybody force that on them? You mean they did it because they wanted to? There's a huge difference, right? So when any of these other systems as a form of government, it's not something that is being done willingly, it's something that's being done forcibly. Or as the arguments used to have with a guy in the paper here locally, was a big advocate for social programs and said, I'm all for helping the poor. I just don't like the government stealing the money out of my wallet to get to someone I don't think is poor and is squandering what is being given to them. I think I should be able to do that from my own wallet to the person I'd see a need. Do you see the huge difference? When it's going through a government entity, not only do you have a huge amount taken out to fund the government doing this, but you're going to have it squandered because there's no real interest. In fact, when the government gets involved, now you have bureaucrats who get paid to make sure there's lots of people on their list. Otherwise, they don't have a job. Quick story on that one. Well, let's answer the second one, okay? There's an attraction to communism, socialism, fascism, because of this idea of equality, that somehow we can achieve a utopia. And that's usually just because people don't, they're not aware, they haven't thought through the issues, or what that actually looks like, because it cannot happen, because humans are not good. they're essentially evil. That's how we're born, dead in our trespasses and sin. We are not good people. Only Christ can change us. And whenever something is forced, it's not going to be done right. So it's an attractive idea. But what's the problem with the idea of equality to begin with? Yeah, parish. Okay, but should everybody's portion be equal? Why not? Okay, we can say, okay, there's God's sovereignty in there, but what other factors are figuring in there? So God wills, but how is he going to administrate that in your life? Did he make you... all men are created equal, so it states in our government documents. What does it mean by that? The equality of opportunities, right? Okay, equality of opportunity, equality before the law. Are all of us created equal in abilities here? No. I mean, even as an infant, we all created equal? No. Really? Right. I was born four pounds. 12 pounds. That's not fair. They should get, you know, they should, when they're born, they should give you some more that way. All right. You got a one-year-old. Are all one-year-olds equal? Oh, no. Absolutely not. Okay. Some are walking, talking at one and some are barely rolling over at one. And that's even within the same family. Jonathan was very active by six months, and Jimmy didn't roll over till his ninth month. But he rolled over, sat up, and stood up in one month. He said, okay, so I'm gonna catch up now. Okay, they're not equal, all right? You got siblings. Are you equal with your siblings? No. Wait a minute, you got the closest genetics. He loves his sister more. You need an extra cookie, Mark, because we're not okay. I got three sons, three different sizes and everything, right? We're not equal. Are you equal in intellectual ability? No. So there cannot be equality because we're not equal. We can be equal in our standing before God, but that's it. We can't be equal in anything else. That's an important point. And so communism, fascism, socialism, this whole idea of equality doesn't work and cannot work. But has our society bought into that? Wholeheartedly. You can be whatever you want to be. You can be anything you want to be. All right. You're five foot two. I want to be center for, pick your favorite basketball team. Okay. I want to be center for the Lakers. You can't stop me. Yeah, I can. Looking down at you while you're seven foot five. Try it. Okay. You're six foot four and you want to be a jockey. Yeah, it's not going to work. The horse isn't going to like you, okay? We're not equal, okay? We're just not, and we fail when we try and think of that, but that's a big part of it. 25, how should a Christian behave if living in a country controlled by a political economic system that does not support Christian principles of labor and charity? All right, so three different, should they use the social programs that are there? Okay, you have to think through this one, right? You're stuck in China, and your appendix is going bad. Should you go to the hospital? Yeah, probably, right? So, because that's the way their system works, if you want medical care, it's socialist. If I could put it in England, if you're in England, Okay, or Canada. All right, you're kind of stuck with the system you've got. All right, this is why I've asked the questions, because I want you to think through it a bit, right? So the social programs that are there, can you use it? In the United States, is it okay to use social programs? Or what caveats do we need to be careful of? All right, are you entitled to them? Okay. There's going to be a difference in mindset is like, okay, if it's there and available, okay. Um, I can take advantage for it, but I don't see myself as entitled to it. Um, and some things you don't even want to be on. I'm currently on Medicare. I could, I don't want it. I don't have any choice. The insurance company I had automatically puts you on it because they won't pay anything. You turn 65, you're on it, you're stuck. All right, so I'm gonna have to use it. So I have to figure out how to best use it, right? Okay, and not exploit it, because that's not the goal. When we were first here, church didn't pay much. And so we actually run a WIC program, Women, Infants, Children program. And when I got my first raise, we looked at our budget and said, I think we can make it without that help. So Diane didn't go to her appointment for recertification, and they called her and then argued with her for a pretty good length of time of why she should come. She's entitled to it. She says, we don't need it. We can make it on our own, but you're entitled to it. Well, what was the woman really arguing for? You have to come because my job's in jeopardy if I don't have enough clients, and you're my client. That's really what's behind it. So yeah, I might take advantage of it, but I'm certainly going to be looking to try to do it a different way. That's the mindset I want you to start thinking through. What about meeting needs of the poor? Well, if someone comes to you, and they're poor, they have problems, what should you do? There are social programs available, what should you do? You should point them to an institution, I mean, the one that really provides the spiritual and the physical needs. Well, we can do charities, but should they also then get signed up for the social programs that are available? Could you have them talk to a social worker to see, well, what are you eligible for? Are you eligible for Medicaid? that, but maybe some advice or counsel. So we're going to work on several levels, right? Right. Because there's dangers with the social programs that are offered now, and we want to help them beyond that. But we need to point them that because that's a way for them to start moving in the right direction. So I use the medical stuff because that's a little easier to understand rather than some of the just giving out cash. Medicaid. It's there for a purpose, and it's so that medical necessities can be met when otherwise, because you're not going to have the finances if they really need some medical care. You're not going to be able to meet that need. There's already a program in place for that to work. Uh, example, you have kids and, uh, New York state has a program funded by all the people who smoke. So. We always would thank people who smoke because they're funding our medical insurance when the kids were little. It made a huge difference. For our kids to get medical care. Okay. So it's a state program funded by taxes on cigarettes that enabled my kids to get good medical care. Should I have just refused it or said, okay, it's a programs in place. Let's use it and be wise in what we're doing. Okay. when a different program for us was available to us and we switched and then they were covered under a different program. So it wasn't trying to take advantage of the state, but trying to make use of it. This is not always easy to think through. We are in a system that is capitalist in some ways and extremely socialist in others. So we're already down that road. So how do you get the care that's needed? or the means by which you can make it. So the reason I'm pushing some of this is I want you to think through it. We're going to meet the immediate needs that we see. But we're going to try and direct the person in some way that they can start moving toward the direction they need to go. And they learn to become independent, laboring on their own. And that may mean some hard decisions in the future. so they don't become dependent upon government subsidies for things. I'll give you an example. The IBM layoffs back in 91, 92 were hard on a lot of folks. And we had a family, at that time they had two children, they ended up with four, but they had two when this happened, he got laid off. And we had so many people laid off, there wasn't jobs available. any job was available, people were already picking them up. So he ended up on Medicare, or Medicaid, and was getting a government check. He was on the dole for a while. His problem was, is he wanted to work. And so he would look for anything he could find. But he found if he worked more than one day a week, they cut all of his benefits. So he said, I'm in trouble because I want to work, but anytime I work more than one day, they cut all my benefits and I can't make it on one day a week work. So he ended up looking everywhere he could to tell he could finally find a job that would pay all week, work a full day, a full week. And then he can make it even though when he did take that job, The amount of money, total subsidies coming in from the government was higher than what he was getting paid. But his integrity was intact, which is like, I will take the lower pay because I need to be doing this on my own, not putting a burden on everybody else because I'm taking government money. Do you see the difference here? what I'm trying to push is that we have basic principles Scripture gives us that we have a different mindset and approach to what's out there. We're not going to be afraid to use it, but we also recognize the dangers that if you're not careful it'll shift you completely away from basic biblical principles like working. Ephesians tells us to steal no longer, but to work. For what purpose? so that we have the means to meet the needs of other people. So work isn't just about you and your family. It is so we have means to meet needs of other people. We don't want to get involved with something that shifts that. And that's why the incentive to work diligently, it can be a real problem. And actually, it's been a problem. It's a social problem been around since the Great Society started with people get in a position where if they take a job, you're going to get less than if they continue on the government dole. Don't think that's not by design. It is. Star Parker usually refers to that in her editorials as the government plantation. Good way to refer to it. It's the government plantation because you're afraid to make $1 more. I do, it all gets cut or at least substantially cut. So there is problems here and there's political things that need to be done to get that changed. They can be changed in the environment we have now, I doubt it. People are more and more attuned to being on government subsidies that really ramped up with the whole COVID stuff. Unemployment insurance, By government fiat, you can take it longer and longer and longer and longer. But then the government cost problem, didn't it? Shutting down your business. All right. Should churches be involved in charitable social work? Sure. Yes, we should. Yeah, we should, right? Why? supposed to help other people. We're supposed to help out other people, right? So as a church, we should be able to be involved with things. So that is just started, 27, and the rest of it. The church gets involved in charitable social work. What principles should guide us in setting up its purpose and mission statement? Evangelism has got to be a priority, right? Partnership with government. Probably not. If there's any strings attached, No. Okay. Does that mean you'll have as much money to spend? You will not. Is that okay? Yes. Yes. Okay. Partnership with other charities. Depends on the charity, right? You're going to have to do a lot of assessing and checking. Is it a good group to work with? Do they hold the same values? Do they have the same priority evangelism? Priorities and mission. Okay. I might have to assess all those things. Now that includes mission agencies as well. I have to assess through that stuff. Okay. Assessing genuine need. How was that done? Someone walks in and says, I'm hungry. Can you feed me? And they're only about 270. There's a gym down here. How about you hit the gym first and then we'll give you a snack on the way out. What's the actual need, right? I'm poking fun at 270, but obviously if it is a need, it's a recent one. Okay, this is not a long-term need. Okay, they come in and they're 90 pounds. Well, you may have a real issue here. So yeah, let's help you out. So you have to have some means by doing that. That's not always easy. Does a small church have the resources for all that? A lot of times we don't. That takes a lot of work. I need to assess that. But a lot of that's going to be assessed the same way you do as an immediate need that you see a friend or just something you run into. So that's why if we have people have something here, even how we handle it, if there's an actual need, it's gonna come before the deacons or the deaconesses, they're gonna do the assessing. What's the actual need? Is it genuine? And if it is a genuine need, we'll bring it to the whole congregation. This is what we need. I don't remember her name. The gal whose husband had committed suicide came up, had a couple of kids, lived with her mom for a while. Victoria, Victoria. Yeah. So yeah, we assess the need. So here was someone in bad shape, or has been committed suicide. This was in 20 I mean, I was in 2020 or early 2021. Yeah, it kind of extended into it. So it was in the height of all sorts of mess. She lived with her mom for a while and she had a lot of expenses that were coming up. We actually raised about $14,000 for her. So we assessed a real need and we were able to meet a real need for this woman. She eventually got up on her feet, was able to move back down to where she had been. And by the way, she got married here not long ago. Yeah, she did. But we had a lot of people involved with that, talking about what is her issue, where she at with Christ, all these kind of things. So you have to assess those things. And then also there's going to be financial accountability with whatever you're going to do. So you want to make sure that it's not just Have fun with it. No, what are you actually doing with it? Those are all parts of principles that should guide us in setting things up. So yeah, we need to be charitable, but we need to be wise in what we're doing with charity. We need to be compassionate and use our brains. Assessing things, always bring it back to these same basic biblical principles we began with. Because those are the guidelines on how you're going to be able to assess any of these issues and how to best meet them. And then you'll find God can direct you to meet needs in ways you never expected. And you don't have to be rich to do that. That's what I was going to say. You may think I need to have this much, but a little goes a long way. You don't. A lot of it is just your mindset. So I talk about how Southerners tend to help each other. It's their culture. They've been trained that way. They think that way. But it goes on an individual level as well. I don't know about North Carolina, because I'm not from North Carolina. I don't have any roots in North Carolina, except like five, six generations ago or more. So do people just stop by? All the time. OK. It is part of the South. They just stop by. If they have a need, do they stop by? Yeah, they stop by. And what do you have for them if they have a need? Whatever you need, right? What's one of the first things? Have you eaten? Right? Come on in. We got something. We're going to pull something out, right? Whatever you have. couldn't get people out of my grandmother's house because they were just coming and bringing food that we had. It fed an army with the amount of food. And they were just bringing so much stuff. Same thing with when we moved into our new house, people were stopping by, bringing a room to hang on our door, a doormat, just bringing all kinds of stuff. It was like walking in that food warehouse. Anything to help because they care. And that's the way the culture used to be. It still is in some places, so. I'll let you know in a couple of weeks how well I went to find this house in Tennessee. I am too. I'm still trying to get, like, and how am I supposed to transfer the money? You haven't told me yet. I don't think you're going to take a personal check. We'll find out. But those things definitely demonstrate when there's a different culture. If a culture is affected by Christianity, it's a whole different mindset on how you help one another rather than we're waiting for someone else to do it. I've always been impressed with Good Samaritan and how well they get involved and dig in to help people. And it's administrative and stuff. It's low. There are costs, but they're just going to go. And that's the first thing they're going to do. We're going to help. Do you mean Samaritan's Purse? Samaritan's Purse. Good Samaritan is a Christian health share ministry. Samaritan's Purse, Franklin Graham's group, and the gospel is going to be there, which is why we participate in Operation Christmas Child, because I made contacts through friends in Russia. They're like, okay, you're getting some of it. How does that actually work? It is great. They turn it over to us. It becomes a local church ministry. which is what I was looking for. So, and they put gospel tracks in every box in the language where it's going to go. So those are the things that you assess and you start finding out, is it good? Is it going to fit what we're looking for? And then you're going to be very comfortable. I know that if I give to this, it's going to go toward why I am giving and not for something else. So now the only thing I give to Red Cross is my blood. And I wouldn't do that, except they don't take it to the local hospital anymore. My first move, we could go up to Vassar and give, but they get it from the Red Cross too. And I'm not driving all the way down to Sloan-Kettering to get down there. It's too far. Because you can't give blood down below those hospitals. So any questions, vital thoughts? Professor, next week we don't have class, right? No class next week. Next week is All Hallows' Eve, also known as Reformation Day. So an important day. So if you're gonna be involved in the outreaches, that's great, or something you come up with yourself. I am posting the stuff for two, the week after that, I will not be here. So the next meeting would be... 11th, 14th. The 14th, yeah, the 14th. So I am posting for that, so you can start reading ahead, anything that you want, and rather than... Planning. Yeah, so you got plenty of time to start working on some of this stuff, all right? Hang on. I tried to get a lot posted several weeks in advance so you can just read in a little more leisurely pace rather than that. There's a lot of good stuff coming up. And your printed one, you're going to see like some seminary papers. Well, those are now posted. I had to. transfer those over into electronic and they put in electronic. Those are then political activism, that's all done. Abortion, birth control, all that, that's already on there. The other stuff I don't and probably will not happen. So that's kind of where we're at at this point. The one on war, self-defense, and pacifism. It's a long paper on pacifism. I'm probably going to ask some questions about the good and bad in the paper. You have to think through it. There's a sermon dealing with that issue. The paper on justification of war is short. Wayne Wilson's paper is very good over long on free speech. So there's quite a bit of stuff to do between now and then. Right. Well, thank you very much. Appreciate your diligence in coming and interaction. Let's pray. Thank you, Father, for the blessings you've given to us. Father, when we talk about our labor, we can rejoice that you give us abilities. You enable us to work to not meeting, not just to meet our own needs and those of our immediate family but those around us, and sometimes even those far away. We are grateful for that. We are grateful too that we can take joy in our labor, rejoicing the fruits of it. Father, also that as we think through economic systems, there are those that are closer to what you're honoring the biblical principles, so that we can advocate for those things. And also when it comes to charities, we can think through how to properly assess what we should or should not give to. Father, that we'd be compassionate people for those who use wisdom given from you to meet actual needs. In Jesus' name, amen. Amen. Are you going to be joining us going forward in this class? Are you going to be joining this class going forward? So I've been attending this class virtually.