Widows

Continuing our series from I Timothy, we will now discuss a shorter, possibly less offensive, and possibly more offensive topic.

The passage is too long to be worth reproducing here, but in I Timothy 5:3-16, Paul gives the following instructions regarding caring for widows:

1. The church should care for widows.
2. The church should only care for "true widows," that are in desperate need (5) and don't have children or grandchildren—that is, someone in their family to provide for them. Providing for other, less needy widows encourages their laziness (13) and is a burden on the church (16).
   
3. It benefits these children and grandchildren to provide for the widow, as they "learn to show godliness to their own household," which is "pleasing in the sight of God" (4).
   
4. Relatives who do not provide for the needy in their own families have "denied the faith and [are] worse than an unbeliever" (8).

How can we apply this today? Since widows are no longer as disadvantaged and families no longer as tightly-knit as they were in New Testament times, it seems to me the closest parallel is the generally needy, such as those who would be on welfare, and particularly those also in the family of God. So, let's rewrite those points above:

1. The church should care for the needy, particularly fellow believers.
2. The church should only care for the "truly needy," that are in desperate need (5) and don't have someone to provide for them. Providing for other, less needy people encourages their laziness (13) and is a burden on the church (16).
   
3. It benefits well-off to provide for the needy , as they "learn to show godliness to their" fellow man, which is "pleasing in the sight of God" (4).
   
4. Those who do not provide for the truly needy (in the family of God) have "denied the faith and [are] worse than an unbeliever" (8).

Ouch. The church doesn't do nearly a good enough job of caring for the needy around us. In fact, if the church did its job and provided for those who are truly needed, government welfare wouldn't have to exist! Not only would that be better for us as the church, but it would be better for the needy since 1) those who are truly needy would receive more personal care instead of a bureaucratic handout, and 2) those who are not truly needy would not continue to receive and handout but would learn to care for themselves.

So, next time we right-wing Christians are tempted to complain about welfare and how much it costs us in taxes and doesn't help the recipients, let's give a bit more to our church or favorite charities to fix the problem instead of just blowing hot air around.