Individual Responsibility and Work Ethic

It is clear that those involved in politics (the right included, guilty as charged) often get carried away in associating the God, the bible and morality in general with every republican issue that springs to the board. To set the record straight, let’s take the time to examine exactly what the bible does say about current events in today’s headlines so that we can find appropriate means to respond to them, for not all republicans are Christians and not all Democrats are sadists. If we are to be sincere moral beings we must issue-by-issue determine for ourselves how God would respond. In other words: “What would Jesus do?” A quote that could easily title this post in relating RIGHT ideas to bible concepts-for-dummies!

The main concept being, Individual Responsibility and Work Ethic.

Personally, I have undying faith in the spirit of the individual. I think the strongest machines in creation are self-will, determination and passion and that these free gifts were those given by our creator. This belief is the foundation for most Republicans in forming opinions on: the safety net, taxes, regulation and welfare. Government involvement in the aforementioned is often viewed as a way to hinder the individual’s chances in reaching their full potential and further, making people fall victim to the short comings of others.

Oddly enough, I found several verses in the good book supporting what is likely God’s own opinion of individual responsibility:

First, “Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their fathers; each is to die for his own sin.” Deuteronomy 24:16

Second, “The soul who sins is the one who will die. The son will not share the guilt of the father, nor will the father share the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous man will be credited to him, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against him.”- Ezekiel 18:20
Hopefully these verses eliminate any idea you may have had about God being a collectivist.

“God will reward each according to his works." Romans 2:6, this signature staple is also a capitalist moniker.

“Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys. “- Proverbs 18:9
“The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.”- Proverbs 13:4

“A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.” – Proverbs 10:4

“And we can reasonable infer that God would likely support charity, not taxes in this verse: But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.-“1 Timothy 5:8. This verse establishes close-to-home giving, to family and loved ones, this is not conducive to national welfare.

Not each according to their needs, and certainly not according to their wants. Merit is required to receive God’s blessings, as he is an impartial God and does not believe in “entitlement”; similarly merit is the foundation of the capitalist system, as opposed to birth rights, mob rule and authoritarianism rampant in other nations throughout the world.