tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-749955731953911627.post2311759445094353527..comments2023-11-02T04:53:05.386-05:00Comments on kc bob: Can a Christian be a libertarian?kc bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17440862813109808755noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-749955731953911627.post-55215347787806502372012-01-04T09:43:14.227-06:002012-01-04T09:43:14.227-06:00@MTR - The only reason folks often bring Christian...@MTR - The only reason folks often bring Christian generosity into the mix for a libertarian view is that Christian libertarians often say that the church, and not the government, should care for the poor. Most of us would like to see that happen but it is simply not realistic because religious people historically spend money on buildings and salaries and not on the poor.kc bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17440862813109808755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-749955731953911627.post-90350384843326894012012-01-03T12:31:48.857-06:002012-01-03T12:31:48.857-06:00Why are we assuming that Christian generosity mean...Why are we assuming that Christian generosity means government enforcement of it? I resent the idea that my generosity is measured by how much the government takes from me. Libertarianism is a view of how government should operate, now of how the individual should.MTRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02883602824495013894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-749955731953911627.post-58527940004668376622012-01-02T18:28:14.441-06:002012-01-02T18:28:14.441-06:00I am not in favor of big government, but libertari...I am not in favor of big government, but libertarianism seems to me the opposite extreme. In a sinful there needs to be some degree of government control to maintain order and help the oppressed, even though I believe having too high an expectation of government is a mistake.Mike Erich the Mad Theologianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04682504413797395786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-749955731953911627.post-51737727105788707842012-01-02T17:01:52.429-06:002012-01-02T17:01:52.429-06:00I am a firm believer that the church is to be the ...I am a firm believer that the church is to be the first responder in caring for the poor. That's not to say the government can't be involved, but I have the sneaking suspicion that if all churches had a deeper missional focus government funding and involvement wouldn't be needed as much. Perhaps that is idealistic of me. :)stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14760765831975016535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-749955731953911627.post-34974323034148869392012-01-02T14:51:57.501-06:002012-01-02T14:51:57.501-06:00The short answer, IMO, is "No". I thoug...The short answer, IMO, is "No". I thought I was a libertarian when I first heard the term because I heard it in the context of personal freedoms. I think the government should allow consenting adults to do whatever they like as long as it doesn't harm another. I am libertarian in that sense. But, I think we are our brothers' keepers and, as you pointed out, both domestically and internationally, libertarianism promotes an isolationist every man for himself mentality.<br /><br />I don't think Jesus would promote the government as the primary answer to anything. And, if were all fully enlightened individuals living according to the will of the Holy Spirit, then we wouldn't need the government to do some of the things the government must do. But, in the real world, we need the government to help keep the playing field level and to take care of the poor and the disadvantaged.Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06035489123868573312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-749955731953911627.post-48010244973455852422012-01-02T12:53:37.159-06:002012-01-02T12:53:37.159-06:00My problems with libertarians is that some of them...My problems with libertarians is that some of them seem to follow the teachings of Ayn Rand, the survival of the fittest social darwinism that is inconsistent with Jesus' teachings about caring for the least of these. Of course, I think some of the tea partiers who say they are libertarians are using that philosophy to mask their real selfishness and desire to keep what is "theirs."Fred Shopehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05993039629949819266noreply@blogger.com