There has been a bit of discussion in the news media of late about government budgets. There is a little disagreement on how much to spend and how much to cut.
Much of the debate centers on “social programs” that are intended to provide jobs, medical care, education, security in old age, etc. And I have often heard and read the argument that if we cut these programs it means we are not a “caring” nation.
I guess that depends more on your definition of a nation. To me, a whole mix of things combines to make America (or any other nation) a nation. First, there are the millions of people, their work, values, aspirations, loyalties and achievements. There are cultural things like art, music, sports, literature and NASCAR. There are cities and farms, museums, churches, hospitals, factories, roads, buildings, houses and pet cats. And there are natural features like mountains, prairies, lakes and rivers.
And while some documents of government reflect the beliefs of the nation (Constitution, Bill of Rights, Declaration of Independence), they are simply a reflection of something greater, simply a guarantor of all the other components in the mix that makes a nation.
In other words, a nation is not its government. And if a government offers no social programs whatsoever, that doesn’t necessarily mean the nation is not caring. What it could very well mean is that the nation is caring through private institutions – like parishes and dioceses.
The Apostle Paul urged Christians to be generous and care for one another. He was a powerful advocate for a caring nation. But he didn’t petition Rome to raise taxes and expand social welfare. I’m thinking he had more faith in the Christians than the government.
