A Facebook question from a Bismark, North Dakota resident to his congressman started off rockily yesterday, when the congressman dismissed a religious argument opposed to cuts in the federal food stamp program with a religious quote.
“2 Thessalonians 3:10 English Standard Version (ESV) 10 For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat,” Congressman Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) posted in reply Friday afternoon to an inquiry from Kevin Tengesdal, a Bismark-based actor and activist....
The quote Cramer used in reply to Tengesdal is an admonition against Christians failing to plant seed and harvest food because anticipation of the imminent return of Christ might seemingly make that toil unnecessary. [Not to mention that a majority of New Testament scholars do not accept 2 Thessalonians as authentically Pauline.]
Ironically, Cramer’s North Dakota district received $10.4 billion in agricultural subsidies from the U.S. Department of Agriculture from 2005 to 2012 — the single largest recipient of farm subsidies in the nation.The Raw Story
Republican congressman tells constituent asking about food stamp cuts: ‘Let him not eat’
George Chidi
I think Paul was talking about members of the ecclesia of Christ "not working" in the works of dispensing the 'good news' of the grace of God... that they should not be "eating" of the spiritual graces associated with that "work"...
ReplyDelete2 Thess 3:6 "be putting yourselves from every brother who is walking disorderly and not in accord with the tradition which they accepted from us."
2 Thess 3:11 "11 For we are hearing that some among you are walking disorderly, working at nothing, but are meddling. Now such we are charging and entreating in the Lord Jesus Christ, that, working with quietness, they may be eating their own bread."
And Paul's "work" was NOT opening soup kitchens...
Anyone outside of the ecclesia of Christ could always partake of the real economic surplus that was distributed via the govt/religious system of pagan temples and get guaranteed employment thru public works...
Atheists: See christendumb in action here via the "works" of these GOP morons and have a good laugh on us!
Let his District "Not Eat" Corporate Welfare?
ReplyDeleteHey Congressman Crammer,
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to see you read some of the Bible but I must implore you to read ALL of it.
Then you'll realize that the Bible:
1) Commands debt forgiveness every 7 years.
2) Forbids usury from one's fellow countrymen.
3) Commands that agricultural land is to be returned to the original owners or their descendents every 50 years.
4) Forbids oppression of the poor.
5) Commands restitution for theft.
6) Implicitly condemns our money system since it is based on usury for stolen purchasing power.