n most dictionaries, entitlement is defined as a right to benefits specified especially by law or contract, a government program providing benefits to members of a specified group; also : funds supporting or distributed by such a program, the belief that one is deserving of or entitled to certain privileges. I personally, do not consider entitlement programs “a right” rather I consider them good “privileges”.
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At the core of welfare or entitlement programs is the laudable goal of taking care of the less privileged. As a bible believing Christian, it is impossible not to read that one of the transformation that comes with having a personal relationship with Christ, is being His arm and leg to the less privileged (John 15: 8), a role that the early church played beautifully and even in contemporary times, many denominations (Catholics, Lutherans, AG, etc) have established schools, hospitals, children homes etc all over the world and the courageous acts of women like Mary Sclessor in Calabar, Nigeria and Mother Teresa in Calcutta, India comes to mind. Many in Africa and Asia would never have gone beyond an elementary education without mission schools.
God in His infinite mercies, gave every single human the same measure of what we need to survive and prosper, He gave the same amount of “air”, “time”, “same rules and principles” etc, Bill Gates Jr. and Warren Buffet have the same amount of air and time in a day as people sleeping in tents in Haiti or living in shacks in Ajegunle, Nigeria or the homeless in Omaha. Israel and Ethiopia are located on the same latitudinal position (desert), yet Israel is able to turn a desert into an agricultural haven, while Ethiopia is a poster child for UN humanitarian "entitlement" efforts. It is now left to each human or countries to harness what they have to get to their purpose.
Life has not always been fair in terms of the family we are born into, but I’ve also discovered that while family of origin might be a big obstacle, it is never a determinant of our success. Many kids born with silver-spoon in their mouth often take life for granted and simply identify as the son or daughter of…, while many who are raised in tough horrible situations determine to be somebody, Presidents Clinton and Obama come to mind as people with what seem to be unfair background but achieved something in life. My dad is another person with such background; he lost his dad as a teenager and became a paid house-help to get through high school and to take care of three siblings and a mother. Dad rejected a scholarship to study engineering (in Germany) to take care of family; he got married and still went to school. He finally graduated from college after he already had six kids.
The early days of dad being in college were not fun at least for us kids, Mom was an elementary school teacher (Home Ed. Teacher) so money was scarce. About nine of us lived in a 14 x 14 room (divided into two with a cardboard), I figured we were poor in those days because of how some people treated us (yes, church folks) but never realized it until dad graduated from college, got a good job and built his own house in 1979. In Nigeria, there are no entitlement programs, you relied strictly on the grace of God (and He always came through) through other believers. This background is where my desire to give others a helping hand come from. Today, all my siblings (and family members who stayed with us) have post-secondary education.
In those days, pride and the family good name was a big deal, yes we were poor but Dad and Mom (especially mom) were home and they taught us the importance of pride in ourselves and having a good name, just like King Solomon said in the Bible, in-fact one of the lines of my parents is “remember the son of whom you are”. Dad, especially was crazy about us getting a college education, he did not care what you did, just go to college (I wish he did more than that now – because I took the easy route instead of my best). Your present situation does not (and will never) determine your destination, the only person that can stop you from achieving your purpose is you, and more importantly how you think.
The Bible both under the laws of Moses and the New Covenant of Christ commands a Christian to take care of the poor in our midst. Under the laws of Moses, widows and the fatherless can partake of the tithes of grains in the temple set aside for the Levites. Rich people with farms are commanded not to take anything that fall to the ground during harvest and for those with large farms, they are not to harvest certain portion, so that the poor, widows, the fatherless can come in afterward and harvest the grains or fruits and pick up what fell to the ground (not mandated or enforced by any authority). The spirit behind these laws is for the poor to do something for their own dignity.
In the new Testament Jesus went into a lot of pain to explain the difference between those who are poor in spirit and the financially poor, He went further to rebuke the Pharisees who take pride in their religion but neglect the poor in their midst, kind of like what is happening today, where our religious leaders boast about their rich god, drive Bentleys, fly airplanes etc when less than 10% of their ministry or church income goes to taking care of the poor. I personally, recommend to close pastor friends that between 10-15% of their incomes should go towards a benevolent ministry that caters to the needs of their immediate community (regardless of size or income). When Apostles Paul and Barnabas came back to Jerusalem to meet with the church council after their first journey, the only request, the council made of the two was to take care of the poor, something we see Paul do over and over again.
The current entitlement mentality in the world, took root after the first world war, especially because of the great depression, as many scholars with human wisdom (many of them reject the Bible as the Truth, instead defined truth as being relative) bought into the ideology of a government harnessing the productivity of its people, and distributing the gains evenly. The governments that share the believes, vary from social democrats (a political movement advocating a gradual and peaceful transition from capitalism to socialism by democratic means) to communism (a form of socialism that abolishes private ownership, a political theory favoring collectivism in a classless society) to Marxism (the system of socialism of which the dominant feature is public ownership of the means of production, distribution, and exchange). These movement spread quickly after the second world war in Europe (Social democracy) and many European territories in Africa, Asia etc, Communism (USSR and China) and other military dictatorship such as Cuba etc. Unites State of America was the only developed country that stayed with Free Market Capitalist democracy but not without President F.D. Roosevelt trying with the new deal. Today, America is the only country everyone in the world would die to come, because of the opportunity for success that its system of government provides everyone that finds their way here.
Each one of these philosophies of government have different ideology of how to take care its citizens and the poor in their midst. Social democracies like England, Netherlands, France etc believe the best way to take care of the poor is for the government to provide certain services such as universal health care, free education to university level, provide housing and food, provide care at old age etc because they are rights of every citizens, to achieve the above the government have to employ lots of people (the British health system employs 1.4 million people, the 3rd largest employer in the world) and to achieve the cost of providing these services, citizens (especially high income earners – primarily business owners) are taxed at very high rates, more like being penalized for success. I’ll leave economist to debate the impact of high taxes on a nation’s GDP (job creation, creativity or innovation etc).
On a larger scale, one of the misfortune of African countries is being colonized by social democratic countries from Europe. Africa is now a continent surviving based on the goodwill of Europe and America, inspite of the tremendious natural and human resources. These super powers of the world prefer an African that they can enslave again with a threat to withhold "donations" rather than help deal with the perenial problem of bad corrupt leadership. The monies stolen by African leaders are in developed countries (they need it for their own economies), yet they like doing "fund-raising events" for poor African countries. Just my own opinion, world powers and the UN have no interest changing their entitlement entrapment towards Africa, so African leaders better wake up, if they have any feeling for the people they are serving (sorry ruling).
In America, President Johnson in 1964 with his “great society” expanded on the ideology of social democracy in America, by promising to eliminate poverty, it is estimated that federal spending increased 400% between 1964 – 1975 to provide social services such as housing, food etc. It is also estimated that between 1964 – 2008, over $9 trillion dollars has been spent on fighting poverty, and we still have poor in our midst, just like Jesus said “you will always have the poor among you” (it takes more than spending money on social programs to eliminate poverty, it takes a change in thinking, the right thinking).
America has practiced some form of social entitlement programs since the days of FDR (New Deal) and LBJ (Great Society), so we now have documents highlighting the benefits and the negatives. Since social security was established, a lot more of the elderly population are well cared for compare to before establishing the law, however, the money that was taken from many of these elderly while they worked has been spent on something else and we now also have less people paying into the pyramid system due to Americans having less kids (population has increased through immigration), today the social security administration is operating on IOU, they are owed over $25Trillion by US congress/Executive branch.
The welfare law (like most IRS laws), whether deliberately written or not, discouraged or even penalized a two parent home while rewarding single parents depending on the number of kids in the household. As long as a household earn below a certain threshold (usually government’s definition of poverty line, around $16,000) the occupants would qualify for housing assistance, day care assistance, food assistance, pre-natal and delivery assistance etc, the only requirement of that person is to apply and convince the government official at HHS of how poor or desperate he or she is? This law in-advertently created three generations of families dependent on entitlement benefits among the poor in America, many of them come up with creative ideas of how to stay on even after 1996 modifications, not minding future consequences for their children.
It is also a sad thing for me to say that the government has also spent many of the taxes it collects for Medicare and Medicaid on unrelated stuff, while the cost of running both programs (and fraud) is making the government bankrupt, it is also reducing the number of doctors going into primary care because slashing doctors pay is the easiest way (politically - those evil rich doctors) to cut cost in a program heading for the cliff financially. They come up with gimmicks such as “doctor fix”. One thing everyone can agree on is that you cannot trust any government with money, since government of both parties, have spent the Social security and Medicare/Medicaid monies that are supposed to be in a lock box?
There is a poem in Yoruba language that every elementary student memorized when I was that age, a line says “Ohun ti akoba sise fun, ki pe lowo eni…” (Whatever we don’t work for, does not usually last). One of the results of sin, is that human nature seeks what is easy, and would rather not work, even though we all know there is pride in seeing the result of one’s hard-work. No one receiving any of the entitlement program goodies would give it up, even though they know that they are receiving way much more than they put it into the system, and that those programs are broke and reeking with fraud. Politicians know this, but they keep promising more stuff to get votes every two, four or six tears, even though the know what they are promising is not sustainable from a financial standpoint, this is why America’s debt is now $12Trillian dollars, each politician is secretly wishing the bubble will not bust during their tenure. The housing debacle did not start with George W Bush (he contributed to it), but with President Clinton, and everyone knew one day the hen will come home to roost, because homes were being overvalued and mortgage application became a joke due to lax in qualification.
In 1995 after the birth of our son, Ola and I received assistance from the government to buy milk (primarily) for our son, as an African man, that was the lowest time of my life in America. My wife was a medical student, we had just moved into a two bedroom apartment, we just paid for my Mom to come help us with our new baby, as Ola would be going back to school soon. Ola said we took the assistance for 6 months, to me it looked like eternity, because I felt like a man who could not take care of his home. Many (especially men) on the various entitlement programs have lost their sense of dignity, and their thinking is now one of “it is my right” because that is what politicians who wants votes say.
The breakdown of the traditional family unit in America, can be traced back to the 1950s and 1960s, the sexual revolution, that encouraged young people to rebel against instituted authorities and principles, and the government taking over the role of the church (religious institutions) to taking care of the less privileged, unfortunately, the human philosophy of the enactors crept into many of the laws written, and the Judeo-Christian values and foundational principles of America were challenged. Laws such as no-fault divorce, penalizing married couples who filed jointly, and welfare law that only compensated a family that earned below a certain amount (below poverty level), inadvertently eliminating the man. All of these led to many unforeseen consequences.
The Institute of American Values recently released some of these unforeseen consequences of America’s decline in moral values. Divorce have gone way up, kids being born in a one parent home have gone way up, co-habitation increased by 2000% (1960 – 2000), things on TV that used to turn our stomach is now a laughing matter, the most popular song for our girls is by a singer boasting about kicking a live-in boyfriend to the left while a new live-in is on the way and the dominant liberal press say It is progression? I personally hate the line “it is so 2010”, because Truth and God’s value does not change. The entrapment of the entitlement programs has been felt the most in urban America, there is low self-esteem among welfare recipients which in-turn leads to high risk behaviors, sexual promiscuity and drugs, there is lack of hope among the kids been born into this situation, and the only hope they see is selling drugs, playing sports or music (rap or hip hop genre). In the mean time, adults (pimps) use these innocent youngsters to sell their dopes and give them “big” money, and also use “gangs” as protection and as the family (however dysfunctional) they don’t have at home. Statistics show that kids with boths parents at home, often live above the poverty line and they do better in school.
The solution to the entrapments of entitlements would have to come in many ways, because this bad habit is now close to 50 years old. First, we need strong politicians who would be willing to stop aiding and abetting or excusing entitlement behaviors but stand up to let his/her constituent know that we need to re-write America’s welfare law from keeping people in poverty as it currently does, to helping people out of poverty. As someone who grew up poor in a country where there was no welfare program and as someone who took milk subsidy for six month, I appreciate a government that caters to such needs of its citizenry. Helping through (empowerment) rather than keeping down (entitlements) should be the slogan of every politician with guts. Getting off addiction and going to a rehab is never an easy process but it is good for the addict, and it usually takes strong loving family members to say enough is enough, you are going to a rehab!.
The next solution would need to come from pulpits; this is particularly true for the African American community. About 75% of Americans claim Christianity, that number jumps way higher among the African American community, religion was the only solace during slavery and religious leaders led the civil right efforts as well. Today, the focus of the body of Christ has been shifted from the true Vine to the “big” branches, we now have leaders who are more interested in positions, titles, how much of an orator they are, how large their churches are and how well they are treated, than the transformation of their flock through sharing the Truth that sets FREE. We have feel good gospels, prosperity gospels, faith movement, parishioners are been fed too much protein or too much starch leaving many “Christians” looking robust but kwashiokored in real biblical doctrines and in relationship with Christ. Christians today can sing popular Christian songs, buy the book and follow their best televangelist, name their best gospel singers but they don’t have enough doctrinal knowledge to defend their faith or what they believe.
There must be a corporate repentance and the body of Christ going back to the Cross and to our first love, enough of self but we must selflessly serve those we’ve been called to lead like Christ. We must start to speak the truth in love and not be afraid to speak because we’ll lose members or offering would drop. The teaching of bible doctrine must be basic features of our church membership rather than marketing strategies to recruit members and feed them with “namby pamby” gospel that tickle their ears.
The biggest solution to being free from entitlement entrapment must however come from each one of us, for our own dignity and for our generations yet unborn. It is wonderful for any government to seek to help its people when they are down. In America, neighbors, churches and philanthropists have done that and we have laws that promote such values by giving tax credit for whatever we give to charity, this singular act (or law) make America the world’s largest giver bar none, to disasters areas, to propagating the gospel, to sending missionaries, this is now a culture that our children are emulating. There is a joy and confidence that comes when we are the giver versus the feeling of been a sub-person when we are the “perpetual” receiver, even Jesus said, “You are more blessed in giving than in receiving”.
Here is a question I would like every person who defend long term entitlement programs to answer, why is it that politicians who campaign on taking care of the poor by giving them entitlements are not on the program themselves or their families are not on it either? When someone promote something but exclude his/herself, watch what is being giving or sold to you? Many of them were on the programs years ago, but when they got out, they somehow forgot how they felt “emotionally” or “mentally”. You need to start demanding a review of laws that assist the less privileged, laws that cut people off of everything just because they now make $9 an hour (instead of $7), when what you really need is a gradual elimination of support as you get to stand on your feet. Most politicians won’t do it, its political suicide for them to touch entitlement programs.
Finally, any change or should I say the best change comes from transforming how we think and knowing and believing a TRUTH. The plan of the enemy of our lives (Satan) is to steal, kill and destroy, sometimes we don’t have to be physically dead to be dead, when we give up hope of achieving our purpose then we are dead, thank God however for resurrection and second chances. The bible is full of scriptures and examples of those who were nobody (or dead) but God elevated them, from little David to King David, from fishermen to Apostles, even a dry skeleton came back to life with a touch from God, Lazarus came back to life with just a call, the power of resurrection that transformed those people is still available for you today, because God is no respecter of persons.
Assistance and empowerment YES, perpetual entitlement NO, however the power is in your hand to break free from this entrapment called entitlement that is supposed to help but it is bringing depression and hopelessness. Many have broken FREE, you can too.
Remain Blessed
