Show me the scripture.

Jim Barber of Dallas lambastes Rick Perry for his refusal to take federal Medicaid money with strings attached. Jim wants to know where the adherence to Christian principles is. Now, I suspect that Jim would be the first to yell "Separation of church and state" were that convenient to his argument. However, let's talk about the Christian principle he thinks we have abandoned.

He says that on the issue of whether or not to help the poor, the Republicans have the attitude of, "I have mine. You're on your own." This is patently false. Studies repeatedly show that Republicans in Congress are far more generous in their charitable giving than are the Democrats in Congress. Al Gore has faded into the sunset, but in 1997, he gave a whopping $335 to charity out of his adjusted gross income of more than $197,000. Joe Biden and his wife took 10 years to donate less than $4,000. WOOHOO!

The problem with Jim is that he thinks Jesus told the government to take care of the poor. He didn't. He told Christians -- and by extension the church -- to take care of the poor. I challenge Jim to show me one scripture where Jesus said, "And the government shall feed the poor." In fact, the government has usurped the responsibility of the church to feed the poor and thereby is depriving the church of an avenue of witness to the unsaved. So if Jim really wants to live by Christian principles, he'll change his philosophy of who has the responsibility to feed and clothe the poor and the sick.

I'm really curious about something else. I wonder what percentage of Jim's money goes to charitable causes. It's easy for Jim to want to give away other people's money, but how does he feel about giving away his own? I also did a little internet public record snooping and looked up where he lives. His house is on the tax roll for more than $587,000. Since he's so interested in what Jesus has to say, wonder how he's applying this quote from the Savior: "Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me."

"Texas' refusal not Christian." The Dallas Morning News; September 7, 2013; p. 16A.