Christian
Education
Outreach USA

There is a consensus among many Americans that a person is a socialist or has socialist ideas when there is mention of government help for a person or a family who truly needs financial assistance. A major illness or a prolonged loss of employment has the potential of forcing high income, well educated, super religious, ultra liberal and even my fellow conservatives to seek assistance from the government or other agencies when survival is at stake.

Based on my lifestyle and moral views most people place me in the conservative camp. I live a very modest life and I am a firm believer in budgeting and fiscal responsibility. Those who have read my articles know that I am pro life; and that I am pro marriage for I believe marriage is between a man and a woman, I am against sex outside of marriage and I am not a smoker or drinker.

There was no situational ethics in my upbringing; behavior was either right or wrong, there was no middle ground or gray areas. But on the flip side, I fully understand that everyone did not grow up in an environment where the lines between right and wrong were clearly distinctive.

My old world values and morals are intermingled with a new world passion for computers and technology. Those who are computer savvy can appreciate my enthusiasm for designing linear and non linear power point presentations. My love for the internet and other electronic devices rivals my oldest son’s love of technology, a NC State graduate and a computer program analyst who works in the research triangle area.

I am as conservative as they come when it comes to Christian values. Those who attend my church hear sermons on morality, and most people will tell you that I am an old fashion preacher who preach about the joys of Heaven and the reality of Hell.

The difference in my conservative’s views and those of some of my fellow ultra conservatives is that I have no problem with helping others who really need help. I believe that every person has a responsibility to work hard to reach their personal goals and that a person should avoid seeking help from the government unless there is no other alternative.

I believe most goals can be achieved prayer and hard work. But there have been times when well qualified, highly educated people have been unemployed for an extended period of time and under those circumstances they sought help from others. I believe in assisting those who genuinely need help but I do not believe in assisting people who try to beat the system through fraud and deception.

I am writing this article because the socialist label is being unfairly placed on many who believe that there are times when the government needs to temporarily step up to plate and assist those who may truly need some assistance.

Dr Martin Luther King and Dr. W.E.B. Dubois two of my personal heroes were labeled as having socialist ideas. They were men who had a true sense of compassion for the less fortunate. They did not ask for a total redistribution of America’s wealth they simply asked for justice and help for those who were really in need.

Many conservatives have assumed the role as the moral police of America. Unfortunately many of the so called moral conservative policemen have been exposed as living more flawed lives than those that they have investigated or scrutinized.

Conservatives who label people as being socialist when there is mention of government assistance should take a close look at the life, the actions, the behavior and the Words of Jesus. They will discover that Jesus preached personal responsibility but at the same time he personally met the needs of those who needed help and assistance and he called on his followers to do likewise. Jesus was not against giving to others as a matter of fact he said “it is more blessed to give than it is to receive.”

Reverend Micheal J. Darby