Collateral Bloggage

I know.  I shouldn’t use such large and impressive words as Deadbeatery.  There’s me, putting on airs again…

I’ve always found this passage from 1 Timothy interesting:

A bit of context here. Paul is discussing the Church’s obligation to provide for widows. He makes it clear that the church should not be burdened with supporting widows who have families to support them. Rather, their own families should support them and repay them for their own nurture. Those who are truly destitute must be supported by the church.

I just find it very interesting how harshly Paul speaks of those who don’t do their part and care for their elderly.  I’m not sure if there’s a broader application here, but it’s possible.  In the NIV, the first half of the verse reads “If anyone does not provide for his relatives,” which strikes me as broader than just referring to widows.

I suppose it’s obvious that a Christian could never be a Deadbeat Dad (or Deadbeat Son) while professing to actually follow Christ (well, he could claim to).  But what does caring for your relatives mean?  Does it mean putting your parents in a home?  Does it mean taking them into your home?  I can see the argument for nursing homes when 24-hour care is required, but I’m not sure it’s the right thing to do in other cases.  The Bible seems very clear that the elderly have an obligation to offer wisdom and teaching to the young, and the young have an obligation to care for their elderly relatives.  Of course, with Social Security and other Nanny Laws, I think the place of the Christian Child has been usurped to some degree, and we’ve let it happen.

I think I’ll stop here.  There’s more I could write (I didn’t even cover how badly the church does on this!), but maybe I’ll leave it for another time.  Thoughts?