Applied Christianity

Foreign aid as a term is not that popular, for example. However providing maternal care, HIV/AIDS treatment, malaria treatment and supporting education, are popular. They also happen to be what a big part of Australia's foreign aid funds.

So, what if Christians decided to call the Australian welfare state applied Christianity and at least called it that amongst fellow Christians? Would it mean more support for increasing unemployment benefits, the pension and other benefits?

Christians may decide to view taxes, and increased taxes if need be as good. They may view it the same way that members of the L.D.S church view tithing - giving 10% of their income to advance God's mission.

In this case, giving at least 10% of income to taxes, to support the welfare state, to advance God's mission.

Someone on $60,000 would have paid just over $11,000 in taxes in 2018-2019 which is less than 20% of their income. Excluding the portion that is given back in the form of direct or indirect benefits like child-care rebates, infrastructure and deductions and the amount of taxes not going to helping the poor and sick, our contribution to advancing God's mission would be less than 10%.

Now, people may argue that the tithe is not actually Christian. It belongs to the Old Testament and disagrees with the Christian churches that do tithe. It is not applied Christianity. It is not in the New Testament.

There is something else not in the New or Old Testament either.

God helps those who help themselves. God never actually said that. So, it should not be used as a reason to oppose the welfare state.

The link between Christianity and the welfare state is nothing new.

For one, the NZ PM on the urging of a Reverend referred to it as applied Christianity. All the way back in the 1930's but there were other links, as examples, the social gospel movement in the United States in the 19^th and early 20^th century and the Liberation Theology movement in South America in the second part of the 20^th century, and now.

So, if there is the link between Christianity and welfare, why are not even more Christians supportive of the welfare state?

There seems to be this strong idea of the undeserving poor. Welfare makes people worse off or government is always bad.