Shutting Down the Poor: How the government shutdown disproportionately effects the most needy among us.
The Rise and Shine discussion group meets Sunday mornings at 9:00 am in the Parlor. Adults from the 8:00 & 10:00 services gather for discussions that are relevant to their lives through the lens of a current topic and scriptural references. This week's discussion outline can be read or downloaded below.
Click HERE to download a copy of this week's discussion outline
Rise & Shine, January 13th
Isaiah 61:1-3
The spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me;
he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,
to bind up the broken-hearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and release to the prisoners;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
to provide for those who mourn in Zion—
to give them a garland instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the Lord, to display his glory.
Proverbs 31:8-9
Speak out for those who cannot speak,
for the rights of all the destitute.
Speak out, judge righteously,
defend the rights of the poor and needy.
Psalm 82:2-4
"How long will you judge unjustly, *
and show favor to the wicked?
Save the weak and the orphan; *
defend the humble and needy;
Rescue the weak and the poor; *
deliver them from the power of the wicked.
Luke 6:34-36
If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
In the News
Who Gets Hurt when the Government Shut Down? The people who rely on the government for food, housing, and their paychecks. By Zoë Carpenter, January 9, 2019.
Government shutdown affecting local domestic violence shelters by Rebecca Gannon, January 6, 2019.
The Wired Word
In a recent interview with Terry Gross of Fresh Air on National Public Radio, law professor Alexandra Natapoff spoke about another factor that contributes to rising debt among poor people: America's misdemeanor system. In her new book, Punishment Without Crime, Natapoff details how the system often pushes impoverished defendants into a never-ending cycle of unpayable debt, by setting high bail to provide a revenue stream for courts, probation offices, public defenders, prosecutors or the general budget of municipalities.
"Jail fees are particularly egregious and ironic for individuals who are being incarcerated precisely because they couldn't pay their fines and fees," Natapoff said. "Once they go to jail, in many jurisdictions, the jail will then charge them a fee for having been in the jail. There are fees for the use of health care in jails, so many people forgo health care." And once individuals are jailed, of course, they cannot earn a paycheck or pay taxes which would contribute to the fabric of the community.
"When individuals are locked up because they can't pay a fine or a fee," Natapoff explained, "It's not because they're scofflaws. It's because they're poor."
More on this story can be found at this link:
Questions for Reflection
- Is the U.S. Government responsible for protecting and providing for the rights of the poor and needy?
- Who would be most effected if the Church shut down?
- Should lenders have different lending policies for different socioeconomic groups? Defend your position.
- How should Christians deal with institutions and systems that engage in predatory lending practices?
