Are wars more important than poor people?

Jesus told us to take care of the poor. Trump says we can’t afford it. Do you realize, for Christians, deciding how we feel about this is – in effect – voting. It’s two decisions wrapped up in one. Do you see what I mean? You support one, and you’re against the other. This also isn’t about left or right. No, the decision’s bigger than that. It’s about what kind of people we’re becoming. You’re choosing between an earthly king and the Heavenly King.

Look at it this way – what if the scenario behind the image comes true?

The adjacent image appears to be fundraising in a small town.

A group of doctors is raising money for hospital equipment.

At the other booth, the sign in the soldier’s booth used to say, “Veterans Fund”. But it’s been changed. It’s now a War fund for what used to be the Defense Department.

The soldiers have a bowl full of money. The doctors have very little money in their bowl.

I wonder, do the people know about the switch? Do the soldiers know about the switch?

And do those who did donate to the doctors know – there’s a good chance their donations won’t be used for the hospitals – but for more wars?

Can the unimaginable actually happen?

That scenario I just laid out – that wouldn’t happen, would it? It can’t. Especially in a free country, where we vote, and the country was formed for “we the people”. That’s just not possible.

Or could it?

Let’s see the story behind the image.

Yes, it did start out as a Veterans Fund. But all of a sudden, defense has become war. Veterans, especially wounded veterans, are treated like – and even called outright – losers. And the money for hospitals? Yes, that’s also going to be used for wars that will injure, maim, and kill more people.

Impossible, you still say?

Here’s one more “illusion” from the image. It’s not fundraising. It’s taxes. And yet, those taxes are no longer going for the things they were supposed to go to. Well – actually, that kind of shell game’s been going on for a long time. But that’s for another day.

I can only add one more thing at this point. If that scene feels exaggerated, here comes the real-world version.

How did wars become more important than people?

I read it online – although it may very well have been first announced on Truth Social – or pravda sotsial’nyy in Russian. I found out that Google Translate won’t actually translate “Truth Social”. It’s forced (I wonder how? lol) to either respond with truth social or with nothing. I don’t doubt that this headline’s over there – and lots of other countries, allies or not, to show just how low things have sunk here that wars are more important than people.

So, what is the headline?

Trump says Medicare and Medicaid may not survive as war spending takes priority, on msn.com. It included the following:

✏️ In last night’s White House speech, President Donald Trump laid out a stark vision for federal priorities, emphasizing military spending while suggesting that major domestic programs like Medicaid and Medicare should no longer be primarily managed at the federal level.

Speaking candidly, Trump framed the issue as one of limited national resources, tying economic pressures to ongoing global conflicts. “The United States can’t take care of daycare… we’re fighting wars,” he said. “We can’t take care of daycare. You’ve got to let a state take care of daycare.

”While the remark initially referenced childcare, Trump quickly expanded the idea to include broader social programs. “Medicaid, Medicare, all these individual things… they can do it on a state basis,” he said. “You can’t do it on a federal [level]. We have to take care of one thing: military protection—we have to guard the country.”

Lisa Lightner on msn.com

The cuts are obvious. There’s no hiding that.

✏️ “The United States can’t take care of daycare… we’re fighting wars,” (he said.) “We can’t take care of daycare. You’ve got to let a state take care of daycare.”

Trump

But – there’s one thing buried in there that I need to point out. It’s something I hinted at in the intro.

✏️ “We have to take care of one thing: military protection – we have to guard the country.”

Trump

News flash: Military protection is one thing. Guarding the country is part and parcel with protection.
But – starting and fighting wars is not guarding and protecting. It’s starting wars.

That’s pretty straightforward. Isn’t it?

Is this a Dickens story?

When I read something like this, I have to ask a question. Are we in the middle of a Dickens story? I mean, Dickens wrote fiction, but the people in his stories – they tell it like it is. Like we are.

That kind of thinking immediately brings back memories of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”.

The question then, as alluded to above, is this a country that’s truly “real” Jesus following Christians – or are we the kind of people who would say what Scrooge did:

✏️ If they would rather die, they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population”

Charles Dickens.

People who can’t afford to take care of themselves should go to prisons and workhouses was what Scrooge was saying.

Is our government turning into a new kind of Scrooge?

And yet, this isn’t about the government!

I keep writing this – and I will continue to do so – this isn’t about the government!

In that light, the Scrooge question then becomes – are we being turned into modern Scrooges by our leaders?

I’m writing to individual people. People with souls. People who, whether you’re Christian or not – care about the eternal destination of your souls.

We must choose who we follow/support

As I pointed out at the top, we have choices to make here. We are citizens of a country that’s ostensibly free. We are allowed to vote. There are consequences when we vote.

One of those consequences may be who wins, or what idea wins, or what law(s) pass. Thers are relatively short-term things. They can be changed later.

But – there are also consequences on an eternal timeframe as well.

Which do you honestly believe is the “Treasure in Heaven” going to flow from: starting wars, wounding, maiming, and killing people – or caring for the poor?

Notice – I’m writing about what’s happening now – and what’s already in stated plans – starting wars that are not currently happening. It’s a very straightforward question.

Then – after answering that question – which master will you love and be devoted to – and which master will you refuse to serve? As Christians, the leader we’ve already, at least in words, given our love and promised to follow Jesus. Now, it’s time to decide if we really meant those words.

That’s the most important decision yet. Yes, we can say all sorts of words. But do we mean them? Have we been transformed and do we act like we meant those words?

God will not be mocked.

If not, we’ve also been told about our eternal destination. God cannot and will not be mocked by our words that have no faith or belief behind them.

We can claim whatever we want. We may even convince ourselves that we’re right. And we’ll convince at least some others that we’re right. But not God. God cannot – will not – be fooled, mocked, lied to – whatever you want to call it.

Conclusion from Are wars more important than poor people?

Ultimately, when we look at this as choosing God as King or any human as king – and there is only one “king” – it comes down to something very simple.

The question, at its core, is whether helping people who need it, and in this case even paid for it – is more important than injuring, maiming, and killing people by starting new wars, in God’s name by people who claim to be Christian, because of – well – is there even a justification that can put harming people over any of this?

Supposedly there’s a need to guard the country – but it’s not guarding our country – but invading other countries. But who are we guarding when the government decides it doesn’t need to take care of its people? Even the people who put the government leaders in power, whose money those leaders took in the form of taxes to protect them when they’re unable to care for themselves. What kind of care is that?

Especially when so many of them claim to be Christian?
Especially when so many of them claim to be acting in God’s name?
Especially when religious leaders claim they are in power because God raised them up for this time? See God raised you up for this purpose. What does that mean? because God raising Trump up for this time doesn’t mean what the people saying it think it means – not at all! If they did know, they’d be running from him.

So, again – I urge you, consider these kinds of choices with extreme care.

If you’re Christian – this can be destination-changing when it comes to your soul.

If you’re not Christian, and people like these people are the reason you stay away from their God – please notice – “their god” and “their flavor” of Christianity isn’t the one I believe in.

Either way – Christian or not – if you care about your soul, please check out: You will know the truth and the truth will set you free That’s another often mistakenly used line. The original and the true meaning of it has to do with God’s truth – not any man’s truth.

Just as God forgives us if we repent, we can turn this around. But we have to look in the mirror and ask ourselves some questions. How did we get here? Is this where I want my country to be? Is this what I want to be? And then it becomes, do I want to be part of the problem or part of the solution? It’s a wide-ranging question for all of us. It goes from the people in the country where we live, for the people who need help (even help they pre-paid for), for us when we need help, to our souls, the souls of our friends and loved ones, for the souls of people we don’t know (like I don’t know you).

Isn’t all of that worth at least the time to examine the issues, see where you want to be, and then examine where you are.

With that in mind, let me close with a portion of Psalm 139 that I recommend we pray on a regular basis.