Again.

This evening as I was driving home from work and listening to the Don Kroah Show, Don was talking with his guest, Tony Evans, about a case coming before the Supreme Court that deals in some way with the legality of the "faith-based initiatives" that President Bush has promoted. Both men were decrying the posibility that these initiatives would be cut off. Both men were reciting a list of services that would no longer be available to citizens in need if not provided by tax-supported "faith-based" groups. Both men were complaining that the government itself would be much less efficient in providing the services. Both men were declaring that God calls Christians to use the power and wealth of the government to deliver these services.

And both men were saying that if the Supreme Court strikes down the laws and orders which enable "faith-based initiatives," the Supreme Court will be making a big mistake.*

I think it is they who are making the big mistake.

One thing in particular that Dr. Evans mentioned was that as well-intentioned as it was, the Great Society endeavor made the mistake of allowing recipients to believe that the benefits should be coming to them forever. Yet, after less than six years of support from the government's tax coffers Dr. Evans seems to think that "faith-based" groups have a perpetual entitlement to managing the distribution of tax dollars to the poor and disadvantaged. Isn't that a little cockeyed?

On a somewhat deeper level they are mistaking the mission implicit in acting out one's faith. They talked about the services that would not be available without the "faith-based initiatives." But they did not challenge, as I believe the Christ would, all believers to work the miracles of giving regardless of whether the government is supplying the funds.

Dr. Evans and Mr. Kroah, why don't you tell followers of the Christ that when these initiatives end, as surely they will, it becomes their challenge to join together in groups that do not promote a particular faith when providing these valuable services if they want to continue distributing federal tax mone? And beyond that, is it not the duty and privilege of all Christians and Muslims to give freely of that which God has entrusted to each of us?

The injuctions in Bible and Quran that make these responsibilities clear have no mention of relying upon the U.S. Treasury for the donations.

* I can hear James Dobson's anti-judicial activism engines starting to churn already.