God's blessings on us all,
"...But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion, and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast, and borugh him to an inn and took care of him." Luke10: 33-34
America's first hospital, the Pennsylvania Hospital was established by Founding Father Benjamin Franklin to "care for the sick, poor, and insane who were wandering the streets of Philadelphia". The logo Franklin created for the hospital, which it still uses today, was a picture of the Good Samaritan with the passage from Luke 10:35 beneath; "Take care of him and I will repay thee." Franklin pointed out the Biblical emphasis on helping others saying:
"The great Author of our faith (Hebrews 12:2), Whose life should be the constant object of our imitation, (as far as it is inimitable), always showed the greatest compassion and regard for the sick; His disdained not to visit and minister comfort and health to the meanest(lowest) of the people; and He frequently inculcated the same disposition in His doctrines and precepts to His disciples."
This Bible lesson indisputably shaped America's benevolent nature. Whenever there is a disaster here or in any other country, Americans rush in to help. Nations primarily secular or of a non-Biblical faith are rarely proactive in organizing humanitarian relief. And although the Scriptures are clear that it was never the responsibility of government, (but rather individual followers of Christ and the Church) to help those in need, Christian-motivated civil leaders did secure government protection for individual benevolence through various laws that encourage personal charity. As the U.S. Supreme Court once declared:
"The principles of the law of charities....prevail in all civilized countries pervaded by the spirit of Christianity" (1890).
The benevolence that characterizes America---the compassion and humanitarianism so deeply embedded into our culture is a direct product of Biblical Christianity. Eliminate such Christian influence, and the societal motivation to benevolence soon dissipates----as evidenced by non-Biblical nations across the world.
"...But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion, and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast, and borugh him to an inn and took care of him." Luke10: 33-34
America's first hospital, the Pennsylvania Hospital was established by Founding Father Benjamin Franklin to "care for the sick, poor, and insane who were wandering the streets of Philadelphia". The logo Franklin created for the hospital, which it still uses today, was a picture of the Good Samaritan with the passage from Luke 10:35 beneath; "Take care of him and I will repay thee." Franklin pointed out the Biblical emphasis on helping others saying:
"The great Author of our faith (Hebrews 12:2), Whose life should be the constant object of our imitation, (as far as it is inimitable), always showed the greatest compassion and regard for the sick; His disdained not to visit and minister comfort and health to the meanest(lowest) of the people; and He frequently inculcated the same disposition in His doctrines and precepts to His disciples."
This Bible lesson indisputably shaped America's benevolent nature. Whenever there is a disaster here or in any other country, Americans rush in to help. Nations primarily secular or of a non-Biblical faith are rarely proactive in organizing humanitarian relief. And although the Scriptures are clear that it was never the responsibility of government, (but rather individual followers of Christ and the Church) to help those in need, Christian-motivated civil leaders did secure government protection for individual benevolence through various laws that encourage personal charity. As the U.S. Supreme Court once declared:
"The principles of the law of charities....prevail in all civilized countries pervaded by the spirit of Christianity" (1890).
The benevolence that characterizes America---the compassion and humanitarianism so deeply embedded into our culture is a direct product of Biblical Christianity. Eliminate such Christian influence, and the societal motivation to benevolence soon dissipates----as evidenced by non-Biblical nations across the world.
