this post, brought to you by the twin and the letter s.

I am posting this in response to the twin's post on social justice.

-It must be done with the other person's complete good in mind. For example, does giving the homeless guy on the street money when he asks for it help him or not? If you think about it, that's a complicated question. It might help him in the short term to accomplish his basic needs, but I think that sucks to just be getting your basic needs met especially in a place of such prosperity as America.

Yes, I agree. If a homeless guy comes up to me and asks for money for money, do I give it to him, when I smell alcohol on his breath and it's 8:30 in the morning? Probably not. However, at what point do I stop determining what is in his complete good? This same question can be applied to the much debated health care issue. Does the government have the right to decide what health care plan is best for me? No. They don't know me or what my life is like. I don't want a health care plan based on what the average is...or what the poll shows. Let me pick it myself. So my question here is...while acts must be done with the other person's complete good in mind (and there are some very black and white issues on that)...what about the gray issues? Everyone has different opinions on that. In thinking about what could be accomplished under the guise of "complete good," I am petrified. Who is to decide the complete good on the gray issues? But, just for the record, I agree with your original intent on this part...I think that if you have a terrible cough, you should go see the doctor, not just take cough syrup and hope it makes you stop coughing.

-We have to understand that we cannot meet all their needs. God meets our needs, at it's root. Satisfaction is not found in the things of this world but in Christ and in his death and resurrection. Not that there isn't great joy to be found in this world, but it's not lasting or constant. Money, sex, work, or family are not meant to fulfill.

God meets our needs period. I completely agree. However, it is SO hard to remember that sometimes. (well...all the time, usually) There is no lasting happiness that can be achieved outside of Him.

-It may not look like we think it looks. An example...reminding people that the homeless are people just like everyone else. They have hopes and dreams, eat, drink, sleep, have families, have stories, and have lived lives. They are not to be looked down upon, talked down to, or thought less of simply because they do not have a roof over their head. This is social justice because it's standing up for these people's stance as HUMAN BEINGS. To act like they are completely helpless wretches is just as damning as ignoring them altogether. There is a undercurrent of arrogance tied in with social justice and liberal causes, if you don't see it yet then take a step back and think about it.

Excellent point. Not only that, but there is SO MUCH to learn from people, just in general. I enjoy talking to people because I am genuinely interested in their thoughts and what they have to say. It is SO interesting. Learning how people think, what they value...I have learned so many lessons from doing that. Why should those that are hard on their luck be any different? Also, when a doctor takes the time to listen to a patient about why their cough is bad and how it feels, the doctor knows how to better treat the specific needs of that patient. Why would they prescribe a medicine if they couldn't figure out the systemic issue?

All great thoughts, twin. Now do you see why this was to long to put in the comment box? :)