Is Government Welfare Wrong?

Some Christians claim that taking care of the poor is for churches and individuals but not for governments. That’s in the Bible — not! God required Israel to collect a national tithe for the poor (Deuteronomy 26:12) as well as individual duty (Leviticus 19:19). God expects courts to treat rich and poor equally (Exodus 23:2-8; Leviticus 19:15; Deuteronomy 1:17; 10:17-19). The New Testament praises helping the poor (Acts 10:2-4, 31; Romans 15:26; 2 Corinthians 9:9; 1 John 3:17). After Constantine, when Rome became Christian, they found many principles of righteous government from the entire Bible, including Psalm 72, which holds national leaders responsible to defend the poor and rescue the needy.