One reader agrees with me:
I agree with your position about the Gospels not mandating a welfare state. Jesus seemed most concerned about what we were like on the inside, which is why the widow’s tiny donation to the poor of a mite – all that she had – was worth so much more than the very large donation of another. A welfare state attempts to care for the poor, but does so through compulsion. From the perspective of the teachings of Jesus, those who are compelled to "be good" aren’t really any better off than those who choose not to do good. In fact, some of his harshest attacks were for those who kept "the letter of the law" while not attending to those things which we have a difficult time measuring: kindness, generosity, forgiveness, love. Giving grudgingly is not following the Gospel message. Those who contend that the Gospel message teaches us to have a welfare state have uncoupled Christ’s teachings, choosing to obey – or, rather, force – one, and neglect the other.
It works the same on the right as on the left, of course. Compelling good behavior does not give us good people, for if the laws are ever removed the people will be as they always were. (I’m excluding children; raising children is a different – and difficult – matter.) It does not appear to be possible to force a man to heaven.
But boy how many have tried.
The Dish 