Why Help People in Other Countries?

I don't always write with a strong religious aspect, but this posting was in a religious forum.  The sentiment expressed was that people in the U.S. should not assist people in or from other nations, as long as there are people in need in our own nation.  This was my response: 

It's not "because" we help others. If we never sent another dime anywhere, would the government share that unsent money? I've never met a Christian who didn't express confidence that by following Jesus's teachings, there would be "blessings according to His riches and glory." How can we say we believe that while demonstrating fear that there are not enough resources to share? 

Then there's the story of the loaves and fishes, a pretty strong indication that with faith there will be enough of what is needed to take care of everybody. We're also called upon to be "good Samaritans." Samaritans were specified because they lived in a different nation. Then there's the "New Commandments," one of which is to love one another has He loved us (besides the call for charity, it also speaks to forgiveness). What constitutes a neighbor, you know the one we're supposed to love as much as ourselves? Do people cease to be neighbors when they live across the street, down the road a piece, across a line drawn on a map? 

The problem is not that we share. It's that we don't share enough. If people down the street are suffering, it's because we haven't stood up for them. Yes, there are people down the road that are suffering, and no, we haven't demonstrated our Christian principles and compassion toward them adequately. 

The government takes a more pragmatic approach to foreign aid. Most if not all of the money spent in other countries is to prevent conditions that lead to violent revolt, spread of disease, and other problems that in all likelihood would negatively impact the US. So, it's really a matter of spending some money there, or spending a lot more here, while dealing with more suffering here as well. 

Is the antichrist a person or a principle? Or is it a person who embodies the principle? If it's a principle, I'd call it a nationalistic compassion deficit. 

It's a small world, and getting smaller. If we turn our backs on either the poor in our country or in other countries, should we be surprised if God turns His back on us?

More on Forgiveness

I was raised in a disaster of a religion.  I spent time with rage and grief, having been so deceived.  I was physically, emotionally and sexually abused, and all of it was in one way or another linked to religion.  I also think I got off easy compared to many others who have endured much greater suffering in the name of religion.  

I also came to realize that my parents didn't know any better than to indoctrinate me per religious protocol.  I have a strong hunch that virtually all parents that subjected their children to the "religion treatment" thought they were doing the right thing.  

I think it's safe to say that Jesus was not a religious person, at least not in the way we understand religion.  Christianity and the Christian religion are two distinctly different things.  A vast number of religious people who claim to be Christians are unwittingly misrepresenting the teachings of Jesus.  

A truly inspired person (as In Spirit) learns to forgive these religious folks for their ignorance.  Keep in mind that there are many pure and wonderful souls who self-identify as religious.  

In Spirit forgiveness is very different than religion based forgiveness.  In order for religious forgiveness to manifest, judgment and or condemnation must precede it.  Scripture teaches not to judge.  Yet "christians" routinely judge who to forgive.  Often such forgiveness involves ego and a self-perception of piety, in fact it seems that for some, if they sense that this delusion of superiority will not be rewarded, forgiveness will be withheld.  

In Spirit forgiveness bypasses all that judgment stuff and focuses directly on what is needed for healing of individuals or circumstances.  Sometimes what is needed is not attainable.  In such cases, in Spirit forgiveness may take the form of doing what is possible to prevent further suffering or damage.  

One who strives to maintain an open and compassionate heart, may live in a state of "pre-forgiveness."  By that I mean that the individual maintains a peaceful, loving preparedness that allows her/him to look past offensive behavior to the source of the pain that led to it.  It's often said, forgiveness is not for the offender, but for the person doing the forgiving.  In Spirit forgiveness benefits both the offender and the offended.  Its effect reaches out far beyond anything we can imagine.  

Every instance of in Spirit forgiveness makes the world better, and alters the course of human history.  It may not appear to be making much of a difference, but the effect is cumulative, and gains strength exponentially as more people practice it.  

Such forgiveness needs to be self-directed as well.  Then we can become empowered by the scars of our past, and help us grow in compassion, empathy and wisdom.