Reply #3: I don't recall that Jesus placed any conditions on charity.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

If someone is in need, you help them, period. And whether that's done individually or collectively (as by government) -- well, I don't remember anything from my Sunday school lessons about how it should or shouldn't be done, either. Just do it.

And if Coulter and the other wingers would read their New Testament a little more closely, they might notice that there are a number of references to how you should give all your belongings away, like this: "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me." (Matthew 19:21)

Of course, their position is that Jesus wouldn't want the government to "take people's money away from them" and give it to the poor.

Wouldn't he? He felt so strongly that the poor should be taken care of that he threatened damnation for those who refused to clothe the naked and feed the hungry (Matthew 25). Would he have objected to using the instruments of government to be sure the poor were taken care of? And didn't he say, "Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's

But, heck, I'm an agnostic, so what do I know? I'm a big fan of Jesus, though. Maybe a bigger fan than O'Reilly and Coulter, since I think people actually ought to do what he said: Help those who need help. No questions asked.