“When you read Christian scripture, you find a continued mandate to care for those who are poor or on the margins of our society — to love your neighbor as yourself. People don’t end up on the margins because ‘God put them there.’ They are there, even if they’ve made some bad choices, because we as neighbors have failed to take the command to love and care for them seriously — to give them every window we can for a second, a third, a millionth chance to have the same opportunities for life, security, and happiness that so many of us take for granted.

Most people who are struggling today aren’t struggling because of choices they made. Often economic hardship is the result of things outside of a person’s control, like job loss, illness, or the place where they were born. It can also be the result of a culture that cares more about stock portfolios than people in need. I know the only reason I am where I am today is that I had a network of friends and support, including support from the government, that helped me up and showed me a path.

Jesus’ command to love our neighbor is at the heart of Christianity. More than 70% of Americans call themselves Christians. My question for each one of them comes from 1 John 3:17: “How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?”

Universal Basic Income is a beginning for followers of Christ, and all who believe in putting Humanity First, to begin to love our neighbors as ourselves and begin caring for and helping others the way we have been commanded.”

— Rev. Dr. Mark E. Mast, Pastor