"Indeed, in a speech on 'The Problem of Poverty,' given at the First Social Congress in Amsterdam in 1891, [Abraham] Kuyper clearly and vigorously distinguished between the roles of the government and the church with respect to material assistance to the needy. 'Never forget,' he said, “that all state relief for the poor is a blot on the honor of your Savior.' Only after uttering such strong words did he add that only when all other institutions fail in their responsibilities would the state have a role as a refuge of last (and temporary) resort."

Read more: Jordan J. Ballor, Mlive.com