Dealing with Global Poverty

Rather than cite the tragic statistics about global poverty or give a list of 20 things we can do to get involved, I want to instead offer a look at the cause of global poverty from a uniquely Christian perspective. How does God see the problem? How did our world get broken in this way, and how can Jesus people live differently and create an impact?

What is broken: our unity
If the whole earth was to be stewarded and developed by the whole people for the good of the whole planet (Genesis 1:28), how did we get so unbalanced? Like kids taping a line down the middle of the backseat, we have built walls to separate ourselves. The Great Wall of China. The Berlin Wall. The border fence between Texas and Mexico.

Of course, God knows that "nation will rise against nation." But Scripture tells us that the multiplicity of rival nations is a consequence of sin (Gen 11). God furthermore promised to redeem this lack of unity.

The point of the "good Samaritan" parable is it's racial twist on a border story: it would be like an illegal Mexican going out of his way to help a dying Texas rancher. In Christ, the walls are completely removed (Eph 2:14-15). Although of course, we often still behave as if they aren't. It's incredibly difficult to overcome generations of division.

A story about inequality of privilege
It would be easy to say, "Let my sisters and brothers on the other side of the wall have food. Or clean water, or a voice in how their country is run." But often, they just don't have the opportunity.

NPR recently aired a Marketplace story called "Rwanda is in women's hands." 1994, 1 million people, mostly men, died during the Rwandan genocide. When it was over, 70% of the people left in the country were women. The gender imbalance has allowed women to make ground-breaking changes in the country. Women can now inherit land, they hold high positions in government, and today half the Parliament is women (the highest percentage in the world). These women are changing Rwanda for the better, making food and education for their children a priority. God has brought incredible change for the good out of this tragedy.

Jesus people are called to act to restore unity and equality of privilege, to speak in the face of injustice. Let it not take more Rwandan genocides (or Darfurs) before we are able to have an impact for the good.

So, should rich Christians become poor?
We know to "store our treasure in heaven, not on earth." We know to put devotion to God's rule above material things. We know we "can't serve God and money at the same time." And Jesus definitely invited many of his followers to give up everything to follow him. But Jesus didn't tell all his followers to get rid of all their possessions. Joseph of Arimathea "a rich man" and "a disciple of Jesus." Zaccheus was a wealthy tax collector who gave half his possessions to the poor. But he kept the rest! And Jesus said "salvation had come to him." So the scripture does not establish the case that all Christians should become materially poor.

Should rich Christians stay rich?
Some churches teach that wealth is the clear outcome of following Jesus. This so-called "prosperity gospel" (usually based on Deut 28:8,12) omits some important biblical understandings.

1. The biblical principle that the earth is to be developed for the common good, and it's riches shared with all humankind.
2. The OT economy which promised wealth ALSO commanded the care of the poor.
3. And there is a parable about a rich man who went to hell NOT because he was rich, but because he consistently ignored the beggar at his gate.

In the end, the Scripture warns us of the danger of riches, and teaches us to practice generosity with our wealth (1 Timothy 6:17-19). Of course, that will result in a lowering of our standard of living. God calls us to live simply by giving all we can.

A Prayer for Change:
Creator God, help us to see clearly how rich those of us reading this post and hearing this message are. Help us call one another to account for our brothers and sisters here at home and around the world who live in dire poverty. Open our hands to share our resources freely. Open our ears to hear not only the cries of our brothers and sisters around our communities and around the globe, but open our ears to hear your direction. Grant us the wisdom and the courage to take the first small steps toward change. Amen.