Help the Poor: Introduction

I have been doing a lot of thinking over the past few years about Christians' relationship to the poor in our society. This is an enormous issue and I have tried to look at it from many different angles. I have been challenged by some good friends on this issue including my co-pastor with GCC (Ross Appleton), the husband of one of my wife’s college roommates (Ken McKeever), and the constant debate over this issue in the news. I am indebted to all of these insights. I am also grateful for the work that the McKeever’s do with the poor in our society and am thankful that the Lord has given them this special calling.

I am excited to get into this discussion and pray there is much dialogue on my blog about the issue. I have to admit that I feel like a novice in many ways with this issue, but also have confidence in the Scriptures and confidence in my personal experiences in dealing with the poor in our society. This leads me to the conclusion that my views and experiences are like everyone else’s in that they are limited. This causes me to be humble with this issue. This also leads me to the conclusion that my views and experiences and observations are valid and I should not buy into the lie that simply because I am a white middle-class male I should not have a voice regarding poverty in America. Nor should I discount the experiences that God has brought me through. This gives me confidence in dealing with this issue.

I want of state from the outset that I believe there is not one simple answer to this problem. It is not as simple as “They just need to get a job” or “They just need to stay in school”. It is also not as simple as “We just need to give less money to the war in Iraq and more to the poor” (“For war billions more, but not more for the poor”) (By the way this statement is factually not true and irresponsible for a minister to say it at a funeral). It is also not simply a problem of bad school teachers, schools, or parents. The problem of the poor is not simply a problem of the establishment holding people down. It is not simply a problem of corrupt governments nor is it simply a problem of racism. It is also not simply a problem of people having a “poor me” victim mentality. All of these are major parts of the problem to varying degrees. I am interested in discussing the degree to which each of these issues are really part of the problem.

In many ways I am beginning my journey with this issue. My stances might change over time; they also might become firmer than they are today. My hope is that you will engage with me concerning the relationship that Christianity and the Church should have with the poor in our society.

Please keep your comments gracious and towards solutions not simply talking point jabs. I am really interested in dealing with issue not simply trying to give credibility to someone’s already formed principles.