Many people, especially in the church, labor under the false assumption that all of the issues associated with poverty could be solved if those of us with money were more charitable and if those without money exercised more personal responsibility.
This notion is rooted in a worldview that unduly elevates the importance of individualism while under-valuing the role of collective or community solutions and responsibility. Further, this perspective underestimates the power of systemic forces undergirding and guaranteeing poverty's perpetuation.
Most of the root causes of poverty cannot be overcome by well-intentioned, charitable people.
For example, the housing policy of the federal government affects millions of people. If funding is eliminated, curtailed or frozen for, say, the Section 8 voucher program, the sheer scale of the result would overwhelm any charitable response.
Issues of this magnitude require sound, fair and just public policy responses.
In the case of the Section 8 housing program, cutbacks actually affect affordable housing developers, as well as tenants. If development is not incentivised by initiatives like Section 8, market forces tend to take over, driving developers out of the business of creating this much needed housing stock.
It is curious to watch church folk organize, rally and lobby for pro-life issues related to abortion. It is clear pro-life advocates want a systemic, public solution to protect unborn children.
Many of these same people are quick to criticize government intervention to assure legal and systemic protection from the devastation of extreme poverty for the poor and their children who survive birth.
The problems associated with poverty and inner city communities cannot be adequately addressed without public sector involvement. Charity does not establish justice. Often charity turns out to be a rather sophisticated way for people with most of the power to maintain it while being congratulated for their community service.
Sorry to be so harsh, but I've been watching this awhile now.
At best charity provides a short-term, temporary response to the wounds of injustice.
Church people would do well to read again the book of Nehemiah in the Hebrew Bible. Here we observe a classic public, private partnership resulting in the renewal of an entire city.
Charity, no matter how well-intentioned, is never enough.
6 comments:
Another fine example of why Larry has been named the 2004-5 Agency Director of the Year for the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas!
Thank you for your leadership of our community and of our world, Larry. May God continue to bless CDM, and may His love continue to guide your work in our community.
you contrast between the church's response to what it clearly considers evil in abortion and what it apparently thinks is regrettable in poverty rings true. Thanks!
Your comments on Abortion and Poverty are so true. It should be on the front page of every paper in the nation and on every newscast on every channel. Christianity has been given a very bad name of late. Shame on all of us for not standing up and being counted for Jesus. Keep us the great work and get the Word out.
Judy
SLC
So true! I hadn't thought about the hypocrisy of church folk--especially these days--being so adamant about saying the government shouldn't be involved in our lives and shouldn't be responsible for people's survival while at the same time using and depending on the government to legislate their own moralities and agenda. I have, however, often thought about the hypocrisy of being pro-life only until the child is born.
My request is not for individual OR government charity for these children and adults...simply justice--in resources for inner-city schools, in adequate wages for under-educated workers, in affordable access to higher education, in adequate healthcare for hard working people, in respect and dignity for all citizens. Where are the church folk in advocating for those things?!
Actually, Scott, much of the current justice conversation is extremely simple and when it comes to economic policy from a biblical perspective the abortion matter is more complex than the poverty issue. History shows us that tax policy that benefits a larger range of laborers and wage-earners is more just and creates more jobs than the current policy that allows the mega-rich to walk while the poor suffer more and more. Nothing complex about that. The Hebrew bible makes it clear that God had in mind a systemic approach to economic justice--see DEut. 15 as just one example. The Bible is full of teaching about justice, poverty and oppression. There is not one verse on any issue related to abortion as such. There have been problems with some programs--humans tend to create such situations. There have been abuses, just as with market solutions and relationships (Enron comes to mind!). But there have been great successes and much progress. But we are now in a period of amazing regression. And most of it is the result of failed and flawed public policy.
No, no, Scott! I appreciate all that you have written! This is EXACTLY the sort of conversation that is needed. I understand your point and agree with most of what you said. It is just that I lay your words alongside what I know and see in churches in regard to poeverty, justice and even the simplest, most elementary understanding and concern for the poor and I get pretty cynical fast! Stay with me and keep talking! Love you heart and your head! Larry
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