Many readers who drop in here continue to tell me that "the church should take care of the poor."
Usually, this sentiment is expressed in opposition to the notion that sound public policy decisons and government institutions must play a major role in addressing the large issues associated with domestic and/or foreign poverty.
For lots of people this question is fundamental and philosophical. Such a notion often reveals the sort of political theory that prevades many Evangelical churches.
Here is a fact: in 2005, churches provided just 4.2% of our total revenue.
So, I have some questions for church folk.
What percentage of your church's total budget goes to address the needs of the poor in your community? around the world?
What sort of programs or initiatives does your community of faith develop and offer in your community? Are they project oriented? Or, do they result in long term commitment to communities of need?
How does your church respond to the health care needs of the uninsured, working people in your community? How many low-income persons receive health insurance coverage from your community of faith?
How does your church respond to the affordable housing needs of your community? How many units of affordable housing did your church develop last year? What are your plans for the future?
What does your church do to assist working people improve their skills so that they can command better wages in return for their work?
Does your church provide comprehensive, social work case management for the poor who show up at the door of your sanctuary?
What programs has your church developed to be present with children in after school situations, especially in the low-income neighborhoods in your community?
How has your church responded to the mental health needs of your community? Has your church developed and offered drug and addiction treatment programs to your community? How many mental health professionals are on your church's staff?
What sorts of programs has your church developed to meet the child care needs of two-income, working families? Of families headed by single parents?
What does your church do to assist low-income, working families with rental and utility assistance? How many of these families do you serve annually?
What level of scholarship assistance does your church offer to students seeking higher education opportunities from low-income families? What sort of mentoring, after school and academic advancement ministries does your church offer the community? Does your church offer any college prep courses (pre-SAT, etc.) for low-income students?
Does your church or faith community have a plan to assist low-income working people with dependable transportation?
How often at your church do you receive training for addressing the daily needs of the poor and the homeless in your community?
Serious students of poverty and life in America will reach the conclusion that churches and other faith communities are simply not up to the comprehensive challenge of addressing the multiple problems facing poor persons and families in the United States without public assistance.
To be sure, churches have an important role to play (likely material for a future post).
But, poverty will not be overcome by the efforts of private sector players alone. What is needed is a multi-faceted assault on poverty with sound and aggressive public policy solutions playing a very large role.
15 comments:
Let's see . . . we do have a counseling center, staffed by licensed counselors, where you can pay on a sliding scale; and scholarships are available for those who can't pay. That a good start?
IBreak -
Maybe you can elaborate a little more, because I don't see how God's covenant with Abraham translates to a political mandate for what government is allowed to do.
In regards to the Law, I think all of it was compelled -- it was probably just more popular to stone someone for an improper sexual relationship than it was for not giving your land back to the original owners every 50 years.
I think God reacted plenty in the OT to people who were doing the form of worship, but not being compelled to "live" it (including the care of the poor).
Churches need to step it up and give WAY more than they do. We need to stop building 10 million dollar buildings and start hitting the streets. No more excuses!
By the way, Larry, I appreciated your words from the interview yesterday. (And you looked good, too :)
Interesting that people on here comment about how the church should do more, but your blog campaign hasn't added a house in some time.
Interesting that people on here comment about how the church should do more, but your blog campaign hasn't added a house in some time.
Justin, interesting comments. You wish the church were better, don't you? Somehow you want to defend the status quo, especially as represented by your parents and their friends. I am wondering what the messages of Amos, Micah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, James or Jesus might have sounded like if they had taken the advice you gave to Larry???
Maybe people are just not into helping the poor really. Maybe they judge that poor people are in the shape they are in because they are evil or stupid or lazy? Just a thought.
Josh P.
I was told on my blog that Barna reports the average church spends less than 5% of its annual budget on the poor.
All we to do is wake up. If you are a Christian, read the NT and discover what God really wants to do. It is LOVE. LOVE everyone. Help those who need help.
I know a former elder in the church that resigned and began to give away his money. Now, he started a business and make his money from honest business methods and hard work. His daughter asked him one Sunday afternoon about their expensive car and some people had old cars. He began to pray about this. In a few weeks, he began to give his money away and resigned as elder. He said he felt that he missed the point of the teachering of Jesus.
It makes you think and study a little more about Jesus. Start with Sermon on the Mount (Matt:5) or (Luke 6:17-49). You might look into 1Cor:13.
I think the real question is how much am "I" or "you" doing individually to help the needy.
If we all helped one as Mother Theresa encouraged us to do, oh what a transformed world we would live in.
Seems to me too many folks waste too much time trying to talk government and agencies into doing the work "they" should be doing.
Snapshot, thanks for your comment.
Actually, what we need here is the funding and support of a broad-based community response.
That could be from the church community, but there are just two problems with that. First, the church seems to have other priorities that exhaust most of its resources. Second, the scale of the problems call for an even broader base of support.
So, we argue for public policy that would fund the work that we and other organizations like CDM are trying to do. It is not a matter of what "they" or "you" aren't doing. It is a matter of helping fund what needs to be done in the city.
If by your comments you mean that just individual action--without thought to organization or coordination--will solve the problems of poverty, I believe you don't understand the scope of the complexities of the issues involved.
That said, we certainly do need more individual involvement in collective, community action.
Thanks again, Larry, for speaking straight. I am not sure what Justin's intent was when he questioned comparing you to the prophets and our Lord, but I think there is precedence in the beatitudes that says you are blessed when reviled, for that is how they treated the prophets (loose paraphrase)...so if the shoe fits...
What if we challenged the church with a baby step of doubling the 5% figure. That shouldn't be too scary.
What do you think of the reticence (I see) in the conservative congregations that see collective programs as akin to a social welfare system they feel is bloated and rife with misuse. Do you think it is worth addressing that concern? Or just consider it the excuse to not give a hand, and not address it directly?
The church is the body of Christ. The body should do what the body did... give itself for the world -for the poor and the captive etc... Otherwise it is not the body, at least not Christ's.
I would not expect too little from the church. Christ's body is the answer to the world's problems. However, until the body gets on board.... I think Larry is right to expect help from elsewhere, and that is a shame on the church.
Put up or shut up. And that sounds as prophetic as Amos and the gang to me. If Larry is not measuring up to prophets and Jesus, it is because he aims too low, not because he is not worthy or whatever.
Keep up the good work in Dallas. Many of us who read this blog are learning, growing and being challenged.
Many blessings...
Anonymous 7:00 p.m., thanks for the post. Yes, I think it is worth the effort. What most don't understand is how demanding the program administrators are. In addition, much of the funding can flow toward organizations like ours so that the accountability is very close to the street. I think people just don't understand how things can work.
Mike, thnaks for your thoughts.
Our church gives 10% of it's budget back monthly to non-profits in the community that provide free services (women's shelter, food bank, homeless clothing center, etc.)
After that, we spend $900 a month on a building and try to run our ministries on donations by members when things are needed. We don't have a fancy set up and all people aren't attracted, but our congregation is struggling because we've got a lot of families and individuals attending who can't give anything other than their smile and a hug, but I'm learning that it's cool.
I would say 35% of our budget goes to helping people with light bills, food supply, non-profits in community, and impovershed peoples.
Wish we had a bigger budget, 35% of $35,000 for an 80 member church isn't the best, but we're doing what God's called for us to do.
Drew, thanks for the post and thanks for the work of compassion and engagement that you and your church are up to!
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