Instructor: Warren Stamp, MDiv.,M.S.W.
Scriptural References:
Old Testament: Book of Proverbs , 6.11 ,10.15 11.24, 13.18, 20.13, 23.21, 24.34, 28. 19-22 K.J.V.
New Testament: 2 Corinthians 8.2,9
“This Administration today, here and now declares unconditional war on poverty in America, and I urge the Congress and all Americans to join me in that effort. It will not be a short or an easy struggle, no single weapon or strategy will suffice, but we shall not rest until the war is won. The richest nation on earth can afford to win it. We cannot afford to lose it.” Lyndon Baines Johnson, 1964
Introduction:
What is a working definition of poverty? How many people live below the poverty line in the United States? Ct?, Fairfield County?, Monroe? Who is affected by poverty in the Bible?, in modern times?
Poverty is a serious national and global problem. The literature on this subject is overwhelming. Therefore, I chose to narrow my scope, to the subject of poverty in the United States.
Webster’s dictionary defines poor as “having little or no money, goods or other means of support.” Eerdman’s Dictionary of the Bible defines poverty as, “lacking material goods, honor and power.” From his economic classic, The Wealth of Nations, Adam Smith defined poverty as a “lack of those necessities that the custom of the country renders indecent for creditable people, even of the lowest order, to be without.” What would these necessities be? How about food, clothing and shelter? Any absence of any one or all three necessities causes emotional stress on the individual and the family. To further understand the picture of poverty in America, let us view these sobering statistics.
The recent Census (2004) estimates that the United States had a total population of over 300,000,000 million. Of that total number, 37,000,000 million Americans are living at or below the poverty line. This is 12.7 percent of the total population. The poverty line criteria is established by the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C. Each state establishes its own poverty line criteria. In 2004, the Federal poverty line threshold was $9,827 for any individual under the age of 65. In 2004, the Federal poverty line was $19,157 for a family of four. Let’s reduce the lens to the state of Connecticut, one of the wealthiest states in the United States.
In 2004, the estimated population for Connecticut, was over 3,000,000 people. The census estimate for Connecticut residents living at or under the poverty line was 315,000 or 9.1 percent of the total state population. In Fairfield County, one of the richest counties in the United States, 76,000 or 8.5 percent of the population was at or below the poverty line. What about Monroe? In 2000, Monroe had a total population of 19,247. Of those 19, 247, about 1.8 percent of families and 2.6 percent of those under the age of 18, lived in poverty. Folks 65 and over experienced a 5.5 poverty rate in Monroe, Connecticut. Who are these people? They are our neighbors. They are our friends.
Biblical Discussion:
Old Testament:
There are several interconnected themes found in the Old Testament regarding the poor and the subject of poverty. Mark Rank, in his book One Nation, Underprivileged writes, “To begin, there is a strong sense that it is God’s will for those in a community to help the poor.” (Deuteronomy 15.7-8) In addition, there are passages that detail the obligation and responsibilities of the ruler towards the poor. (Isaiah 3. 13-15) The ruler is seen and viewed as an advocate for the poor. Those who care for the poor, “follow in God’s footsteps”. (Psalm 111.9) “Finally, Rank concludes, the poor are seen as blessed in the eyes of God, and hence they will receive their just rewards.” (Proverbs 28. 6)
The word poverty is found in the Old Testament 12 times. Eleven of these occurrences are in the book of Proverbs. Poverty is a translation of the Hebrew word yiwaresh, “to be poor, to come to poverty.” The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia writes, “Four different Hebrew words are used in the 11 references in Proverbs, all bearing the idea of being in need of the necessities of life although a distinction is made between being in want and being in extreme want.”
New Testament:
The New Testament continues themes found in the Old Testament. There are differences however. In the New Testament, Jesus and his disciples convey God’s message. In the Old Testament, the prophets are the voices of God’s wisdom. Jesus is born in a stable, not a palace. Jesus is a carpenter by trade, not a king or a ruler. Jesus’ message gives power to the powerless. Hope to the hopeless. Another theme in the New Testament is the Golden Rule. Love your neighbor as yourself. Treat others as you would wish to be treated. The qualities of mercy, kindness and compassion permeate the text. (Matthew 22. 34-40) Finally, the New Testament warns of the dangers of wealth. (Luke 18. 22-25) There is the story of the rich man/rich ruler. “Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” (Luke 18.25)
In the New Testament, the word poverty is found in the text 3 times. Two of these uses are found in 2nd Corinthians, written by the apostle Paul. The word poverty, used from the Greek, is ptocheia , “to be reduced to a state of beggary or pauperism.” The commentary suggests a review of the references for poor, as the Greek root for poor is ptochos, which implies a spiritual deficit, rather than simply a material one.
Warren Copeland, from his book, And the Poor Get Welfare: The Ethics of Poverty in the United States, offers a clear synopsis of the Judeo-Christian perspective concerning poverty and the poor. He writes, “To be specific about the issues of poverty within the Christian tradition, there can be no doubt about its religious status. Indeed, of all contemporary public issues, historically the Christian Scriptures and Christian churches have been the most clear that poverty is a religious issue. In the Hebrew Scriptures, kings were judged on how the poor fared under their rule; prophets focused on the gap between the rich and the poor as a reason for God’s judgment. In the Gospels, Jesus associated himself with the poor and offered little comfort to the rich. The early churches raised funds to aid the poor among them. Again and again ever since, official and ethical statements by the churches have centered on the issue of poverty. The overall thrust of this tradition is to place God’s presence with the poor and God’s judgment upon the affluent who misuse or ignore the needs of the poor.”
Discussion Questions:
1). In your activities today, how have you encountered poverty, or how has poverty approached you today? How did you feel or not feel?
2). The story of the rich man/rich ruler (Luke 18. 22-25) presents a challenge for Christians concerning wealth, our relationship towards money, and our response to the poor and the subject of poverty. If you were a church leader, how would you approach this text?
3). Remember, every little bit helps. What realistic steps could you take to combat poverty in your town, state, U.S. and the world?
Websites of Interest:
U.S. Census Bureau: ask.census.gov.
United Church of Christ: www.ucc.org
National Council of Churches: www.ncccusa.org
For further reading:
1). Copeland, Warren R., And the Poor Get Welfare: The Ethics of Poverty in the United States. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1994
2). The New York Times Magazine, June 10, 2007. “John Edwards War on Poverty.”
3). Rank, Mark R., One Nation Underprivileged, N.Y.,N.Y. Oxford University Press, 2004
4). Shipler, David K., The Working Poor. N.Y. N.Y. Vintage Books, 2005
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8 comments:
1. I had a really interesting conversation with my daughter this morning as she got ready for school. You may have heard that Extreme Home Makeover recently redid a house in Bridgeport. Last month's Steeple had an article about Habitat, comparing the statistics of families served. I was shocked to learn about a 7k chandelier installed in this home, knowing from David Kingsbury how much more could be done with taht money. I know we're talking about US, but that would build 2.5 homes in the Oaxaca dump. My daughter, who loves to call it like she sees it, is rather appalled. Why such excesses when so much more can be done to relieve folks who are on that poverty line (health care for low income children and heating fuel for overburdened seniors comes to mind). I see people struggling all the time, which is difficult to emotionally handle some days. Fortunately, I also take hope in the charge given by Christ to work with people and agencies that make a day to day difference in the lives of my neighbors. Remembering that it's about real people, I go sit down at St George's and listen.
2. Great question. And a difficult balance. How do we speak truth to power but on the other hand not browbeat those who are better off and/or have worked hard for what they have? I think about money not being the indicator of success, a rich man can have it all and still be empty inside - spiritual poverty is what many people suffer from. Giving of yourself and your resources is one way of being a spiritual whole person. Not becuase it makes you feel good inside (as it often does), but because it brings you closer to God and neighbor. Jesus shocked people when he asked them to give up everything and follow him - some did, others just couldn't imagine disconnecting from a wealthy lifestyle. Can we be a prisoner to our own wealth?
3) Publically, I participate in events and encourage others to do so: CROP walk, Monroe Food Pantry, Habitat, Casa Hogar. I'd like to get more politically involved, but partisan stuff REALLY frustrates me. Privately, my family particpates by giving money to non-profits working to end poverty and related issues, for instance, we sponsor a child in Africa.
In the beginning of the Extreme Makeover show, I loved watching the crew transform truly deserving people's lives. But after its initial success, the show's focus changed ... it's become painfully commercial (endless brand names are prominently displayed) and about excess. I agree with Katie that it's gotten so far out of control and that the money the sponsors spend on elaborate and ostentatious (sp?) homes could do a lot more good elsewhere. But, it has done some good in creating awareness of what can be done for a neighbor in need. There was an article in the Post this week about a group of people who were getting together to work on a house that needs more than the owner can give.
Jenn's #2 comment has an interesting point that I'd love to explore ... How do you all feel about publicly proclaiming how much you "give" vs. just doing it? In other words, do you ever see instances where people donate specifically to get their name on a plaque, or in a bulletin or some other public venue? I had conversation with Pam and Trees about it and I'd love to hear other's opinions and/or observations.
Jan
I recently had a similar experience through the Food Pantry. The organization "Feed the Children" teamed up with WEBE 108 and WICC to hold a radiothon to raise money for food and toiletry items for needy families in the greater Bridgeport area.
All of the area pantries and soup kitchens meet regularly at the Council of Churches offices and they agreed to facilitate this distribution.
We knew from experience that there's a better way to distribute food than to have 10 semi trucks come to Bridgeport and have needy families come to the trucks to receive food. But we were told that if we wanted to participate in this opportunity, we had to follow the rules set forth by Feed the Children.
Unfortunately, they broke every one of their promises on distribution day. They did not bring the amount of food they promised, they did not allow cars to pull up to the trucks to get their boxes -- instead thay made people park and walk to the trucks, making it possible for the media to take pictures of people who were supposed to have remained anonymous.
I could go on and on with horror stories from the day, including a mob mentality erupting and people getting trampled.
However, my point is how disgusted I was by the self-serving mentality of the Feed the Children organization. Can't you just picture the smug looks as 10 semi's rolled into town to "save the day!" The families that I sent from Monroe were hurt, humiliated and some left emptyhanded because, after using what little bit of gas they have, were not willing to put themselves in this situation.
Giving is not about us. Giving is a response to God's blessings in our lives. It's a way we can show gratitude.
Now I'm worked up enough that I'm going to call my credit card company and refute the charge for the donation I made to Feed the Children on the radiothon day. Wish me luck with that one! But at least I'll feel better if I try.
Jan - on the public vs. private front, I think it has to do with the heart of the giver and the reason why they'd share that information. If the "publicity" has to do with tooting our own horn, we should keep amounts private. However, if there are organizations we give to that telling our personal story of why we gave makes a potential difference in the generosity of others, that's another story. Sometimes it can sound like bragging, other times it's worth telling the story. For instance, I pledged a tithe of my first year's salary as a pastor to the Silver Lake "Now for the Future" Campaign. I did this because Silver Lake is a really important place to me - it's where I first heard the call to ministry. More than any other place, Silver Lake has made me who I am. I told that story at Morning Circle, because sometimes our giving story is also personal testimony.
But yep, I've definately heard stories of folks being incredibly generous ONLY if they can get their names on things. It used to happen MUCH more in the 50's/60's, in fact, it was QUITE common. Probably has something to do with easier access to wealth, post wwII economy boom. For the very first time, many folks could be benefactors!
Pam - Good decision! I was at an Outreach meeting last night and that is exactly the kind of mindset David and I see in appeals from some mega-non-profits. It's quite sleezy, actually. Christ gave without making folks do a walk of shame and we should do the same!!!
Pam: What an terrible example you experienced! Certainly the organization did not think any of it through before making decisions! I wonder if the radio stations have a clue on how it was mishandled? Good luck with the credit card company - let us know how you make out!
On a different note: some of the Bible selections seemed to say that if you work hard, you'll never be poor, or that if you're poor you must be lazy. In this day and age, we know that is not true. Many circumstances beyond our control can contribute to difficulties: disease, death, loss of employment, etc. Were these selections taken literally at some point? Or were they supposed to be taken figuratively? There were several, so I wasn't sure.
Hi:
On the 'feed the children'. I was there and would still donate to that organization. There were 2 kind of people in the organization. the blue shirted people who actually came with 'feed the children' were excellent hard workers and pretty good at crowd control. And the white shirted volunteers. i think the communication broke down with the bridgeport people not the 'feed the children' people. when i told a blue-shirted person that we were from the monroe food pantry he immediately put aside how much i asked for saying 'you have a good organization for distribution - we'll take care of you first'. i don't think it is the radio and tv stations either. i saw no pictures being taken and i was there from 1 to 2:30. there were many volunteers with white t-shirts and i think there were too many of them and they had not been trained or been selected by the 'feed the children' people. where they distributed was an open area with a 5 ft fence around it. well apparently very much in the beginning people were just taking things and handing it over the fence and leaving their cars. when the police saw that, they did not want anyone to be driven over with cars going helter skelter and people running around. So the police banned all cars from the wide open area and directed traffic on the streets. i think the only thing you could do in this case is blame the people who should have organized bridgeport. crowd control is very difficult and when people get something for free it becomes a frenzy quickly. the distribution should be organized by americares or by a disney group, but i think feed the children does not have the extra funds to also do the crowd control. hopefully next time is better.
FYI: www.charitynavigator.org will compare charity organizations. Americares, Feed the Children, CWS all have 4 stars, the maximum rating. Habitat for Humanity of greater bridgeport is not listed.
My life today is about teaching my children that we are so blessed and to always appreciate what we have. I try to do this by explaining to them how people in other places have so much less than us and to encourage them to find ways to help.
Just the other day, we were waiting for more than an hour to see a doctor for our baby's cold. My 4 year old was pretty patient but as the hour rolled on she was tired of waiting. I explained to her that in some places, people wait days to see a doctor. And, that might be after first walking for days to get to the hospital. She was amazed and asked me several times again throughout the next few days to explain about doctors in other countries. I think that it is so easy to have a sense of entitlement in the culture we live in and I am always striving to have gratitude... it's not easy when the little voice is always speaking of what I want!
We try to participate in food drives (there's one this Saturday Oct. 27 by the postal workers in Monroe.. just leave food by your mailbox.)
I do believe though as Jesus said that the poor will always be among us. Still, we must do what we can to help those in need b/c giving even one person hope is a worthwhile venture and something that brings us closer to God.
Angela
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