Can We Really End Poverty?
What thought comes to your mind when you read this?
We CAN end poverty.
While I think most people like the idea of fighting poverty when it’s convenient, I seriously doubt many of us actually think it’s beatable.
What if I told you I believed it is possible for the Church to end extreme poverty in our lifetime?
What If I told you I believed it is time for our low expectations in the church to change?
I know the statistics are staggering and at times overwhelming but here’s the amazing news: extreme poverty is ending. In just 25 years the percentage of people living in extreme poverty has been cut in half. (52% to 26%) And every statistic is showing momentum toward zero in our lifetime.
There’s an awesome new movement called 58. I don’t know if you saw the USA Today article on this Monday, but I’m so excited this is getting national headlines. It’s not about coming around a brand but under the only banner that really matters – the name of Jesus Christ. And so we are coming together.
Do me a favor and check this out. Just CLICK here for more information about 58. “Like” the facebook page and then RT this post. Let’s see if we can’t get behind this as a community.
We CAN end poverty.
Inspiring!
I absolutely believe this with you Pete! So excited to learn about 58. Thank you!! Rhonda
I knew you would love this Rhonda!
I’ve got to admit, I was a little suspicious when I read the article or rather the comments. Unfortunately, the term “social justice” has been hijacked by politicians and used to push the government to come in and save the day rather the Christ’s Church. And if we aren’t careful, we’ll let them pull us in a direction we don’t want to go in. We already had one political party use the church for it’s own purposes, let’s not make the same mistake with the other side. Make no mistake, they will use the name of Jesus and Christians to advocate their own political agenda every chance they get. It will be up to the Church to be unapologetic about helping the poor AND preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ which truly changes lives. This up and coming generation does care about the poor BUT they are also absolutely bold about sharing their faith. They have both going on and that’s what is exciting to watch
This is great! I totally believe that the world has the capabilities to end extreme poverty. It takes people who actually believe we can, and those who are willing to put the work in and make the sacrifices.
I would actually like to question your statistic about world poverty though. Though the percentages are correct, I think they are misleading. The percentage may have been cut in half, but the number of people living in extreme poverty is the same. That percentage is a product of an emerging middle class, and population explosion. There were only 2.5 billion people in the world in 1950. Right now there are 2 billion that live in extreme poverty!! So naturally the percentage has decreased (since we know 80% of the population wasn’t in extreme poverty in 1950), but poverty is the same or greater. Also of importance, the wealth gap between the poorest and the richest has SKYROCKETED.
All that to say, I completely believe ridding the world is possible in our lifetime (there are some really amazing predictions as to what that actually takes), but the journey is far from halfway done.
I work at the Savannah Bapitst Center where we see many homeless or poverty-stricken faces everyday, searching for answers. I’m so glad to hear about this movement! I pray it takes off in a very real way all around the world! It’s so easy for people to get caught up in their own problems, but when we take them time to look outside our church walls- we can see that our problems pale in comparison. It is like pulling teeth to get volunteers to help in our ministries. I don’t understand why other Christians cannot catch the vision. I hope that this 58 will be the start of something GREAT!! Thank you for posting this!
To be honest, I would be counted as one that thinks, beating poverty can not be done. It has been here since the dawn of time, and the need seems too great and my efforts so insignificant, but that has not stopped me.
After reading the USA Today article, I may need to rethink that paradigm. What I loved about the video was the staggering numbers presented about the church in the United States, and the question at the end…”What are we going to do with it?” This amazing wealth we have been given to the American Christian.
Maybe it is time to re-think, re-flect and re-pray my position and my part in the solution.
When we were in SA I actually got this question a lot. People asking if we were even making a difference or if it were possible to “change things” but I almost always replied that when we started that journey it was like the guy off of the Shawshank Redemption. Fairly early in the movie Red asks Andy about a tool he bought to make chess pieces and if he was going to use it to dig his way out of the prison. Andy laughed at him because the thing was the size of a tooth brush. But low and behold little by little he was able to dig a man’s size hole in the wall and after a while he was able to escape. At first it seemed impossible but with endurance and creativity the hole was made and he climbed right through. Sorry for the long story – but all that to say is that it is TOTALLY possible to end poverty. I’ve seen it.
I have a real issue with social justice. Jesus said, “the poor you will always have among you.” And we are to preach Jesus to the nations. I agree that with that preaching should come service and compassion. But “poverty” of wealth or food is not people’s problems; poverty of the soul is the world’s real issue, and the only one the Great Commission addresses. We can end “poverty” and still have a world going to hell. Which is God concerned with? Did Jesus come and die to end “poverty” or save peole from going to hell? Again, I’m not saying that when we preach and disciple we don’t feed people real bread along with the Bread of Life – just like Jesus did on the mountain. But food was never His focus. In fact when people began to follow him just for his miracles and food, he ran them off with hard teachings: Eat my flesh, drink my blood. He wasn’t into welfare. Paul didn’t go around trying to “feed” people anything but God’s word and will. He shared provision when he had provision, and he received provision – all for the sake of the Gospel. The Bible encourages us to change “nations” – you aren’t going to stop poverty in Africa, or anywhere else, without changing the leadership – they need Jesus. Paul had the aspiration to see Rome saved through the emerperor. It didn’t happen in his lifetime, but it happened. God honored his efforts to THAT end.
In order to share God’s word, we have to first find common ground and share heartfelt love. By aiding people in ‘wealth/food’ poverty we have a much bigger platform to change their HEARTS through our SERVICE. Service and love must come first before they’ll be willing to listen to what urged our hearts as Christians to love on them. which then ushers in the bigger issue of ‘soul’ poverty and the Word… God will hearts through serving those in poverty!
*open their hearts
I think it all boils down to the proclamation of the gospel along with the demonstration of the gospel. I think the thing that makes the 58: initiative unique is that all of the organizations that are a part of it are Christian organizations, that minister holistically to those suffering in extreme poverty, so they are ensuring that it’s not either or but both proclaiming the gospel and demonstrating the gospel. I’m so excited to see this message – I fully believe that I will be the last generation that bears witness to widespread extreme poverty. This is such an amazing opportunity for the church to rise up and be the best version of ourselves – compassionate, loving people in the pursuit of justice, healing and restoration, empowered by the Spirit, and following in the footsteps of our Saviour.
let me preface my comments by saying that — while i do not at all believe it’s possible to actually end world poverty — i don’t think this changes our responsibility one bit. we are clearly to help those in need. and please don’t dismiss my comments as someone who doesn’t care about the poor; i live in tanzania, east africa, for this very purpose, where i teach better agriculture practices and bible. but…
i don’t think this elimination of poverty is at all possible.
1. i’m with seth, who stated that the number of people in poverty has not at all been cut in half (due to population growth). i don’t know the numbers, but i’d definitely believe they’ve actually grown in the last generation.
2. i’d also argue that the numbers presented in 58 materials are misleading in that a death counts as one less person living in poverty. so lots of people dying of malaria, HIV, or diarrhea (the actual #1 killer here) actually lowers the number of people living in extreme poverty.
3. i tend to agree with God in isaiah 15, when he says the poor will always be among us — and then tells us how we are to treat them.
4. i also tend to agree with Jesus who is recorded in at least 3 of the gospels (ex. jn 12:8) as saying the poor will always be with us. [i do recognize the difference between "the poor" and those in "extreme poverty," the latter being the target group for 58 ministries.]
i read through the rough draft documents offered by 58 and am very interested in their work — would even be interested in partnering with them here in tanzania — but call me a pessimist, or a realist, i don’t think we’re going to eliminate poverty (especially when it seems we’re saying the number one thing we’ve got going for us is money). but i wholeheartedly believe we should do our best to help everyone we possibly can.
The poor may always be with us but our response to them is what counts. Here’s a great resource that’s not well-known that can put a big dent in malnutrition – http://www.projectpeanutbutter.org. I’m hoping to work with a local pastor in building a plant in Africa to manufacturer this product by the local people, for the local people.
That’s good news! But also “It is a POVERTY to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish.” -Mother Teresa
America is hemorrhaging 3,700 abortions per day, American citizens who never get a birthday or a “Choice” Complicit is a choice, and that is a poverty. Please help, please rally your congregation.Please pray.
YES! We can end poverty!
But we won’t. This is a pride-soaked world filled with self-obsessed idolators who place their needs above those of many of the needy around them.
That said, we ought do all we can to improve the lives of everyone that we can, whenever we can.
Thanks be to God that we have a Savior! We are really gonna need one!
I’m going to choose to believe in this too. I think when we say that this will never happen, we put limits on what we think God is capable of. We also squash hope, and without hope, why do anything?
Job 5:16 So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts its mouth.
Psalm 31:24 We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield
Matthew 12:21 In his name the nations will put their hope.
I love your attitude! I completely agree—we CAN end poverty if we join together and continue fighting in the name of the Lord. So many people believe that they are just one person and can’t contribute to the “bigger” causes, but that’s just not true. Thank you for this extremely inspiring and thought-provoking blog post.
I just started working for a fairly small Christian organization that aims to come alongside homeless youth in their journey to exit street life. One of the books I was given to read is titled: “When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty without Hurting the Poor and Yourself.” Really amazing insight I had not before considered in plain terms. Anyone pursuing the efforts of poverty alleviation should give it a read.
Lets do it!!!
I am not going to be very popular saying this but I think there’s enough food, enough water and resources to take care of everyone. But to make sure everyone gets their fair share, would mean an end to greed and corruption. It would mean a massive change in human nature. I don’t think this generation or any other can accomplish that. I think we can take a bite out of poverty. We can stop some of the injustices, I’m just not sure we can end it.
I was left with the question “Am I praying for the right things?” For the longest time I would pray for “my” will to be aligned with Gods will. That’s all fine I suppose, yet it doesn’t demand anything from me. Being a co-worker with God does. It suggests action. God HAS given us the resources to end extreme poverty in our generation and is looking to us to take the action to do so. I’ve since made a slight adjustment in my prayers and looking (fast)forward to the results.