Seeking a Biblical and Efficient Way of Fighting Poverty

         It seems there's a lot of burdening and delaying debates within the American churches right now about why/how to combat poverty. Sometimes the call is a just brushed off as a political agenda or a guilt-trip. Others wonder what the government's role should be (if any), while others argue if the amount of doctrinal/evangelical content in the charity. Still others check motives for potential egoism. Some people are just too intimidated by the daunting call. 

          I give props to the latest issue of Christianity Today, particularly how, in the cover story, these questions are well-answered and we can be rightfully inspired.

          
          "The church can never match the sweep of national and global initiatives. But if the poor will be with us always, until the Second Coming, it is also true that bureaucratic and impersonal government will be as well. When it comes to caring for people as individuals in their uniqueness, the government is the clumsiest tool imaginable.

          "Ah, but people—those precious individuals embedded in a unique family and community—they are right in the church's sweet spot. No government can touch what the church can do here.

          "So while the government makes needed sweeping changes, the church is there to pick up the inevitable pieces of people trampled by government regulations, of people who get left behind, of people whom the government treats as mindless sheep, but whom the church knows have a Shepherd."

          

          You can read the rest of the story here.