Poverty and Politics
The left and the right positions on poverty are both a cop-out, to avoid dealing with the deeper issue.
The left assumes that a bit more tax on the rich, a couple of laws and a few extra programs can solved the problem. That is totally unrealistic. Dealing with poverty requires personal commitment and a huge amount of sacrifice. Governments programmes just do not have the capability to get the job done, no matter how much they tax the rich.
The right wants the government to keep out, but they forget that the government has got in, because Christian are not doing the job that they are called to do. Create a community where wealth flows down to those at the bottom who are struggling, and the government would not need to be there.
I find it odd that Christians keep looking over the fence for a solution to poverty, when the grass is greener on our side.
The free market is great for producing goods and services effectively through the division of labour and economies of scale. This benefits everyone by making the things that they need cheaper to buy. However, those who produce most effectively are rewarded with growing incomes, while other people are left at the bottom of the heap, so free markets cannot eliminate poverty.
Government programs to deal with poverty have been expanded now for more than sixty years, but the problem is getting worse, because the solution is personal. Government bureaucrats simply do not have the wisdom, love, discernment, compassion and commitment that is required.
The gospel is the best solution to poverty. Mary understood this (Luke 2:53) and the early church seemed to see the results (Acts 4:34). Christians should stop arguing about whether government or market is best for dealing with poverty and get on with the good news.
I have described some of the ways that the gospel works for the poor at caring for the poor.
2 comments:
While I agree the christian community can and should do a lot more... government should not be let off the hook to do whatever they please. The free market is not free, it is infected by corruption and greed. Hence why our cheap products come at the cost of someone else out of sight, perhaps in another country.
Military action and empire building is necessary for free market to work in favor of certain wealthy nations. Add to that an over developed sense of entitlement and people wanting more than their fair share is hurting us all. Those are issues the church should speak into, unfortunately though the church isn't modelling a better way for the most part.
I do think the grass can be greener on our side, but reality is different. The church is infected by greed, self preservation and in the west a warped idea of puritan work ethic and individual initiative.
All the things you mentioned about lack of love, wisdom, discernment, compassion etc I see in the western church though i wish it were not so.
We need to be precise about terms. A market that is infected by corruption is not free. If military action and empire building are benefiting wealthy nations we have a manipulated market not a free market.
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