For several years now, we’ve been engaged in a national, even global, conversation about “income inequality” and “The 1%.” Here are a few thoughts, as these conversations relate to the problem of Extreme Poverty.
Throughout Scripture, we learn that God has a special heart for the poor, the vulnerable, the oppressed... a concern that He expects His people to share. In Leviticus, God instructs them on how they can act on this concern: a wonderfully clear, simple prescription for how His people can show intentional, compassionate generosity towards the desperately poor.
This idea, that we are blessed to be a blessing, is a theme that is woven throughout the length and breadth of scripture – and, is one of the foundations upon which Givers by Design is built. Continue reading
This archive category will contain discussions exploring Christian foundations for generosity. Christian generosity has been described as living with an open hand as opposed to a closed fist — a relevant and convicting metaphor for a modern-day consumer culture characterized by independence, busyness, competition, and stress.Continue reading
Article Summary: Christians wishing to address the problem of extreme poverty by giving through their churches face twin challenges. First, are the projects they support truly effective? Second is the issue of dilution: Giving to a church’s general budget results, on average, in only 2% of the gift being applied to lifting those who live in extreme poverty out of their suffering. While acknowledging that giving directly to parachurch organizations with demonstrated expertise in this field is an effective and biblically sound option, this article makes the case that there are significant advantages to allowing and encouraging congregants to direct sacrificial contributions to these organizations through their local churches. Among these advantages are the revitalization of local congregations as they focus upon a purpose outside of and larger than themselves, and the enormous positive impact on the broader Church’s witness. Accordingly, this article advocates (and urges congregants to do the same) for the inclusion of carefully selected parachurch organizations within the local church’s framework of donor-directed giving opportunities.Continue reading