Poverty II

Was just watching Bill Cosby on TV talking about encouraging disadvantaged people to be somebody. And it seems like he is working on this personal responsibility piece of the poverty equation. And it's amazing the kind of resistance people put up (or at least the kind of resistance Paula Zahn of CNN kept quoting, anyway). But really, what's so bad about encouraging people to be their best selves? Being a victim of circumstances does not take away your ability to act.

Of course, it can limit knowledge, choices, and self-esteem.

So how does real change come about? Both at the macro and the micro levels. And christians concerned about poverty will work at both ends of that spectrum.

I think we're in a particularly good position, in some ways, to do this. First of all, God's with us. Second of all, a community is both a source of nurture and a source of strength--a church can help people make better choices, and it can work for change on a society-wide level.

I appreciate what Shannon said in response to my last post--she wishes churches would get moving and start acting. There are at least two things to address, however:
1. Focus. Poverty is such a large problem it's impossible to address the whole thing. So finding a place for focus and passion is necessary.
2. The church's tendency to preserve itself. This is true of any organization--they are first built to achieve a goal, but the process of maintaining the institution can get in the way. Church can become another way to maintain the status quo.

This are both difficult problems, and not easily overcome. But if your calling is to be a christian, then this is part of that call. A christian's relationship with God is not soley for their personal benefit, but so that they can help make a difference in the larger world.