Wired Word 10-4-10 Helping the Poor

The Big Questions

1. Do you agree that if the world's poor come up to Western economic standards, the impact will be unsustainable? Why or why not?

Yes. I believe even if the world’s poor do not change, the current Western economic standards are unsustainable. We consume and waste resources faster than the earth can produce them.

2. When you talk about "helping the poor," what do you mean? Giving them enough to survive? Bringing them up to your income level? Something in between? How do you think Jesus would answer this question?

I think of poverty as a situational and fluctuating condition and when I say ‘helping the poor’, I mean supplying material needs for another as you are able when you see the need. It seems sometimes large-scale, organized outreaches to people/areas with dire lack can supplant neighbor to neighbor charity. I think Jesus would say do the one without leaving the other undone.

3. What would a world without poverty look like? Everyone in the world living like we Americans did before the recession? The "American way of life" (if there is one American way of life) getting translated into something new that is "smaller" than what we have now? Something other, and if so, what?

Heaven

4. How will the kingdom of God be different from what we experience now? What will make it different?

“And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” Revelation 21:3-4

5. Quite apart from issues of sustainability, should following Jesus mean that we shouldn't seek an affluent lifestyle? Why or why not?

I believe as we grow spiritually, progressively taking hold of the joy, peace, goodness and so forth of life in the Spirit, we will desire affluence less. To me, following Jesus means that we seek to love God, to serve others and to place our material circumstances in His hands.

Jesus said, “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:31-33)