To contrast our view of development that we were exposed to with the Road to Hell (see post below), we had to read two books for today- Walking with the Poor and The Soul of Development. The former argues that transformational development (ie. transformation as physical, social and spiritual) is the best route to developing a nation. The second book was a case study about the correlation between evangelicalism and the more developed in Guatemala-- the author finds that the more nationals are committed to either evangelicalism or orthodox Catholicism, the more likely they are to experience some kind of economic stability. This is because they are more likely to give up alcohol, leave the fiesta system (which keeps people from acquiring wealth (an entire post on this system is brewing!!!) and other various factors.
Okay, so reading was fun...but today it led to discussion in class...
Walking with the Poor argues that poverty is the marring of identity and distorted sense of vocation and as such- anyone who experiences this distorted identity is truly poverty stricken. Since I've been thinking about poverty in this sense for a while-- I asked this question: aren't most people poverty stricken then??? This question was preceded in my mind with a question about liberation theology (which says that God has a preferential love for any person who is subjected to any system (political or social) that is oppressive and keeps them from freedom-- it also says that these systems should be destroyed- ie. stick it to the man!...except they aren't joking). It was also preceded by a question that simply asks-- who are the poor? are they people who don't have stuff?
So essentially I was wondering if-- when the prophets talk about the poor or when Jesus talks about the poor if he speaks in terms of 'marring of identity and distorted sense of vocation' or in terms of a people who are oppressed because of social/political systems that keep them from certain freedoms or opportunities (ie. poor are poor because they lack the freedom to choose differently). Or are they people who don't have stuff?
Okay, so that was long.
But seriously... what does it mean to be poor? I think the answer might be complicated... but that seems like a cop-out and I am not in the mood for copping out. If you have any thoughts I'd like to hear them...
In other news...the road trip home starts in 17 hours... and with 7 hours of sleep in there...its only 10 more! I've got a book on audio cd and some patty griffin to keep me company... hopefully I can avoid the state troopers this time and stick it to the man! (and that is a joke)
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5 comments:
Hey Chris
Looks like good stuff to deal with. I've always thought - coming up with a Salvation Army background - that Jesus mandate was to the economically poor...and of course this is relative to the society they(we) are living in.
But since I have been at Tyndale and had experiences working at the gateway, a short stint at 614 Toronto (an incarnational church plant in an economically poor part of Toronto) and street walks, I'm no longer sure what I think defines poor.
If someone makes $500,000 a year, pays a personal housekeeper, lives in Rosedale and then drives their BMW SUV to Finch station to jump on the tracks, are they rich?
If a single mom is collecting disability, popping anti-depressants, living in low-income housing and works hard to be a part of her community, contributing on the PTA, managing what she has well and engages in mutually benificial relationships with those people she comes into contact with, is she really poor?
I haven't read all that much on the definition of poor, but I would say that every facet of life has an element of 'potential poor'.
A person can be physically poor, medically poor, emotionally poor, psychologicall poor, spiritually poor...the list goes on. I think the level of poorness a person experiences is dependant on a whole wack of these things combined.
In a sense, the most real type of poorness is spiritual. In my undestanding, someone who is spiritually poor is in dire straights indeed. But note that I think spiritual poorness and the state of being 'poor in spirit' are different.
SO then what does Jesus mean when he says, "blessed are the poor in Spirit..." - - I wonder.
Good stuff to wrestle with CJL. Looking forward to seeing you soon.
Jay Locke
Dear Chris
Nice enough but not good enough.
Liberation Theology is not quite so simplistic. Did you ever watch the movie "The Mission"? Probably worth a watch.
And then there are the poor and those who are marginal (marginalized)
Having traveled lots I have met people who are very poor through no fault of their own. They are often Christian, happy, work hard (Protestant Work Ethic - unknowingly perhaps) People living along the shores of the Amazon River are very poor but have no criteria for comparison therefore often might wonder why anyone would want to live in Philli and attend Eastern when they could live in the centre of the world. That's right, most people see where they live as the centre and how they percieve life as the norm.
I have also met many people with adequate wealth and resources - Christian and non - who are basically unhappy, and bonko
Most evangelical Chistians might mean well but like the person living along the Amazon River bank see all of life from a personal view often without knowing of that which they speak. (not all but most)
Almost all poor in the world are poor because of where they were born. Not too many are poor because of choice. And the poor can work hard and be diligent, but the status of life can - if fortunate - rise maybe one level in a generation.
I would suggest that the rich become richer and the poor poorer. With a few exceptions only in North America and Europe do we have a middle class.
See you
Jay, I'm coming tonight!
anonymous... do I know you?
i'm not sure I was trying to be nice or exhaustive...
a couple things- you're right about liberation theology, my defintion was very simplistic-- it wasn't the point of my post. I have been meaning to watch "the mission" and now I'm more set on watching it.
I like your idea of distinction between poor and marginalised. That seems to be key.
you are right, there are probably millions of people who we think are 'poor' but are happy.
family setting does affect poverty ...agreed.
I suppose my question was more about a Biblical perspective-- who were the prophets and Jesus talking about? - the marginalised... is that what you're saying, since poverty is all about perspective?
Who are the poor?
The poor can be broken down into 3 categories
Material – Poor in terms of possessions and monetary resources
Social – Any one who lacks recognition
Spiritual – (in a Christian sense it means) those who lack a relationship with God
As it has already been stated those without money are classified as poor and it is this group that is most often thought about when the term poor is used.
Those who lack recognition are poor. This is quite often part of this group but that isn’t to say that this group has to be connected with the first. When I think of this group I think of a culture where women are to be second citizens or where children are sold to be prostitutes. In the western society it could the homeless, youth, those struggling with addictions, immigrants or those with mental disabilities. They are the people that have no voice or are not heard.
Spiritually poor are those who do not know God. They are ones who don’t know of the redeeming power that is offered freely by the grace of God through Jesus.
Who are the marginalized?
I believe the middle group is the marginalized, those who lack a voice or the ability to help themselves. Someone can grow up with little money (which in the western world will often limit but not restrict them) and still grow up to do or be who ever they choose. For the most part we live in a country that rewards those who work hard. What about those who lack the ability or the know-how? What about those who never learned? Those are the marganlized. In Jesus’ time who were the marginalized: the widows and orphans. The job of those here and now is to be the voice for those who are not heard and bring respect back to those who society disrespects.
To be poor in spirit.
Simply put, this is to admit our inability to love God the way he loves us and to admit our need of Him. It is an inward humility. I believe it is like saying that the poor are blessed. Most would think that comment doesn't make any sense. Why would someone with nothing be blessed? Because the less you have, the more you need to cry out to God. It is easy to fall into the trap of thinking that we don’t need God or his favor and love when we have everything but it is when we realize that we have nothing that we most feel our need for God. Thus blessed are the poor in spirit for they are aware of the own depravity and know of their need for salvation.
j
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