By that I mean simply - the more I learn the broader my vision of the world becomes. At the same time, the more I learned, I realize how connected we all are and how actions have impacts far beyond our national borders. In that sense, my world is bigger, but the world is smaller.
The lessons I've studied recently in Module 4 (lessons 13-17) underscore this point significantly. Through these lessons, I have examined wealth and poverty from a global standpoint. I've learned that the poor of Los Angeles would be the middle class in Calcutta. This is stunning to me.
My study program emphasizes development, so much of what I have studied presents different viewpoints on development. Many of these are new to me and I'm still processing them, and trying not to come to conclusions too quickly. But there have been some key themes that emerged in the study of wealth and development that merit sharing here.
- The industrialized countries hold 20% of the world's population, but consume 80% of the world's food. An interesting fact - but what do we do with that information. Bringing that into a healthier balance would be good for everyone - they wouldn't starve and we wouldn't overeat. But how does that happen? We know that forced redistribution isn't a viable long-term option (see: USSR). We could send massive quantities of food around the world, but that's relief - not development. How can we help them help themselves? And what about countries with poor soil - should we approach those differently. More questions than answers.
- Development problems are both spiritual and material. Often, physical problems have spiritual causes. And sometimes, addressing material needs opens the door to meet spiritual ones. But we have to recognize that the issue cannot be separated. The struggles of Israel in Judges would have looked to the outside rather material - wars, poverty, oppression. Yet we know from biblical revelation that they had spiritual causes. In today's world, the same is true. Not that every spiritual cause can be laid on those suffering - sometimes they are victims of another's sin. But separating the spiritual from the material causes is a western concept, not a biblical one.
- Incarnational mission will meet people where they are, in a manner that honors who they are - but will love them enough to move them beyond their present situation. That's what God did for us when He walked this earth.
- Development should consider how to be of, by, and for the people. If we truly believe in democracy, we should apply that to development. Often we do it "for them" (or worse, for ourselves). We need to come alongside and find ways to help them identify the need, be involved in the process of meeting it, as well as serve them authentically in a way that is truly "for" them. This can happen in a number of ways: micro loans; incarnational service; national involvement; grassroots opportunities. We just have to quit thinking of ourselves as the hero and see ourselves as a servant in God's kingdom purpose - leading the people to a better place materially and spiritually.
Note that this is different than relief. In urgent crises, relief is necessary. People have to survive before they can thrive. But relief can also be counterproductive to successful development. We should be wise about how long to extend relief and also seek to involve locals as much as possible. (For example, the IMB distributes food through local churches, who know those who truly need food and those who just take it and sell it on the black market. In contrast, some major secular relief organizations just open the back of a truck and give food to whoever is in line first - often the strongest who got there by pushing back the weak.)
- We cannot refuse to respond. Yes, indigenous involvement is important. Yes, we have to take into account ways to avoid creating a dependency culture. But God has always used instruments to achieve His purposes. In the case of Israel noted earlier, the judges were raised up as tools of God. Matthew 25:31-40 gives practical, not theoretical, ways to serve. As an article by World Relief noted, "God never intended for the righteous to sit idle while the restless poor struggle for survival." It would take $30-40 billion a year to meet the educational, health, and water needs of the entire world - and that's the amount spent each year on golf.
- Stewardship is vital. Obviously, we want to use funds wisely, so that we don't send $30-40 billion a year forever. That isn't healthy either. As we gain knowledge, we should pray for wisdom and look for organizations that are serving the grassroots level in ways that demonstrate successful development, not institutionalized programs. As Ralph Winter notes, "When the means to an end becomes the end, you are in big trouble." Watch your giving to assess whether the goals are being accomplished by the organizations you give to, or whether the means to an end has become the end.
Finally, I'll close with a significant quote from Lesslie Newbigin on having a Christian worldview. As someone who has focused much on theology but has been weak on practical application, I appreciate his message:
"The Christian story provides us with a set of lenses, not something for us to look at but to look through."
May we learn together to look through those lenses on a global scale!
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