Tom Spence

PoMo Poverty Tom Spence

Time and time again we help people who are struggling by giving money or food or a ride. Time and time again they turn away from the people who helped them, away from God, and away from the church that paid their water bill and go right back to the lifestyle which enslaves them. Are people actually comfortable in their poverty? Is there nothing that we who have been blessed with abundance can do to fix the problem? The problem is that we try to fix the problem without ever addressing the problem. There will always be poverty so long as there is exclusion. Most of the time that we have donated food or money, we have also helped people in need continue to worship their false gods, be they self pity, a mindset of entitlement, or belief that they are a victim. The most valuable thing we can give is the bread of life and living water, and inclusion in the family of faith. In true Christian fellowship there are no outsiders. Finding abundance in this century is centered upon inclusion.