Evangelicals And Poverty
From left to right: John Edwards, Hillary Clinton, Jim Wallis, and Barak Obama.
Krista Tippett hosted Rev Jim Wallis on her Speaking of Faith program today. Jim is known as a progressive evangelical and author of God’s Politics: Why the Right Got It Wrong and the Left Doesn’t Get It.
God’s Politics a blog by Jim Wallis and friends
I loved this book when I read it. He wrote it after the 2004 election. Jim Wallis articulates what I have always believed - that God is not a Republican or a Democrat.
He contends on Krista’s show that as a nation we are on the edge of a new great awakening about the poor, the likes of which we haven’t seen since Martin Luther King in the struggle over civil rights. Jim contends that revivals of social justice are not possible without a revival of faith. He quotes Britian’s Prime Minister Gordon Brown as telling him that we have everything we need today to end poverty. We just lack the moral and political will to do it. And, he then looked at Wallis and said, “that’s your job.”
He goes on to say that Martin Luther King and others like him never endorsed candidates. Instead they started movements by building a base outside of parties and challenging them for their endorsement. They held each party accountable.
“If our Gospel is not Good News to the poor, it is not the Gospel”, says Wallis. “We don’t know poor people. They are segregated. Until poor people are our friends, there can be no revival.”
I really resonate with these last statements. City House is apolitical and it is not part of our mission to create or support some kind of revival. But, we are about creating relationships with the poor, in ways that nurture mutual spiritual growth and transformation. I truly believe we are part of some kind of movement of God’s work in the world. I just don’t always know what it is.
Other opinions out there about Jim Wallis?
February 29th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Hi Tom
Sorry to hear of your funding problems, it is not unusual.
I have looked at this picture and story several times plus heard John Edward’s remarks about homeless veterans when he was a candidate. I later learned that the biggest problem for most homeless is addiction and mental illness, not the economy as Edwards claimed. I have spent some time with the New Hope Center, a rehab for lots of people that have been homeless and been through rehab many times. They have a good success rate as I understand it. I think the challenge is there for the faith bassed community to solve these issues rather than government. Government cannot bring about any spiritual transformation and we don’t want them to do that. Most government programs become enabling programs rather the transforming programs that folks like New Hope provide. Success in rehab or most anything comes down to being willing to get help, taking it, learn from it, being transformed and then go forward. If social justice is defined as redistribution of wealth it will not work in the long run, but if social justice is defined as creating opportunity for all then all can succeed if they are willing.
God bless you in your work
March 2nd, 2008 at 7:31 am
Hi Rob,
Thanks for posting your comment. Thanks too for your compassionate response about our funding challenges at City House.
My own experience confirms what you have said - that among the homeless, addiction and mental illness are significant underlying causes.
I also agree that many times, our efforts to address societal issues has unintended consequences - like creating greater dependencies.
But, I would also say the same thing is true of the other point of view - that it too can creat unintended consequences. That is, assuming that total reliance upon the free market and the faith community to address most if not all societal problems also has unintended consequences. It can create a society of self centered, self absorbed people that have no sense of the common good.
I really appreciate your personal willingness to walk the talk and to get involved in the New Hope Center. I admire compassionate people who take a personal responsibilty for broader societal challenges.
Thanks again for posting Rob.
Tom