Poverts for Jesus
July 31, 2009
The word "povert" was coined by Lewis Bulkeley 25 years ago. He used it to refer to Christians who are poor and proud of it. I have discussed the outlook of poverts here
One of my afflictions in life is dealing with the begging Christian. He pleads poverty -- in this, the richest society in the history of man.
Any Christian who offers something for free is his targeted victim. He wants more. He wants it faster. He wants it now!
The povert thinks he is the first. On the contrary, he is merely the latest in decades of beggars at a successful person's door, all of them demanding more. "More! More! You must give me more! Jesus says so." They presume that others owe them something. When they find someone who gives, they ask for more. They are a presumptuous bunch. And their name is legion.
The "you owe me" mindset leads to poverty.
He refuses to work 70 to 80 hours a week, if necessary. I work this much, and most of my time is not profit-seeking.
The povert wants sympathy. Why, I don't know. He gets none from me.
The povert wants to believe that poverty is a virtue. It isn't, except when it is required for service, such as someone on a foreign mission field who lives like the local people. J. Hudson Taylor and his recruits in the China Inland Mission adopted poverty as a way of life. This was a missions strategy.
Poverty is something to escape. A person with money has more options, meaning more options for service in the kingdom of God. The meaning of poverty is "limited options."
Men are not to pursue poverty. They are also not to pursue riches. Both ends of the income scale tempt people into sin: either temptation to steal or temptation to forget God (Proverbs 30:8-9).
The person in poverty should not assume that anyone owes him anything. He should be thankful that someone offers him any help at all.
This is not what Jim Wallis teaches. This was not what Ron Sider taught until 1997's revised revised edition of Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger.
The povert is in permanent begging mode. He does not perceive that his problem is self-inflicted: unwillingness to work long hours, unwillingness to budget his time and money, unwillingness to save. He expects other Christians to fund his lifestyle. He accuses them of violating Jesus' command to help the poor when they refuse to give him what he asks for.
Jesus was speaking of those who were poor through no fault of their own. The church has referred to these people as "the deserving poor."
The povert regards himself as deserving. That is his problem.
Money given to a povert cannot be given to the deserving poor. Those with assets must pick and choose their beneficiaries. The povert's mentality keeps him from escaping poverty. He thinks others owe him. He therefore seeks out people to manipulate by guilt.
There is always greater demand for charity (free money) than supply. Wise distribution requires great care. When you encounter the "gimme" mentality, look elsewhere for an object of your charity.
The poor man must maintain an attitude of extreme thankfulness. He should not expect another round of charity. He should not expect more from the person who supplies anything for free. He must recognize that he has competition for the richer person's assistance.
The rich man must maintain an attitude of extreme cautiousness. His money can do great harm if it subsidizes the mindset of the povert. The rule is: "Do no harm."
Charity that addicts a person to charity must be avoided, both for the sake of the poor person and for the sake of all the other poor people who require assistance through no fault of their own.
To people with money to give away, I recommend this: recognize guilt-manipulation when you see it. Do not subsidize it. Immunize yourself to it.