A "Faith-Based" War on Poverty?
"Compassion . . . compassion. . . compassion. . . .compassion. . . ."

Despite statistics on a booming economy and low unemployment-the facts are people are hurting from low-paying jobs without benefits. Today the giant corporations and deregulated utilities are fattened with the higher rates taken from the common man—while they pay their CEOs handsome 7- figure bonuses. While the number of chronically hungry people in the world has increased since the early 1990s (Food & Agricultural Organization of the UN, "News Highlights"), Americans spend $33 billion every year on weight loss programs and diet aids….

Ancient Sodom was condemned for not helping the poor. "Behold, this was the iniquity of. . .Sodom, pride, fullness of bread, . . .neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy." Ezek. 16:49 Churches already donate billions in "benevolences" to the homeless and the desperate. What about government? "Over the past 30 years, independent evaluations of government welfare programs have shown that they often do little to help people escape poverty." (TRIBUNE REVIEW, April 30, 2000, "Faith-based charity: poised for revival?) But is now the time for the government to work with the churches?

Citing First Amendment separation of church and state, some have objected to this presidential initiative to hand out money to religious institutions. Some fear danger from church influence increasing. Others fear the churches will be corrupted or manipulated by the government. Is church-state cooperation the answer to poverty?

Jesus and the Poor

Jesus was not insensitive to the poor. Jesus taught in the temple, "He hath sent me to preach the gospel to the poor." (Luke 4:18) Jesus encouraged, "Sell that thou hast and give to the poor." (Matt. 19:21) The ones not rich in this world's goods are most often those who are poor in spirit. His words and actions show his desire not only to teach them and heal them-but to feed them. James says (2:15-17) that we should help our "destitute" brother or sister…. Apostle Paul collected money for the "poor saints which are in Jerusalem" who were in difficulties from famine and persecution (I Cor. 16:1-3; Rom. 15:25, 26). By distributing "to the necessity of saints" (Rom. 12:13), we are bestowing of our means upon Jesus.

When perfumed ointment was lavished on him—some murmured "it should have been sold and the money be given to the poor. Jesus said, "For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always" (John 12:8). What did he mean? Always? So should Christians be contributing to the needs of the world's poor? Still Jesus did not even attempt to help all the poor of Israel.

Is the role of the Church of Christ to sponsor soup kitchens and drug counseling-and work with government too? Churches have been involved in helping the poor and disadvantaged on many levels. In a large measure, these programs are motivated by a love of fellow man and a noble desire to help. But really the motivation is a sense of urgency to save souls—feeling now is "the only day of salvation." Sadly, it is an illusion (and a misunderstanding of Scripture) to think that they can conquer the world for Christ and bring the promised healing of his Kingdom.

The Social Gospel

The Social Gospel began as a liberal movement in the latter half of the 19th century within American Protestantism. It attempted to apply Biblical teachings to problems associated with industrialization by advocating abolition of child labor, better working conditions for women, etc. (THE COLUMBIA ENCYCLOPEDIA). As corporations merged, wealth was slowly concentrated in the hands of few persons, so that by 1890 one percent of the families in America owned more than one half of the wealth of the nation. "The rise of Social Darwinism—which argued for the survival of the fittest"—gave additional justification when businesses eliminated the weak ("The Social Gospel," T. Matthews, Wake Forrest University).

Although in America, Protestantism advocated separation of church and state, Protestants slowly began to promote a social doctrine of the Kingdom of God. God's Kingdom was no longer seen as some "other-worldly pie in the sky by and by." No need to wait for Christ to return to render judgment upon human society and impose his rule . . their Kingdom of God was to be a human endeavor.— (Of course, this approach was nothing new. Christians in the fourth century also decided to set up their own Kingdom of God on earth with Emperor Constantine. Look what happened…)

"The views of the Social Gospel movement were given formal expression in 1908 when the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America adopted what was later called 'the social creed of the churches.'" (COLUMBIA ENCYCLOPEDIA) The council was the forerunner to the National Council of Churches, a major player in ecumenism. Following suite, Roman Catholic leaders also became more directly involved in socio-economic issues to provide for Catholic working men.

The True Gospel

The true gospel of Christ is the most compassionate, the most comprehensive, the most permanent and effectual gospel ever conceived. This "good news" is the "good tidings" to "all people" (Luke 2:10). Not just most Americans. Not just "born again" Christians. Otherwise, the angels were overstating God's plan. Let's remember that only a third of the world even claims to be Christian….

The true gospel was first "announced…in advance to Abraham" when he received the promise (Gal. 3:8 NIV). "In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed" (Gen. 22:18). After the true church—"the stars of the heaven"—is completed, then all mankind the-"sand which is upon the seashore"—will be blessed (Gen. 22:17). First the stars, then the sand.

True Christians are very sensitive and sympathetic toward the poor and needy. "Let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith" (Gal. 6:9). However, true Christians are focused on preaching forgiveness of individual sin, individual begetting of the holy Spirit and a personal walk in "newness of life."

What of the poor and needy then? In God's due time, the program He has planned for man includes raising from the dead even the drug addicts who died of overdose! "The LORD is gracious and full of compassion. . ." (Psa. 111:4). And His gospel includes more than just providing food, clothing and temporary houses for everybody.

Each man and woman will be a "king" in their own right. Every "king" will have a right to life—forever. The true church is described as the New Jerusalem, and "the kings of earth [which] do bring their glory and honor into it [the city]" are the restored people of earth (Rev. 21:1-4, 23, 24).

Unfortunately while an overwhelming majority will learn righteousness, not everybody will choose to be in this Kingdom. But everyone will be given a fair opportunity with every advantage. Even the 12-year old boy—who killed someone—and was brought into psychiatric rehab last week with four policemen holding him down, even he will have a fair opportunity in Christ's Kingdom. (That boy had experienced unimaginable child abuse since he was two years old.) Besides, all of us have genetic scars as well as environmental scars. The Kingdom of God will truly work because the "god of this world" will be fully bound—and the administrators (Christ and his church) will be sympathetic to the all needs of men, women and children (2 Cor. 4:4; Rev. 20:3). Conversion to Christ before the Kingdom is not the only hope for Salvation.

Another Gospel

Evangelical Christians anxious to win as many souls as possible before Christ returns are prepared to use a "social gospel"—soup kitchen method as a means to an end. Others less concerned about a soon coming of Christ are still preaching the "social gospel" helping people now in order to bring Christ's Kingdom. The U. S. government's new administration wants to work with the churches. —and it has no intention of restricting the preaching that will come along with the social assistance. The churches will reap the financial benefits of the government's proposed program. But is this the role which the true church of Christ should play? Is this Christ's way to help the poor groaning creation? Jesus did not work for social justice and transformation of social institutions. Why? He said, "My Kingdom is not of this world" (John 18:36).

The Apostle Paul warned the Galatians of adding "another gospel" (Gal. 1:6-8). There were believers who accepted Christ—but wanted to be justified by the Law also. They added to the gospel of the Kingdom. So today some Christians are still tempted to add to the gospel of the Kingdom. They are impatiently trying—once again—to work with present earthly governments and set up their own Kingdom on earth. The logic sounds sensible, humane, reasonable—the only way to deal with a social order's mounting pressures. In unity there is strength. To accomplish their mutual goals, not only are the churches uniting today, but some governments are using the churches to stabilize themselves and vice versa.

Eastern European churches since the fall of Communism are struggling to re-instate themselves, get their confiscated properties back, obtain financial support, etc. Western Europe also, with no recent history of opposition to religion, also grapples with similar issues daily ("Many Nations Grapple with Church-State Relations," D. Hill, Radio-Free Europe). Although the polls show the United States citizens generally oppose church-state relations, the recent "faith-based initiative" seems a clear step in the direction of American-style church-state union. But history verifies the Scriptural prophecies that this solution will not work. The war on poverty will only be won in Christ's Kingdom.