Comments on: Poverty Ends Today! http://myfourwalls.wordpress.com/2007/10/17/poverty-ends-today/ welcome to my box! Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:11:12 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Ending Poverty is Essential to God’s Mission « my four walls http://myfourwalls.wordpress.com/2007/10/17/poverty-ends-today/#comment-8421 Ending Poverty is Essential to God’s Mission « my four walls Tue, 23 Oct 2007 16:27:06 +0000 http://myfourwalls.wordpress.com/2007/10/17/poverty-ends-today/#comment-8421 [...] we read the Bible instead of the other way around. Economics is a reality we have to deal with as Richie well pointed out, but the Bible teaches us how to deal with [...] [...] we read the Bible instead of the other way around. Economics is a reality we have to deal with as Richie well pointed out, but the Bible teaches us how to deal with [...]

]]> By: lucas http://myfourwalls.wordpress.com/2007/10/17/poverty-ends-today/#comment-8393 lucas Mon, 22 Oct 2007 17:44:46 +0000 http://myfourwalls.wordpress.com/2007/10/17/poverty-ends-today/#comment-8393 nice michael... you made me laugh out loud. nice michael… you made me laugh out loud.

]]> By: michael reese http://myfourwalls.wordpress.com/2007/10/17/poverty-ends-today/#comment-8374 michael reese Sun, 21 Oct 2007 20:11:10 +0000 http://myfourwalls.wordpress.com/2007/10/17/poverty-ends-today/#comment-8374 non satyrical comment to follow... Why is it that I know all kinds of people from impoverished countries (like the former soviet block, central America, and African nations) and ATHIESTS who believe that it is both possible and desirable to end poverty... ...and I also know lots and lots of American Christians who believe that the existence of poverty is as inevitable as the waxing and waning of the moon? I have a pretty good idea... mpr non satyrical comment to follow…

Why is it that I know all kinds of people from impoverished countries (like the former soviet block, central America, and African nations) and ATHIESTS who believe that it is both possible and desirable to end poverty…

…and I also know lots and lots of American Christians who believe that the existence of poverty is as inevitable as the waxing and waning of the moon?

I have a pretty good idea…

mpr

]]> By: michael reese http://myfourwalls.wordpress.com/2007/10/17/poverty-ends-today/#comment-8373 michael reese Sun, 21 Oct 2007 19:55:59 +0000 http://myfourwalls.wordpress.com/2007/10/17/poverty-ends-today/#comment-8373 Lucas, Once again, you're just NOT paying attention... The DECIDER has told us all very plainly that the EVIL-DOERS (minions of Satan, we can presume) will have won "the battle" if we do not go to Disneyland and buy new washers and dryers biannually. Jesus wants us to win the battle and the Decider will lead us to that victory! Sheesh, don't you know that it was a bunch of Commie redadctor-fractors who added all that gibberish about how we're supposed to help "the least among us" to the Gospels hundreds of years after Jesus' death!? Jesus' primary concerns were a two-way tie between 1) maintaining consistent, linear, economic growth FOREVER, and 2) no gay but-sex for ANYONE. Sheesh, pay attention! Since I'm not in Cove with you anymore, it's more important than ever... mpr Lucas,

Once again, you’re just NOT paying attention… The DECIDER has told us all very plainly that the EVIL-DOERS (minions of Satan, we can presume) will have won “the battle” if we do not go to Disneyland and buy new washers and dryers biannually.

Jesus wants us to win the battle and the Decider will lead us to that victory! Sheesh, don’t you know that it was a bunch of Commie redadctor-fractors who added all that gibberish about how we’re supposed to help “the least among us” to the Gospels hundreds of years after Jesus’ death!? Jesus’ primary concerns were a two-way tie between 1) maintaining consistent, linear, economic growth FOREVER, and 2) no gay but-sex for ANYONE.

Sheesh, pay attention! Since I’m not in Cove with you anymore, it’s more important than ever…

mpr

]]> By: Check out the Asides at Trying to follow http://myfourwalls.wordpress.com/2007/10/17/poverty-ends-today/#comment-8357 Check out the Asides at Trying to follow Sun, 21 Oct 2007 05:05:59 +0000 http://myfourwalls.wordpress.com/2007/10/17/poverty-ends-today/#comment-8357 [...] we carry on our ordinary lives consuming and participating in injustice must make God weep.” -Lucas (0) [...] [...] we carry on our ordinary lives consuming and participating in injustice must make God weep.” -Lucas (0) [...]

]]> By: Mom http://myfourwalls.wordpress.com/2007/10/17/poverty-ends-today/#comment-8345 Mom Sat, 20 Oct 2007 17:49:58 +0000 http://myfourwalls.wordpress.com/2007/10/17/poverty-ends-today/#comment-8345 Hey Luke! I just wanted to thank you for your timely reminder of the need to be good stewards of our blessings right where we live. Although I do agree with Richie that the elimination of poverty is not necessarily essential to God's mission nor do I think it is an achievable goal since we human creature were given free will and we make too many irrational choices, I do believe that it is a part of our responsibility as Christians to care for each other and that's what reducing poverty is all about. I have met too many people (remember our mission trip to El Paso?) who live in poverty who have a greater understanding of the concept of blessings and are closer to God than many who have inordinate wealth. Poverty is not the deterrant to God's mission that apathy is and that is why your post is so relevant. For Richie - I would have to differ with you about government responsibility for poverty. The trade system is not perfect and has inherent faults as illustrated by the recent problems with trade from China (lead based pain in toys, contaminated dog food, etc.) but it is intended to protect through restrictions - not cause poverty. I only know of one system that is perfect and that is the one God put in place where man cares for his brother through stewardship. The big problem with that system is that here in our earthly world not everyone buys in to responsibility for his fellowman. I am glad to see that the issue is being discussed and efforts made to redistribute various resources for the benefit of those less fortunate. Love Ya, Mom Hey Luke! I just wanted to thank you for your timely reminder of the need to be good stewards of our blessings right where we live. Although I do agree with Richie that the elimination of poverty is not necessarily essential to God’s mission nor do I think it is an achievable goal since we human creature were given free will and we make too many irrational choices, I do believe that it is a part of our responsibility as Christians to care for each other and that’s what reducing poverty is all about. I have met too many people (remember our mission trip to El Paso?) who live in poverty who have a greater understanding of the concept of blessings and are closer to God than many who have inordinate wealth. Poverty is not the deterrant to God’s mission that apathy is and that is why your post is so relevant.

For Richie – I would have to differ with you about government responsibility for poverty. The trade system is not perfect and has inherent faults as illustrated by the recent problems with trade from China (lead based pain in toys, contaminated dog food, etc.) but it is intended to protect through restrictions – not cause poverty. I only know of one system that is perfect and that is the one God put in place where man cares for his brother through stewardship. The big problem with that system is that here in our earthly world not everyone buys in to responsibility for his fellowman. I am glad to see that the issue is being discussed and efforts made to redistribute various resources for the benefit of those less fortunate.

Love Ya,
Mom

]]> By: Richie http://myfourwalls.wordpress.com/2007/10/17/poverty-ends-today/#comment-8322 Richie Fri, 19 Oct 2007 20:14:51 +0000 http://myfourwalls.wordpress.com/2007/10/17/poverty-ends-today/#comment-8322 I don't see that "ending poverty is essential to God’s mission" nor is it by Christ's own words attainable. I do however see that meeting people at their needs is essential to the Gospel and I whole-heartily agree with this message. I of course disagree that consumption causes poverty. It is quite the opposite. It causes wealth. Basic economics tells you that. It is governments that create poverty. When you have free trade, people put work into raw materials (whatever they may be) and create something of greater value which consumers pay for in cash. That additional value is the producer's wage which he/she can in turn can trade for something of value. It is tit-for-tat, sort of a global co-op. It is governments that stop free trade that create problems in the system. I don’t see that “ending poverty is essential to God’s mission” nor is it by Christ’s own words attainable. I do however see that meeting people at their needs is essential to the Gospel and I whole-heartily agree with this message.

I of course disagree that consumption causes poverty. It is quite the opposite. It causes wealth. Basic economics tells you that. It is governments that create poverty.

When you have free trade, people put work into raw materials (whatever they may be) and create something of greater value which consumers pay for in cash. That additional value is the producer’s wage which he/she can in turn can trade for something of value. It is tit-for-tat, sort of a global co-op. It is governments that stop free trade that create problems in the system.

]]> By: lucas http://myfourwalls.wordpress.com/2007/10/17/poverty-ends-today/#comment-8317 lucas Fri, 19 Oct 2007 17:28:52 +0000 http://myfourwalls.wordpress.com/2007/10/17/poverty-ends-today/#comment-8317 well, i think you're referring to the statement i quoted. But the end of that statement is pairing up things that we don't always hold together. often we either emphasize the spiritual and ignore physical needs or vice versa. so the beginning of that sentence "justice and justification by faith" expresses one of the ways we divide these things in two when they really are part of the same thing. hope that makes sense. i like this statement because it says that evangelism and social action not only go together but are the same thing. proclaiming the gospel is a political act that challenges the orders of this world and working towards social justice is an embodiment of that message and a proclamation in itself. well, i think you’re referring to the statement i quoted. But the end of that statement is pairing up things that we don’t always hold together. often we either emphasize the spiritual and ignore physical needs or vice versa. so the beginning of that sentence “justice and justification by faith” expresses one of the ways we divide these things in two when they really are part of the same thing.

hope that makes sense. i like this statement because it says that evangelism and social action not only go together but are the same thing. proclaiming the gospel is a political act that challenges the orders of this world and working towards social justice is an embodiment of that message and a proclamation in itself.

]]> By: daytonland http://myfourwalls.wordpress.com/2007/10/17/poverty-ends-today/#comment-8316 daytonland Fri, 19 Oct 2007 17:15:58 +0000 http://myfourwalls.wordpress.com/2007/10/17/poverty-ends-today/#comment-8316 what are we doing in "justification of faith". interesting set of words, please explain. our justification is in Jesus Christ. we cannot justify our faith. help me understand. what are we doing in “justification of faith”. interesting set of words, please explain.
our justification is in Jesus Christ. we cannot justify our faith.
help me understand.

]]> By: lucas http://myfourwalls.wordpress.com/2007/10/17/poverty-ends-today/#comment-8311 lucas Fri, 19 Oct 2007 13:28:50 +0000 http://myfourwalls.wordpress.com/2007/10/17/poverty-ends-today/#comment-8311 you're welcome... just don't steal that for your BTT paper ;-) you’re welcome… just don’t steal that for your BTT paper ;-)

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