Valor Añadido Bruto

As we consider ways to combat poverty it is important to realise that “[t]he battle against hunger and poverty is really a spiritual battle, not a physical or social one as secularists would have us believe” (Yohannan 2003:28). Therefore, as Christians we should not forget that humanity’s greatest need is not economic empowerment but Jesus Christ. If man’s life will ever be affected in a profound way it is important to address his true need.

I have hope that there is a biblical and effective way for the Church to serve the poor. I want you to have that hope as well. As Christians, we don’t have the option to ignore true poverty, and we must not waste our time and resources on approaches that ignore the pervasive presence of sin in every heart (Armstrong 2011:13).

The gospel is powerful enough to bring some form of prosperity and “social change” (Yohannan 2003:112). How? First, the gospel corrects man’s relationship with God. Secondly, it teaches ethics which may lead to prosperity, for example,

honest work is encouraged and theft condemned (Eph. 4:28; I Thess. 4:11), and laziness is condemned and honest work is encouraged (II Thess. 3:10-12; cf. Gen. 1:26; 2:15-16). It is therefore important that our discipleship courses amongst people who are economically marginalised, need address issues of poverty and wealth. A number of conservative evangelicals are guilty of neglecting the felt needs of people in the proclamation of the gospel by simply focusing on the future life.

There is no dispute concerning the future life of heaven, both Jesus and the apostles spoke about it. However, we are not yet there and as we patiently wait for the dawning of the New Jerusalem, there is need to preach the gospel in such a way that we address the things facing us on this side of eternity. In our making of disciples there is a need for us to also address the issue of poverty, its causes and practical solutions. For example, we need to address one of the root causes of poverty in Namibia – laziness. Some Namibians despise small-scale income activities and many are aiming to hold office jobs even though they are not qualified for these roles. There are many young (mature) people who are Christians who stay at home doing nothing that is economically productive and live off other people such as their parents, older siblings or extended relatives. These young people should not only be taught to grow in their knowledge of God and mature spiritually also but need to be reminded of the reality of the present world, that they need to work in order to eat (II Thess. 3:11). This will instil in them a sense of accountability to God and the entire Christian community and motivate them to take the responsibility of becoming economically productive citizens through hard work rather than being lazy (Kunhiyop 2008:157-158). The apostles worked with their own hands too, to make a living. Their jobs were not necessarily the most envied but they set an example for the believers of all ages to follow (Acts 18:3; I Thess. 2:9; II Thess. 3:6-9).

Thus, the gospel which challenges our spiritual lives should also be employed to challenge and address the underlying attitudes which cause poverty. It should be made clear that laziness is a vice that should never be tolerated in the church of God. The apostle Paul was very hard on lazy believers to the extent that “if anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat” (I Thess. 3:10c

). This should be the guiding principle upon which relief is distributed (see 5.2.2.), so that the church does not run

into meeting artificial necessities and in so doing minister to someone who continues in their slothfulness.

Many people in our churches are not lazy but they are unfairly treated by those who employ them. Those who pay such low wages that people cannot make decent living from them. Part of the church’s role for its members is to advocate for fair wages. We are to use the legal means of our labour laws to provide advocacy for fair payment. Many of the poor in our churches do not know what the minimum wages are for their kind of jobs, therefore, with the help of knowledgeable Christians we can explore these areas to speak out for our brethren by directing them to and linking them with the right people who can help with such matters (Kuhinyop 2008:158-159). This may extend in time to Christians also assisting non-Christians who are victims of exploitation by their employers.

Better-focused anti-poverty campaigns and the implementation of superior development strategies are important. But these cannot begin to touch root, the underlying cause of poverty. Ultimately, poverty can only be addressed at the heart level, one person at a time, as salvation through the shed blood of Christ pushes back against the fall of man. The ultimate answer to poverty is circumcised hearts, hearts that know the God who forms and keeps covenant with poor underserving sinners (Armstrong 2011:40).