Standing Up and Speaking Out (by Jonathan Mendez)
MLK said that "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." New York Faith and Justice believes that poverty anywhere is a threat to God's shalom everywhere. Which is why when we were invited by the UN Millennium Campaign to host a local event in support of the Millennium Development Goals, we quickly accepted. The MDGs are some pretty decent things. When world leaders come together in a covenant-like promise to halve extreme global poverty based on 1990 measurements by 2015, it echoes the call of the biblical prophets that are often invoked on this blog. There has been much progress, but it's still no secret that some goals are way off target, especially the one about rich countries giving a higher proportion in development aid.
Last year, the UN Millennium Campaign organized a record-making event in which 23.5 million people around the world stood up in a single day in a symbolic proclamation asking world leaders who covenanted to halve extreme global poverty to stop breaking promises. This year, New York Faith and Justice became part of the global movement by hosting our own "Stand up and Speak Out" event in St. Mary's, a historic church in Harlem.
The ripple effects of our saying "yes" to the invitation to host this event are what truly humble us. There was an impromptu "Stand Up" that took place at a local ethnically diverse interdenominational church where 1800-plus regular attendees stood up in solidarity. Bishop Paul Mususu, representing the Micah Challenge and the director of the Evangelical fellowship of Zambia, asked their church leaders to do it and explained the importance of it. The movement is bubbling when megachurches stand up against poverty.
Jonathan Mendez is co-director of the Uniting the Church Action Team with New York Faith and Justice, and also a former Sojourners intern.
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Not sure if you know but the results are in! Over 38.8 million people, in 110 countries have broken the Guinness World Record – set last year at 23.5 million - for the largest number of people to “STAND UP AGAINST POVERTY” in 24 hours.
Posted by: Nickolas | October 19, 2007 12:32 PM
As a Conservative Christian, I fully support the eradication of poverty. Perhaps that is why it angers me to see Christians pass off the commands Christ gave to us and place them on the government (whether it be the United States or the United Nations.) Unfortunately, too many Christians have found that it is much easier to demand that others give to the poor, rather than giving to the poor themselves. Especially when that demand is disguised in the form of voting for higher taxes and more government programs. It may help to dispel the guilt of ignoring Christ's commands to us, but it still leaves the poor without help and us in disobedience to Christ.
Posted by: Brad | October 19, 2007 2:41 PM
While I appreciate Brad's concerns, I've never been convinced this is an either/or choice. My wife and I tithe our income to our church and give generously to other causes in addition to encouraging our church to address poverty to the extent we are able. I still believe the government has a role to play beyond that--if not to directly aid the poor (which I do believe is appropriate in some instances), to at least ensure that all the governmental help doesn't go to the richest among us and to corporations, thereby skewing the system completely against the poor and middle class.
Posted by: Rev Paul | October 19, 2007 3:31 PM
As Jonathan points out, the Milleniam Goals are indeed flawed, even more than he indicates. They are based on a western economic model devised mostly by westerners, and are largely unsuited to many areas of the world, particularly sub-Saharan Africa. They are proving to be more harmful that helpful in many cases. Check out Bill McKibbin's writings for an alternate model.
Conrad Steinhoff
Posted by: Conrad Steinhoff | October 19, 2007 4:01 PM
Rev Paul, I commend you on your charitable giving! You are certainly in the minority among those who promote government programs! I agree that government has a role to play, my contention is that too often, government oversteps it's bounds and the results are not helpful to anyone.
Posted by: Brad | October 19, 2007 4:10 PM
Poverty in all its forms is an outward expression of knowledge deficiency in a person or people or Nation. "my people perish for lack of knowledge" this is the very statement of God through his prophet, stating in other words that knowledge is the main factor responsible for savety , security and prosperity. Global economy in one hand, and global misery in the other, are two oposite life determinants which are increasing side by side at a geometrical rate. it is only true that no matter how prosperous the world may grow to become, poverty will still hold many hostage to misery except the knowledge canal is created for them to have access to the flow of wealth which surounds them. In my country Cameroon, experts in economics have stated that it is a miracle that we are counted among the poor and highly indepted countries in the world. as a church, I strongly beleive that if we must win the fight against poverty, then our membership must be taught how to make money as a church. we need to develop programs that will anticipate the enactment of Godly policies, which in turn will move the church from an economically debased position to that of finacial exellence. It was posible in the beginning, and can be possible today. this is the only thing that can make the church attractive... I need free thinkers with whom I can communicate on this issue. it has been my prime concern for years now.
God bless you all
Posted by: Apostle Talla Leonide Blaise | October 28, 2007 1:06 PM
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