Poverty Part 1 - Invite the Misfits

We live in the richest nation in the history of the world, with choices, comforts and luxuries that go far beyond the dreams of most people in the world. Yet the truth is, every morning in America 37 million people wake up in poverty, including 13 million children. There are 47 million people without health insurance and 13 1/2 million people are called "food insecure," meaning they live with the constant difficulty of finding enough food for all their family members. These numbers must become more than just statistics to us, because poverty is a horrific tragedy, which we as people of faith are called to work tirelessly to overcome. We must make poverty personal.

Why should it be personal and not just statistics? Because ultimately what's killing people across the globe isn't malnutrition or malaria, but indifference and apathy, which arises out of our lack of relationship, and our inexperience in walking and engaging in poor communities. I can hear people now, It's tragic over there in Africa, it really is, but we've got our own problems that we have to solve first, high gas prices, a slumping economy, the threat of terrorism, my in-laws (not mine, they're great), those damn Hispanics taking our jobs (does your skin crawl when you hear that? Mine too). But I can tell you, with the deepest of convictions--nobody who has talked to Steve Cook and Scott Hofert about their trip to Malawi last month, or seen the pictures of them holding the hands of a starving African child could ever be dismissive or indifferent about the desperation across the globe. Sitting in 1-hour rush hour traffic won't seem so bad, having to wait an hour to eat dinner at the Olive Garden just isn't that big of a deal anymore.

I think the best example of how we should approach the poor and overcoming poverty is illustrated in a dinner Jesus has with some Religious leaders (I call these guys the Religious Right). He really flips things upside down as usual. In Luke 14: "One time when Jesus went for a meal with the Religious leaders, noticing how each tried to elbow into the place of honor,he said, The next time you put on a dinner, don't just invite your friends and family and rich neighbors, the kind of people who will return the favor, invite some people who never get invited out, the misfits from the wrong side of the tracks, the poor, crippled, the lame and the blind. You'll be - and experience - a blessing. They won't be able to return the favor, but oh how it will be returned at the resurrection of God's people."

Do you notice how Jesus didn't tell us to question why they are poor or crippled, what country they originated from, or if their conditions are the result of bad choices and irresponsibility. No, he commanded us to invite the dissolute to the welcome table with no conditions. Most biblical narratives about overcoming poverty have to do with inclusion and bringing people into community and relationship. Why? Because God understands that apathy and indifference is what allows poverty to persist, not the lack of food, water or medicine. Think about it, God wants us to get to know the poor and crippled, who they are, and what's going on in their lives. This will lay the foundation for a new community in which everyone gets changed. It will change our understanding of who poor people are, what they need, and how the rest of us need to change including our values and our systems. Jim Wallis sums this up in his book, The Great Awakening, "Lack of relationship leads to lack of understanding, which creates stereotypes, myths, excuses and passivity."

This has always been hard for me. But I stepped out of my box a couple months ago. I was in Raleigh eating Sushi with some of my friends. We left the restaurant to head over to a neighboring bar and outside there was an older African-American gentleman who was asking patrons for some money so he could get a hotel for the night. My initial response was to rush past him to avoid the annoying solicitation. But I stopped and I met Calvin. I asked him where he was from and about how his day was going. He told me he was waiting to get his pay check the next day and was only $32 short to pay for a night in the hotel. I told him I didn't have any cash on me, but I would be thinking about him. I asked him where he was from and told him I hoped he could find a place to stay that night. I told him I really enjoyed speaking with him. Calvin looked at me with just a little bit more dignity in his eyes and said he really appreciates that I took the time to talk to him. Calvin could tell I wasn't judging him. I didn't assume he was less of a person just because I had just enjoyed a big meal and drinks while he suffered outside in the cold waiting for his next pay check. I believe this was much more empowering than just giving him money. I really believe I made Calvin's night a little bit better. To just ignore and judge him is cruel abandonment (the conservative way), to give him money is only making Calvin more dependent and vitually maintaining poverty (the liberal way). We need a third way - Relationship. On a much larger scale, one person at at time, this could really change lives.