Today I want to do a couple of things before moving into my proposals. First, I am going to provide a definition of poverty that I will use throughout this series. Second, I want to suggest some reasons why poverty exists.
To define poverty I will use Michael Taylor’s idea that poverty is something that prevents people from having a full life.[1] There are a few ways for poverty to exist. The first type of poverty is material poverty. This will be the predominant focus of this essay series. Material poverty is not having enough of water, food, clothes, shelter, or education to sustain life.[2] This type of poverty is present throughout The Old and New Testaments. The Bible normally shows material poverty as not having enough money or possessions to live without help from other people.[3] Material poverty is contrary to God’s will because it damages human dignity.[4] Sometimes, however, a person may experience material poverty by their own decision so they can stand with those whose poverty is the result of someone else’s decision. In such circumstances, love and imitation of Christ is the motivation for material poverty.[5]
A second type of poverty is “social poverty” and occurs to people who cannot participate in normal aspects of life – such as earning a living, forming friendships, or expressing themselves. People experiencing social poverty do not see themselves as part of society.[6] Mother Teresa called social poverty the “hunger for love.” It results in feelings of loneliness, being unloved, and abandonment. Social poverty is often connected to material poverty, but affluent people may also experience it.[7]
A third type of poverty is psychological poverty. People suffering material poverty often experience psychological poverty. It is characterized by the stress that comes from struggling to find what is necessary to survive, knowing that finding such necessities is difficult or impossible, and being constantly humiliated.[8] Material poverty also leads to psychological poverty because society often ignores people experiencing material poverty.[9]
A fourth type of poverty is want. John Chrysostom, a church father, claimed that this type of poverty is simply wanting more than you already have. People who have monetary resources often experience this.[10]
Understanding that poverty exists in four forms, I also believe that it is essential that the church understand the causes of poverty. Creating a complete list of the causes of poverty is impossible. I will use this blog to focus on two causes of poverty that are external to the person experiencing poverty.
One reason for poverty is that resources are not distributed fairly. Dewi Hughes writes that history demonstrates poverty as “largely unnecessary” because the Earth and human efforts can typically provide for everyone. Despite having enough for everyone, however, history constantly shows that many people starve while a few people feast. It is impossible for the church to understand poverty if it does not understand this point.[11]
Ronald J. Sider provides a sad description of 21st Century famine. Simply put, you can buy your way out of famine if you have money and power. Wealthy people absorb the extra costs of a shortage of food, while the poor remain out of sight and starve to death. This is “redistributed” famine. All that famine requires is for wealthy people to buy more than they need. Famine can now kill even in times of plenty.[12]
Nicholas Wolterstorff believes that such redistributed famine is a violation of rights. He suggests that people should expect society to be structured is such a way to allow everyone to survive during both abundance and moderate scarcity. People have the right to enough clothes and food, clean air, clean water, shelter, and health care.[13]
Another cause of poverty that I want to consider is the sinful use of power. Hughes defines power as “the ability to do something.” Humans have power because God created us as powerful beings.[14] Sin causes power to be unbalanced. Wealth is a source of power and the wealthy therefore have power over the poor. Wealthy people can serve poor people, ignore poor people, or oppress poor people. Wealthy people and poor people are related in our societies and it is possible for these relationships to benefit one group over another.[15]
Church tradition addresses the sinful use of power. Chrysostom taught that God did not create some people to be wealthy and some people to be poor. Instead, injustice allows both wealth and poverty to exist.[16] Chrysostom was not concerned with how much a person had, but by how the person used what he or she had. God allows ownership so people who have resources can minister to those who do not.[17]
John Calvin also taught that when wealthy people fail to serve poor people, wealthy people are sinning.[18] According to Calvin, this sin is a direct attack on God because God chose the poor to be His representatives on earth.[19] Israelite Law prevented hoarding by having rules to distribute materials to the poor, indicating that poverty is the result of injustice. Accumulating goods while other people are in need is akin to murder.[20]
Gustavo Gutierrez follows this tradition when he writes that injustice is not accidental. Injustice is the result of sin. To understand poverty, the church must revisit Israel’s prophets.[21]
In my next essay, I will make my first proposal:
A Christian understanding to poverty acknowledges that the church must respond to poverty.
[1] Michael Taylor, Christianity, Poverty and Wealth, 5.
[2] Michael Taylor, Christianity, Poverty and Wealth, 2-3.
[3] Ronald J. Sider, Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger, 41.
[4] Gustavo Gutierrez, Liberation Theology, 165.
[5] Gustavo Gutierrez, Liberation Theology, 172.
[6] Michael Taylor, Christianity, Poverty and Wealth, 4.
[7] Mother Teresa of Calcutta, My Life for the Poor, 54.
[8] Michael Taylor, Christianity, Poverty and Wealth, 4-5.
[9] Walter Wink, Engaging the Powers: Discernment and Resistance in a World of Domination, 101.
[10] Francine Cardman, "Poverty and Wealth as Theater: John Chrysostom's Homilies on Lazarus and the Rich Man," (Wealth and Poverty in the Early Church and Society), 168.
[11] Dewi Hughes, Power and Poverty: Divine and Human Rule in a World of Need, 11.
[12] Ronald J. Sider, Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger, 10.
[13] Nicholas Wolterstorff, Until Justice and Peace Embrace, 85.
[14] Dewi Hughes, Power and Poverty: Divine and Human Rule in a World of Need, 12.
[15] Chavannes Jeune, “Justice, Freedom, and Social Transformation,” (The Church in Response to Human Need), 219.
[16] Rudolf Brändle, “This Sweetest Passage: Matthew 25:31-46 and Assistance to the Poor in the Homilies of John Chrysostom,” (Wealth and Poverty in the Early Church and Society), 129.
[17] Wendy Mayer, “Poverty and Generosity Toward the Poor in the time of john Chrysostom,” (Wealth and Poverty in the Early Church and Society), 146-147.
[18] André Biéler, Calvin’s Economic and Social Thought, 287.
[19] André Biéler, Calvin’s Economic and Social Thought, 292-293.
[20] André Biéler, Calvin’s Economic and Social Thought, 299-301.
[21] Gustavo Gutierrez, Liberation Theology, 102.
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