CCL Open Night - What to do with World Need?

WHAT TO DO
WITH WORLD NEED
AND POVERTY?

CCL Open Night 5

EXODUS 22: 20-28
20 "Whoever sacrifices to any gods, except the LORD alone, is to be set apart
for destruction. 21 "You must not exploit a foreign resident or oppress him,
since you were foreigners in the land of Egypt. 22 "You must not mistreat any
widow or fatherless child. 23 If you do mistreat them, they will no doubt cry to
Me, and I will certainly hear their cry. 24 My anger will burn, and I will kill you
with the sword; then your wives will be widows and your children fatherless. 25

"If you lend money to My people-- to the poor person among you, you must not
be like a moneylender to him; you must not charge him interest. 26 "If you ever
take your neighbor's cloak as collateral, return it to him before sunset. 27 For it
is his only covering; it is the clothing for his body. What will he sleep in? And if
he cries out to Me, I will listen because I am compassionate. 28 "You must not
blaspheme God or curse a leader among your people.

1. THREE BIBLE CAMEOS
2. GRAPPLING WITH PROBLEMS:
a) Near vs. far
b) Wicked problems
c) Not about class
d) Not about guilt
e) „Self-enclosure‟
3. A SECULAR PROVOCATEUR
4. „FAIR TRADE‟
5. MOVING AHEAD

EXODUS 22:20-28
20 "Whoever sacrifices to any gods, except the LORD alone, is to be set
apart for destruction. 21 "You must not exploit a foreign resident or
oppress him, since you were foreigners in the land of Egypt. 22 "You must
not mistreat any widow or fatherless child. 23 If you do mistreat them, they
will no doubt cry to Me, and I will certainly hear their cry. 24 My anger will
burn, and I will kill you with the sword; then your wives will be widows and
your children fatherless. 25 "If you lend money to My people-- to the poor
person among you, you must not be like a moneylender to him; you must
not charge him interest. 26 "If you ever take your neighbor's cloak as
collateral, return it to him before sunset. 27 For it is his only covering; it is
the clothing for his body. What will he sleep in? And if he cries out to Me, I
will listen because I am compassionate. 28 "You must not blaspheme God
or curse a leader among your people.

LEVITICUS 19:10
10 You must not strip your vineyard bare or gather its fallen grapes.
Leave them for the poor and the foreign resident; I am the LORD your
God.

LEVITICUS 23:22
22 When you reap the harvest of your land, you are not to reap all the
way to the edge of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest.
Leave them for the poor and the foreign resident; I am the LORD your
God."

 Based in createdness
 Based in community


 Based in God’s character



 All phrased as strong commands



 All phrased as strong commands

 a bigger goal: worship and honour God
alone.

AMOS 4:1-2
1 Listen to this message, you cows of Bashan who are on the hill of
Samaria, women who oppress the poor and crush the needy, who say
to their husbands, "Bring us something to drink." 2 The Lord God has
sworn by His holiness: Look, the days are coming when you will be
taken away with hooks, every last one of you with fishhooks.

„AMOS 5:8-13
8 The One who made the Pleiades and Orion, who turns darkness into
dawn and darkens day into night, who summons the waters of the sea
and pours them out over the face of the earth-- Yahweh is His name. 9

He brings destruction on the strong, and it falls on the stronghold. 10

They hate the one who convicts the guilty at the city gate and despise
the one who speaks with integrity. 11 Therefore, because you trample
on the poor and exact a grain tax from him, you will never live in the
houses of cut stone you have built; you will never drink the wine from
the lush vineyards you have planted. 12 For I know your crimes are
many and your sins innumerable. They oppress the righteous, take a
bribe, and deprive the poor of justice at the gates. 13 Therefore, the
wise person will keep silent at such a time, for the days are evil.

AMOS 8:4-8
4 Hear this, you who trample on the needy and do away with the
poor of the land, 5 asking, "When will the New Moon be over so we
may sell grain, and the Sabbath, so we may market wheat? We can
reduce the measure while increasing the price and cheat with
dishonest scales. 6 We can buy the poor with silver and the needy
for a pair of sandals and even sell the wheat husks!" 7 The LORD
has sworn by the Pride of Jacob: I will never forget all their deeds. 8

Because of this, won't the land quake and all who dwell in it mourn?
All of it will rise like the Nile; it will surge and then subside like the
Nile in Egypt.

 A particular social situation. Inequities of wealth
have become translated into inequities at law.

 Note this ancient law:

Exodus 23:3-6: 3 Do not show favoritism to a poor person in
his lawsuit. … 6 You must not deny justice to the poor among
you in his lawsuit.

Leviticus 19:15: You must not act unjustly when rendering
judgment. Do not be partial to the poor or give preference to
the rich; judge your neighbor fairly.

 Note this ancient law:

Exodus 23:3-6: 3 Do not show favoritism to a poor person in
his lawsuit. … 6 You must not deny justice to the poor among
you in his lawsuit.

Leviticus 19:15: You must not act unjustly when rendering
judgment. Do not be partial to the poor or give preference to
the rich; judge your neighbor fairly.

 The poor not extra-special …
But power often thinks it is extra special!

2 CORINTHIANS 8:7-9
7 Now as you excel in everything-- in faith, in speech, in knowledge,
in all diligence, and in your love for us-- excel also in this grace. 8 I
am not saying this as a command. Rather, by means of the
diligence of others, I am testing the genuineness of your love. 9 For
you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: although He was rich,
for your sake He became poor, so that by His poverty you might
become rich. …

2 CORINTHIANS 9:6-15
6 Remember this: the person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly,

and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each

person should do as he has decided in his heart-- not out of regret or out of

necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make every

grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you

need, you may excel in every good work. 9 As it is written: He has scattered;

He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever. 10 Now the One

who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply

your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness, 11 as you are

enriched in every way for all generosity, which produces thanksgiving to God

through us.

2 CORINTHIANS 9:6-15 (CONTINUED)
12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the

saints, but is also overflowing in many acts of thanksgiving to God. 13

Through the proof of this service, they will glorify God for your obedience to

the confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with

them and with others. 14 And in their prayers for you they will have deep

affection for you because of the surpassing grace of God on you. 15 Thanks

be to God for His indescribable gift.

 Does not rely on laws and
commands
 Relies on createdness,
community, character of God

commands
 Pivots on Jesus‟ act to release
sinful people into friendship with
God.

commands
 Pivots on Jesus‟ act to release
sinful people into friendship with
God.
 Pictures us mirroring God‟s
generous, free grace

2. GRAPPLING WITH PROBLEMS:

a)Near vs. far
b)Wicked problems
c) Not about class
d)Not about guilt
e)„Self-enclosure‟

a) Near vs. far

p.12 Thursday, March 17, 2011 . Opinion SMH

Galatians 6:10 „Therefore, as we have opportunity, we must work for the
good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith.‟

Galatians 6:10 „Therefore, as we have opportunity, we must work for the
good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith.‟

Far Neighbor

Near Neighbor

Work

Family

Mrs Jellyby

Charles Dickens
Bleak House’ BBC
Production 2005

b) Wicked problems …

 colonial histories
 corruption past and present, including some current
corporate practices
 market distortions, based in current global trade
arrangements

b) Wicked problems …

 colonial histories
 corruption past and present, including some current
corporate practices
 market distortions, based in current global trade
arrangements
 lack of education and infrastructure

 levels of inertia, passivity and distrust in some
cultures
 war

 geographic and climate challenges

JOB 24:1-14

Why does the Almighty not reserve times for judgment? Why do those
who know Him never see His days? 2 The wicked displace boundary
markers. They steal a flock and provide pasture for it. 3 They drive
away the donkeys owned by the fatherless and take the widow's ox as
collateral. 4 They push the needy off the road; the poor of the land are
forced into hiding. 5 Like wild donkeys in the desert, the poor go out to
their task of foraging for food; the wilderness provides nourishment for
their children. 6 They gather their fodder in the field and glean the
vineyards of the wicked. 7 Without clothing, they spend the night naked,
having no covering against the cold. 8 Drenched by mountain rains,
they huddle against the rocks, shelterless.

JOB 24:1-14 (CONTINUED)

9 The fatherless infant is snatched from the breast; the nursing child of the
poor is seized as collateral. 10 Without clothing, they wander about naked.
They carry sheaves but go hungry. 11 They crush olives in their presses;
they tread the winepresses, but go thirsty. 12 From the city, men groan;
the mortally wounded cry for help, yet God pays no attention to this
crime. 13 The wicked are those who rebel against the light. They do not
recognize its ways or stay on its paths. 14 The murderer rises at dawn to
kill the poor and needy, and by night he becomes a thief.

c) Not about class …

d) Not about guilt …

e) ‘Self-aborption’ …

“'Tis not contrary to
reason to prefer the
destruction of the whole
world to the scratching
of my finger".

David Hume

 globalised society causes harm to the poor
at rest

at rest
 disagrees with Jesus' teaching about
giving in private

at rest
giving in private
 favours a universalised standard of giving

at rest
giving in private

 knows poverty not fixed just by handouts

at rest
giving in private

 knows poverty not fixed just by handouts

 suggests we should push charities to study
how their work helps

“Now a confirmed atheist, I have become convinced
of the enormous contribution that Christian
evangelism makes in Africa, sharply distinct from the
work of secular non government organisations,
government projects and international aid projects.
These alone will not do. Education and training alone
will not do.
In Africa Christianity changes people‟s hearts, it
brings spiritual transformation.
The rebirth is real. The change is good…

“The Christians were always different. Far from
having cowed or confined into converts, their faith
appeared to have liberated and relaxed them.
There was a liveliness and curiosity, an engagement
with the world, a directness in their dealings with
others that seemed to be missing from the traditional
African way of life.
They stood tall.”

Matthew Parris

Goals of fair trade …

1) Help producers …


2) Help the environment …


3) Help children …


4) Help the consumer …


4) Help the consumer …
5) Change the system …

Coffee …

 Supply outstrips demand
 Second most traded commodity
 25 mill producers
 70% on less that 25 acres
 Fair trade certified: about 670,000
smallholder family farmers (old
figures)

Chocolate …

 three corporations control 83%
 family farms produce 70%
 child labour to compete
 1500 farms in 4 countries
284,000 used machetes
153,00 applied pesticides (no protection)
64% under 14
40% were girls

Fair trade positives
 no inflationary effects of „middle men
 producers earn e.g. double market
 floor price guaranteed
 less anxiety about crop
 „social premium‟
 increased education and healthcare
 good for consumer

Fair trade criticisms
 Standard economics …
(… see Wikipedia, „Fair Trade‟)
 Implementation rorts

Wikipedia, „Fair trade impact studies‟
“Fair trade's higher prices increase gross household
income … Participation in fair trade reduces households'
debt and enhances their economic options …
“Extra capital from fair trade can generate important
economic ripple effects within communities, providing
additional employment even for nonparticipating families.
However, fair trade is not a panacea, and it does not bring
the majority of participants out of poverty.
“Demand for fair trade products must increase dramatically
in order to augment the economic benefits for such small
farmer families and allow the system to include many more
producers of coffee and other commodities around the
world.”
Michigan State Uni academic Daniel Jaffee on Mexico

5. MOVING AHEAD
 Challenge your generosity envelope
 Factor in some research time
Children: UNICEF www.unicef.org
Refugees: UNHCR www.unhcr.org
Fair Trade: Tribes and Nations:
www.tribesandnations.com.au
 Get help, offer help :
TEAR www.tear.org.au
World Vision Australia www.worldvision.com.au
Compassion Australia www.compassion.com.au
Anglican Aid www.anglicanaid.org.au

CCL Open Night - What to do with World Need?

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