Last week we learned that only 1.9% of churches’ outreach ministries focus on helping those in need find and keep meaningful work. The majority focuses on providing food, clothing, and shelter. Relief activities are extremely helpful, especially in times of crisis and great need. Churches have even used food, clothing, and shelter as ministry tools to share the gospel. But, relief efforts are rarely enough to lift people out of generational poverty. Although they have met immediate needs, if left unchecked these efforts encourage dependency and diminish the dignity of men and women. Relief efforts often harm more than they help.
According to Maimonides’ Eight Levels of Charity, the greatest level of charity is to support someone by “… giving a gift or loan, or entering into a partnership with him, or finding employment for him, in order to strengthen his hand until he need no longer be dependent upon others ...” A job does this. If a man or a woman has a job, he or she is empowered to provide for himself/herself. What if a prostitute, an ex-offender, a welfare mom all had meaningful work? It would change everything.
So, I surveyed my friends and colleagues and asked them why. Some are pastors, elders, ministry leaders, seminary professors, nonprofit professionals, stay-at home moms, and your “average” congregate. Each are believers in the gospel, involved in their church beyond Sunday morning, and have a heart to serve others for the Lord’s name's sake. I have not coached them. I just asked them this question, “Why doesn’t the church use work as a mean to attack poverty?” Here are their voices — their top 10 reasons why.
#10 Afraid to face the sins of our systems, society and self.
When helping someone in need find a job, especially someone who is a product of generational poverty, we learn how a broken system can, in some instances, perpetuate poverty. Take responsibility for your actions! That’s what we say. But we live in a fallen world, and our influential leaders, with our help, have created systems honoring the privileged and underserving the poor. Exposure to this injustice can further reveal the brokenness in our hearts, the role we played, the stereotypes we hold dear, and how we do ministry.
#9 Blinded by the old work ethic adage — if you work really, really hard, you can make it.
Many believe that poor people are the problem. Be the captain of your destiny. That’s not necessarily reality. Can we, in good conscience, tell a child, yes you can succeed, even though you attend an under-performing school, your dad isn’t around, and you are distracted by the violence on your street? We will say it. But, we know deep down this child will start life below a level playing field. Realistically, which one of us have ever had any success without someone stepping in to open our eyes, give us wisdom, or open up a door for us? We can attest; it takes more than hard work.
#8 Don’t want to admit that maybe we have been “doing ministry” wrong.
It is difficult to admit wrongdoing. Our pride is prone to well up. We think it makes us weak. But, it takes tremendous fortitude to say, “I was wrong, I’m sorry.” It shows your strength, it builds trust, and retains respect.
#7 Too busy being busy.
I need a job. My job is crazy. I have to do this and that. I have to go here and there. I, I, I … We are distracted by taking care of ourselves, providing for ourselves, and mostly entertaining ourselves. We have no time. It is a self-centeredness that becomes the foundation of our lives and it competes with our calling. What would our lives look like built around loving Jesus and loving our world?
#6 Sustainable change takes too long.
When we feed or clothe someone, we see results fairly quickly. Hunger is satisfied within the hour, and warmth is achieved in minutes. We are immediately gratified. Real change is not a sprint, but it is a marathon. We all know what is required to change a habit. A 2009 study from the UK Health Behavior Research Centre indicated that it takes 66 days to genuinely make or break a habit, to the point where that new habit becomes your default behavior. Change takes vision, commitment, strategy, intentionality, a plan, and accountability. It takes time.
#5 Feel inadequate.
The problem is so vast and complex. Three billion people in poverty worldwide. Two hundred thousand people unemployed. Poverty, crime, sex trafficking, unemployment, and on and on. Anyone would feel ill equipped and under-resourced to attack such massive issues. But, what if I told you that in most instances a lack of a job is not the problem? Or you don’t have to be an expert or have tremendous amounts of funding? It is about identity, character and community. Everyone needs to know that they are made in the image of God, with value and worth. You are not your past or your mistakes. But God has created you to work; He has given you a purpose. Additionally, employers are searching for employees with strong character. Will you show up on time? Are you dependable? Employers will teach someone a skill before they will tolerate a breach of trust.
Lastly, everyone needs a healthy community, people to walk alongside you, encourage you and open up their networks. Who better to do this than the church? The church is uniquely positioned to tell people about their identity in Christ, to help build strong character, and to foster a supportive community. Teaching the world what God says about work, you don’t need a degree or special training to do this.
#4 Uninformed.
Believers know that they must care about the poor but may be unfamiliar with how some charity can sometimes harm those in need. We see scriptures like Proverbs 19:17, “Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deeds”. And we live out this scripture by giving money. We are rightly motivated, but our intentions become problems. Some are unfamiliar with organizations like Jobs for Life or have never read books like When Helping Hurts, by Brian Fikkert and Steve Corbett. Bob Lupton says in Toxic Charity, “When we do for those in need what they have the capacity to do for themselves, we disempower them”. This concept is even supported by scripture. Leviticus 19:9-10 says, “’When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God.” This is a great example of empowering someone with a job, helping them to provide for themselves.
#3 Building relationships are messy.
One survey participant stated about relationship building, “That's getting up close and personal with people and their lives and their "stuff" the good and the bad. That's not easy, so we do food drives instead. For Thanksgiving my church fed 100 families and the whole church cheered. But who knows what those people ate once the leftovers were gone.” In this line of work, we can’t just write a check and be done with it. That’s easy. We have to build sincere and meaningful relationships between two individuals that are broken and culturally and economically different. There are ups and downs, frustrations and disappointments. But, the joy on the other side far outweighs the challenges faced. The beauty in these relationships is that transformation occurs both ways because God miraculously uses it to build our faith in Him.
#2 It’s too much work.
Along with the messiness of building relationships, we have to exert the required time and energy to stay committed to the mission. It takes intentionality, a plan, and a team. It is not for the faint of heart. Over 400 ministries and churches are already devoted to this cause and holding Jobs for Life classes in their community. Churches, like Woodlands Church in Wisconsin, are on the frontlines everyday. When we get in the game, we are contributing to work that has already started. And, the Spirit of God, the creator of the universe, will empower us to do His work.
#1 It is nontraditional ministry.
Since the start of the twentieth century the church has separated itself from social justice issues. According to When Helping Hurts, in the early 1900s Evangelicals distanced themselves from the social gospel movement due to theological differences. As a result, shifted from poverty alleviation and outsourcing the work of caring for the poor to nonprofit organizations and the government. But the original church, in the book of Acts, describes a church that ministered to both the physical and spiritual needs of the poor. This is a model that we can emulate. Jesus ministers to us in both word and in deed. We are called to be just like Him.
Next week we will share real life stories, examples, of what happens when the church uses work to attack poverty. Stay tuned.
For more content like this, visit Strive.
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