We in the American church have another problem that clouds our perspective on the reality of poverty. Because of our culturally derived attitudes, we've emphasized the 'right' of Christians to be prosperous to the de-emphasis of ministry to the oppressed and poor. Scripture does indicate that the redeemed of the Lord will prosper. In Church Growth terminology this is called "Redemption and Lift". Once a people or community has been largely redeemed, there will be a dimension of social economic lift that is measurable over a few generations.

So while it is true that we can expect to prosper, there is a purpose for our prosperity. We have become a part of the redemptive plan of God in meeting the needs of people less fortunate than we are as a community and as a people.

The fact is that there is much more said in Scripture about poverty than prosperity. The Bible gives us clues to the nature of poverty by the words used to describe it. In the Old Testament the word for poverty used 122 times actually means "oppressed poor". As in Ps. 72:4 as in many other places, poverty is linked with oppression rather than excess.

Psalms 72:4  "He will defend the afflicted among the people, and save the children of the needy, He will crush the oppressor."

THE MERCY OF GOD
Throughout history because of the sin and greed of man and the work of Satan, human economic, social and religious institutions have been tainted and often work to enslave and oppress the very people they were set up to serve or govern.

Many poor people are not only victims of their own misguided lifestyles, they are also victims of institutional oppression. Because of the tyranny of these forces, people are driven from their places within society to a poverty level - unable to care for themselves.

Jesus graphically identified with the poor people of His day. He spent most of His public ministry time with people in the market places and streets, rubbing elbows with the sick, sinners and the poor, seeking to liberate them from whatever enslaved them. Jesus can give us courage to minister to the poor in our day. He can open our eyes to see the oppressed poor in our community and give us direction as how to best minister to their needs.

For too long, many of us have expected government to take care of all the poor and disenfranchised. We are capable of much more in the way of practical aid to these people dear to the heart of God.

For example, several years ago our fellowship in conjunction with a county mission refurbished 38 homes of the poor and handicapped in a program called, "Operation Love". We donated time, labor and materials to significantly improve these dwellings. In addition, God has led us to give significant portions of our financial resources to aid the poor in the community and abroad. We are still novices in the ministry to the poor, but we are learning to obey God when He gives us direction in this ministry.

Matthew 25:40   "The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for Me.’

Since the late 1940's the American church has been much concerned with saving the lost. For several decades the church has thrown its resources behind massive "Evangelistic Crusades". While many thousands have found Christ in these crusades, the church has fallen short in many cases of making decisions.

As a religious community the church has naively expected the lost to "come to church" to be saved. To correct our mistake we can follow Jesus' example in evangelism. Jesus met the lost and ministered to them on their 'turf' even though religious people criticized Him for it. After an encounter with Jesus in their own environment, the lost not only made a decision to accept Jesus as Messiah, they became true disciples whose lives were radically altered by the power and love of God.