Justice to Charity

In Lawrence Mead's From Prophesy to Charity: How to Help the Poor, he argues that we must move on from Justice, and take a step towards Charity.

"The Good Samaritan rescues the man beaten by robbers not because his community expected this -indeed, it did not- but because of his personal compassion toward the victim."

Mead then goes on to apply this to today's society. He argues that, in order to be charitable, the poor need not have some kind of value applied to them by society.

"The poor need not have standing in their community. They need not be 'deserving.' Indeed, the Bible virtually defines them as the undeserving. We need not claim that they have been wronged [as Justice would seek to do]. We need not identify with them, claiming that they are citizens just like the more privileged. We need not deny obvious differences between the poor and nonpoor. Rather, in the sight of God everyone is unworthy, poor and nonpoor alike."

 When one takes this approach, it becomes impossible to ignore one glaring fact: we are all poor. If this is true, how might we then apply charity to our fellow impoverished brothers and sisters?

Thank You!

Many thanks to those who joined Hope at Chattanooga Valley Presbyterian Church this past Saturday for a training on Mercy & Justice in the church. We had a wonderful time! I was truly blessed by the discussions we had, and hope to continue this journey of learning and repentance with you! Living a life that truly shares itself with the poor is no easy task.

Justice & Mercy

He has told you, O man, what is good;
    and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
    and to walk humbly with your God?

                                             Micah 6:8 (ESV) 


So which is more important... mercy or justice? 
If we don't wrestle with this question, we are kidding ourselves! 
Hope for Northwest Georgia will be leading a time of conversation and learning on this subject at Chattanooga Valley Presbyterian Church on August 4th. 
Interested in Hope leading a training at your church or ministry? Contact the Hope office.

Toxic Charity: A Good Read

I am currently reading Robert Luptin's Toxic Charity. A good read -yes. A MUST read, really.

If you are involved in charity on any level, whether giving a regular tithe to your church diaconal fund, volunteering at a local non-profit, or enjoying full time employment in a local ministry, there is something for you. Actually, there is something in this book which you urgently need to hear.

Instead of attempting to re-word Luptin's already masterfully written work, let me instead include a short paragraph from his chapter entitled "The Anatomy of Giving":

Mercy is also a portal through which we glimpse the heart of God.  The tug on our heartstrings draws us in. But soon we encounter brokenness so overwhelming that neither tender heart nor inventive problem solver feels up to the task. Our solutions fall short. Pathologies are too deep, pathologies too entrenched. And we descend into our own poverty, a poverty of spirit, a crisis of confidence in our own abilities to rescue. And, like the broken, we find ourselves calling out to God for answers. When our best efforts have failed us, we are left with nothing to cling to but frail faith. ...In a strange twist of divine irony, those who would extend mercy discover that they themselves are in need of mercy. Out of our own need, we are readied for service that is both humble and wise.

...And that is just one gem from page 42! Read this book. I promise it will be well worth your time. Luptin has taken the time (40+ years) to learn that not all charity is good charity. Some can be quite deadly to both giver and receiver. However, Luptin does not merely tell his readers to stay clear of charity; but he instead spurs them on to be excellent in acts of mercy and justice, in the Lord's name.

Read this book.

Resources Available at Cherokee Libraries

EXCITING NEW RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS AVAILABLE THROUGH CHEROKEE REGIONAL LIBRARY SYSTEM

The Cherokee Regional Library System has acquired two new online resources with funds from the federal Workforce Investment Act. The funds were obtained through a grant written by the Walker County Certified Work Ready team. All items purchased with the grant benefit Walker County residents seeking employment.

Cypress Resume is an online service that takes users step-by-step through the resume writing process. The service has resume templates for hundreds of different professions. Users search through the database to select the profession for which they are applying. The end result is a personalized, professional resume written entirely by the Cypress Resume service. The service can be accessed for free from any computer with an internet connection.

The LearningExpress Library is an online learning platform that has helped millions of library patrons and students prepare for a wide range of career-oriented licensing and certification exams in health care, education, civil service, homeland security, and much more. The platform also has interactive tutorials to help users improve basic skills in reading, writing, and math, as well as prepare for high-stakes tests such as the GED, ACT, and SAT. The innovative platform includes self-paced interactive study, instant scoring, and diagnostic feedback, and can be accessed from any computer with an Internet connection. This platform will be an excellent resource for students of all ages, tutoring services, GED instructors, Home school families and much more.

A library card issued from one of the four Cherokee Regional Library System branches is required for login for both internet resources. The four branches of the Cherokee Regional Library System are as follows: LaFayette-Walker County Public Library; Chickamauga Public Library; Rossville Public Library; Dade County Public Library.

Trainings on how to use both services will be offered at the three Walker County branches throughout the month of May. The schedule is as follows:

May 15th at 10am: Chickamauga Public Library
May 15th at 4pm: Chickamauga Public Library
May 15th at 6pm: LaFayette-Walker County Public Library
May 22nd at 6pm: Chickamauga Public Library

The Forgotten Fifth

I have been reading about rural poverty in America recently, and came across a wonderful paper by William P. O'Hare, entitled "The Forgotten Fifth: Child Poverty in Rural America."

Here are a few facts that might interest you:

The rates of poverty in rural areas are highest in the most remote counties and lowest in counties in or adjacent to metropolitan areas.

"Rural children are not only more likely to be poor, they are more likely to be living in deep poverty..."

"...rural children are more likely  than urban children to be living in deep poverty. Ten percent of rural children lives in deep poverty compared with 8 percent of urban children."

Those living in rural poverty "tend to be poor for longer spells than their urban counterparts."

So in sum that is...

• Higher Rates of Poverty
• Deeper Poverty
• Persistent Poverty 

Review: What Every Church Member Should Know about Poverty

Where to begin? This is a great book. Written by Bill Ehlig and Ruby Payne, What Every Church Member Should Know about Poverty is an excellent resource for anyone interested in learning about poverty.
This manual-like book lends itself well to a Sunday school class, small group, or even a longer term study for a church diaconate, session, or other church leadership group. The book is grouped into 13 manageable chapters that divide nicely for both self study and group study. There are thought/discussion provoking questions at the end of each chapter. Also, don't miss out on the Appendix! It is full of statistical charts on poverty. Interested in learning more? Check out the bibliography in the very back. It is loaded with resources for further study.
But now let's get down to the subject matter of this book. What exactly should every church member know about poverty? Well, for starters, the hidden rules among classes, which are key to understanding how to begin relating to the poor (see chapter 2). It is quite easy to maintain an us-and-them view of the poor, thus keeping oneself at a safe distance; however, if one moves beyond this into a state of self-examination, it becomes all but impossible to see personal blind spots, short-comings, and weaknesses. After all, how can we really go about loving someone if we cannot first catch a healthy glimpse of our own sins?
I won't waste time summarizing the whole book but will instead encourage you to read it for yourself! It will be anything but a waste of time, I assure you. I realize it can be tempting to believe that, if you currently have "no contact" with the poor, there is no reason to read such a book. Read the book. Then we can talk. I am willing to bet (not that I am a betting lady) you will never sees things in quite the same light.