Then [Jesus] said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” Luke 12:15
“American culture is probably the least Christian culture that we’ve ever had because it is so materialistic and it’s so full of lies… The problem is people have been treated as consumers for so long they don’t know any other way to live.”
Eugene Peterson (1932-2018) from an interview cited by Brian Fikkert and Kelly M. Kapic in Becoming Whole: Why the Opposite of Poverty is not the American Dream (Chicago: Moody, 2019) 71.
While on leave, I have turned to this as my second book to read. After a recent zoom meeting between staff at The Chalmers Center and GTP, I was inspired to read it as both sides determined to get to know each other better.
We listened and learned about many good things at The Chalmers Center and how their work links to the famous book, When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty without Hurting the Poor…and Yourself.
I shared that at GTP we don’t approach the materially poor with a handout that creates unhealthy dependency but rather with a hand up to build them up as disciples. They rally resonated with this non-traditional approach.
I am grateful to God for opening doors for possible collaboration and for prophetic voices like Eugene Peterson. I am also sober about the fact that while our efforts make progress globally, it seems our own country is in as bad a shape as ever.
From reading this book, I see afresh how the consumer mindset has adversely impacted compassion. It leads God’s workers to think that to help people, we need to hand them something to consume, which paradoxically, leaves them more empty.
Jesus warned us of this. He taught that life is not found in having and enjoying an abundance of gifts. It is found in the Giver and only when we find out identity in Him, can we rightly enjoy and share His blessings and teach others to do this too.
Sadly about half the world has real needs. If we meet them from a consumer perspective, we actually compound the problem. I am grateful for groups like The Chalmers Center with whom GTP will likely collaborate to bring about lasting change.