Toxic Charity

What is the honest nature of our charity towards others.

There once was a young man who lived next door to a older man.  Each morning the young fellow watched the old man struggle out to pick up his mail and newspaper at the end of his drive.  Without really thinking about the issue the young man decided to help out his neighbor by taking his mail and newspaper to his door each morning.  This went on for some time until one day he learned that his neighbor had been hospitalized due to failing heart conditions.  Upon further inquiry it was primarily due to his lack of exercise.  It hit the young man's heart that his good turn had actually contributed to his debilitation as the morning exercise to the end of the drive way was the only activity he could participate in.  In this case the neighbors charity had been toxic to someone he was trying to help.

I highly suggest before anyone engage in any kind of building program, that they read the book "Toxic Charity" by Robert Upton.  http://fcsministries.org/books/toxic-charity Mr. Upton is doing an excellent job in "outing" the infectiveness of much of what we do as the body of Christ.  The missions "industry" of the western church is wasting millions of dollars annually.  Much of what happens has little to do with the recipitant and more to do with "feel good" Christianity.



The western church has spent billions of dollars in Africa.  According to informed sources, it has had little impact on the continent nor the countries in which our missions serve.  If we were to hire local residents to build their own churches and schools by sending just the air fare we spend getting overseas, it could have a major impact on a local economy. 

In many cases the end recipients of our charity are not involved or consulted.  Unless there is community buy in then there is no ownership.  Tens of millions of dollars are spent on urban renewal annually with little or no effect.  We must learn to empower people not spend money on them.

 



Emergency aid is always necessary in some instances but continued unplanned charity does not empower it creates dependence.  Our own failures within the welfare networks stands as one of the biggest human failures of our time.  We have a legalized form of slavery that is all but impossible to escape.  Those who are captured in the system become the battery that fuels the political system that feeds the welfare windfall.  Welfare was always created for a short term solution to help people get on their feet.  It was never meant to be a generational entitlement to a segment of our population.

 



Lets take a look at one of the churches favorite activities,  the food pantry.  Many people I know enjoy talking about the "numbers" they feed each week.  They talk abut all of the familiar faces.  Inquires then occur about dependency.  As it turns out the same group visit the food pantries to all the other churches and do so with no end in sight.  Is this healthy?

 



Food Coop's are a much better solution.  Those who use the Coop earn what they take home each week.  This creates meaningful employment and allows those in need the dignity of earning their way.  Food Pantries should be used on a emergency basis only.  Counseling should ensue with each user to develop long term strategies for self reliance.  In some cases that may involve vocational training, temporary house and family counseling as need be.

 



We need to stop throwing money at the wall we call charity hoping something will stick.  We need to take a honest look at missions and decide who we are ultimately serving.  Its time to put an end to the missions industry to focus on sustainable solutions.  Above all ask the Holy Spirit for his vision before we institate any charitable work.  I truly believe its time for change.