Poverty: From Christianity perspective
Poverty: From Christianity perspective
Poverty: From Christianity perspective
Pope Benedict XVI's in his New Year message to mark the World Day of Peace called for to fight poverty for peace. The pope makes clear that the way to build peace is to fight poverty. He quotes Pope John Paul II: "The conditions in which a great number of people are living are an insult to their innate dignity and as a result are a threat to the authentic and harmonious progress of the world community."nt from Pope, the spiritual leader of Christianity and verses from bible make it clear that Christianity does not see poverty as a virtue rather it is a social evil that need to be corrected.
According to Christian faith God has special love for the poor. God has special commands to care for the poor. Blessings are on those people who care for the poor. God has identified himself with the poor. Following are few verses from the holy bible to prove the point. Bible has more than 300 verses on poor, Social Justice and God's concern for both.
Isaiah 25:4 You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat. For the breath of the ruthless is like a storm driving against a wall.
Deuteronomy 15:7 If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother.
Deuteronomy 26:12 When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied.
Proverbs 31:8 Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.
Isaiah 1:16-17 Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong, learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.
Matthew 5:42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
Psalm 41:1 Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the LORD delivers him in times of trouble.
Proverbs 19:17 He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done.
Proverbs 22:9 A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.
Isaiah 58:10 "And if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday."
Matthew 19:20 All these I have kept, the young man said. What do I still lack? Jesus answered, If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
Luke 12:33-34 "Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Proverbs 14:31 He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.
Ezekiel 16:49 "Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy.
Amos 5:12 For I know how many are your offenses and how great your sins. You oppress the righteous and take bribes and you deprive the poor of justice in the courts.
Luke 6:24 : "But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort."
1 John 3:17 If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?
Leviticus 19:15 "Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly."
Proverbs 29:7 The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked has no such concern.
Matthew 6:24"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money."
Proverbs 14:31 He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.
Proverbs 19:17 He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him
How to eradicate Poverty
It is evident from above verses that God has a great love and concern for poor. In the same bible he has mentioned way to help poor and mentioned about charity in many bible verses. Few can be quoted here.
A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
Proverbs 11:24-25
So that you're giving may be in secret. Then you're Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Matthew 6:1-4
But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."
Luke 14:13-14
If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?
Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
I John 3:17-18
Christian Louboutin and his Brand Would Christians And Athiests Eat Pork, Sausage, Bacon And Ham If They Knew It Was Killing Them? Christian Prophecy from Moses to Paul Christian Prophecy Today The Choice in Christianity Are You I Need Of Christian Resources Christians: You dare worship man: and leave the worship of God? Gahanna is your abode Christianity. Winner Or Loser The Work Of A Christian Ministry In The 21st Century Mens Christian Rehab .solstices :christian , Roman, Or Pagan. Christian Bible is the essence of your life Christian Ministries Provide Real Help For the Poor