Poverty in America is Increasing

Recently the US Census released a report noting that the number of people living in poverty in America has grown considerably over the past decade. A news reporter in Pittsburgh contacted me to gain my perspective on the issue of poverty in America, since I intentionally live in a community with a high level of concentrated poverty. The article should come out this weekend, but what I shared with the reporter was that a lot of the poverty in America happens out of the view of "mainstream" society. American culture is set up in such a way that poverty often occurs in isolated pockets or neighborhoods, so when a study like the one from the US Census comes out middle-class and affluent people are often surprised to know that there are so many people living in poverty in America. The number one issue facing people living in poverty in America is isolation. The people I live and work with in Homewood experience isolation from the multitude of opportunities that many middle class or affluent people take for granted, and often that isolation goes back generations in families.

From a pastor's perspective, I believe that the church should be greatly disturbed by millions of people living in poverty in America. Before we can do something about the people who are struggling in our own country, we must first face the reality that there are millions of people living in poverty. We must seek to understand to root causes of poverty, and then as Christians we have a clear biblical mandate to do something about it. So where do we begin in the process of addressing the issue of poverty in America? In my opinion, people with access to resources and influence must build meaningful relationships with people living in poverty. That means going where they are, without an agenda, and making attempts to get to know people at a heart level. Over time, once those relationships are built, then the solutions to issues facing people in need will begin to surface. Often, people living in poverty are able to identify for themselves the solutions to their own situations if they are encouraged and motivated by people who are willing to help them. Programs should always come after relationships have been built over a long period of time.

Poverty in America is complex. The causes of poverty are complex, and therefore the solutions to poverty must be equally complex. The church has a unique role to play in society in terms of serving people in need, but the church is not the only answer to poverty. People's needs are not just spiritual... the church should be about the business of alleviating poverty by taking a holistic approach to helping people. Churches should build partnerships with institutions. We should be in the business of empowering people and removing barriers that generate isolation. Compassion is wonderful, and it is often needed. However, compassion is the low hanging fruit when it comes to helping people. Christians should also be involved in powerfully advocating for people in need, giving themselves away to others for the sake of advancing the Kingdom of God and ushering in increasing levels of shalom in our world.