Torch, Fall/Winter 2010

2 TORCH | Fall–Winter 2010 WILLIAMWALSH | ISTOCKPHOTO W hen a friend of mine visited Calcutta, he met a local Indian who led him through the city. Shaken by the sight of overwhelming poverty, disease, and hopelessness, my friend asked the man, “Who takes care of these people?” He stopped and looked at my friend with a steady gaze. “The Christians,” he said, “only the Christians.” My friend’s story makes me grieve and rejoice at the same time. Just as the Christians in India are serving, the reality of poverty in our world should drive us to serve like Jesus. As we examine a biblical perspective on poverty and wealth, we need to acknowledge challenges and disagreements in methods and philosophies without failing to remember our simple task — to engage the culture by being the voice, hands, and heart of Jesus Christ. Defining the Needs Understanding how to respond to poverty is difficult because the dynamics of poverty and wealth differ dramatically around the world. What is poor in one part of the world may be considered wealthy in another. Who Takes Care of the Poor? by William E. Brown, Ph.D. We understand that Christians should help the poor, but questions about how we should be involved often keep us from rising to the challenge.