Torch, Fall/Winter 2010

Fall–Winter 2010 | TORCH 9 Biblical Responses to Poverty and Affluence a moderated discussion between Dr. Marvin Olasky and Rev. Jim Wallis Last spring, faculty joined with prominent evangelical thinkers to articulate a biblical response to poverty and affluence. On March 11, Dr. Marvin Olasky and Rev. Jim Wallis participated in a discussion on this issue moderated by award-winning journalist Rob Moll ’01. The following is an edited excerpt from the evening’s program. Mr. Moll: As a graduate of Cedarville, I enjoy coming back and seeing how the school has progressed since I was a student. I’m especially pleased to see how the school has taken on the challenge of critically engaging with our society. The Gospel is for the good of the whole world and all the people who are in it, but the good news requires messengers who will carry it and make its message real. In that spirit, we have a question before us tonight: How do Christians respond to the disparities of poverty and affluence in our world? We have two of the most qualified Christians in this country to discuss it with us tonight: Dr. Marvin Olasky, provost of The King’s College in New York City and editor-in-chief of World Magazine , and Rev. Jim Wallis, president and CEO of Sojourners and editor-in-chief of Sojourners magazine. Mr. Moll: Let’s begin our discussion with opening remarks from each of you. Dr. Olasky: The best way to bring about change in society is one-by-one, from the inside out, rather than an attempt to force change from the top down. I hope tonight we will be able to talk about what it means to exercise effective compassion to really help change lives in a way that history and biblical teaching tell us actually works. Rev. Wallis: The stories I find inspiring are those of the great movements sparked by faith that led to powerful social reforms like the abolition of slavery, women’s suffrage, civil rights, and the end of apartheid in South Africa. I don’t believe the answer is just in private charity. That simply is not enough. The God of the Bible is a God of justice, not a God of charity. I also don’t think government is the answer to everything. I believe social movements change hearts and minds, communities, policies, and structures. The best social movements in our history have always had people of faith at their core. Mr. Moll: It seems to me that power tends to aggregate — the powerful tend to grab more, and the powerless have fewer and fewer options. Do you see a role for the government to keep a level playing field? Cedarville’s Critical Concern Series uses a biblical framework to explore complex contemporary issues that affect our culture.