Is the Church's Responsibility to Help the Poor Spiritual or Financial?

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (April 9, 2014) – Findings in a new research study conducted on behalf of Compassion International by Barna Group reveal that a majority of Christians believe global poverty is a spiritual problem with a financial cure.

“Though many Christians may agree that extreme poverty is a problem that requires both spiritual intervention as well as financial investment, most people do not currently see options for action beyond donating money or volunteering,” said David Kinnaman, president of Barna Group. “Most Christians do not see prayer and fasting as legitimate disciplines to address the problem of global poverty. While survey research cannot reveal causal relationships, it may be that this neglect to the spiritual responsibility of the Church to fight global poverty, in turn, affects people’s desires to give of their time and money.”

While 62% of practicing Christians have made a financial donation to a nonprofit organization to help those in extreme poverty and 40% of practicing Christians volunteered for a church in helping the global poor or disadvantaged, few engaged in the movement to eliminate poverty beyond a financial donation or volunteered time. “I believe that God wants us to eradicate global poverty, and he has given us the necessary resources to do it” said Scott C. Todd, senior vice president for global advocacy for Compassion International. “The trouble is with our theology of power. We simply do not comprehend the power within us. We are quick to say that we have no power, but that’s false humility. We can end global poverty, but only through constant prayer, leaning not on our own understanding. We are praying with our sleeves rolled up as we draft a strategy and get to work. That’s how we will end global poverty.”

Dr. Todd’s new book, http://www.hoperisingbook.com