As I start to write this, my weekly blog, I sense that I am at one of those crossroads we come across on our journey through life. I started writing my blog in March, last year and have so far written 70 articles on a wide range of subjects. Continue reading “Personal Cross-Roads”
Category: Poverty
People give to people
Years ago, soon after the formation of Kingscare (now known as Karuna Action), I attended a seminar which brought people together who represented Christian organisations working overseas. I can only remember one particular statement. It has stayed with me since.
“People give to people”.
- People don’t give to my organisation.
- People don’t voluntarily give to governments.
- People don’t give to causes unless they benefit real people.
- People don’t give to charities as such, they only do so if others will benefit.
- People give to people.
Why we should increase the minimum wage (UK)
The government of the United Kingdom says that is trying to encourage people back to work and reduce dependence upon state benefits. To do this, most of the emphasis has been on reducing benefits. I believe that rather than the stick of reducing benefits, more could be achieved by the carrot of increasing the minimum wage. In turn this would reduce our benefits bill and increase our national income through Income Tax, National Insurance, Value Added Tax etc.
There are about 1,350,000 people in Britain who only receive the minimum wage with a further 4 million earning less than a “living wage” (see below). Because it is impossible to support a family on this level, a great number of these will also be receiving state benefits. It is wrong that we, as taxpayers, should be subsidising companies who fail to pay a living wage to their workers. Continue reading “Why we should increase the minimum wage (UK)”
The joy of giving
It is good to give. It marks us out as different from the animals. We are made in the image of God, and He is a God who loves to give. We have a deep-rooted desire to give. That desire can be drowned by the cares of life and it is so easy to forget the joy of giving and harden our hearts to those in need through indifference and self-interest.
If we come across a fellow human-being in great need, there are a number of responses we make.
- We could be totally indifferent to the need and not consciously acknowledge that there is anything we should do. Continue reading “The joy of giving”
Social Justice (Worldwide)
When it comes to human relationships, love, compassion and justice must go hand in hand. In talking about social justice I am not talking about justice as retribution or punishment but as justice in the way we treat our fellow-man. When people are wronged, they may cry out for justice to be done, and often won’t be satisfied unless the wrongdoer is punished for their crimes against them. Social Justice demands that we correct the unfairness of society but does not demand retribution or punishment.
- 20,000 innocent children who die every day of preventable diseases cry out for justice.
- 1 billion people living in extreme poverty cry out for a fairer world system.
- Poor workers who satisfy western demand for things like coffee, chocolate, vegetables etc. cry out for a reasonable percentage of the final price.
- Millions, working as virtual slaves in industry cry out for freedom from exploitation.
- A million plus woman trapped in the sex industry cry out for respect and liberty.
- An estimated 127 million children working in conditions which are harmful to their health and welfare cry out for a decent start in life.
- Over 100 million children between 5 and 11, who receive no education at al,l cry out for at least a primary education so that they are not condemned to produce another desperately poor generation.
- 400 million children between 12 and 17 who do not attend secondary school cry out for the opportunities that education would bring.
Social Justice (UK)
Righteousness like a never-failing stream!
Social Justice is vital if a country claims to be morally as well as economically developed. The measure of a country is how the government and the people of that country treat the disadvantaged members of society. The Bible criticises those who exploit their workers, ignore the poor or do not look after the immigrant or the homeless. Sharing our resources is fundamental to the ideal of social justice.
In this article I am writing from a United Kingdom perspective, but the principles are true for all countries whether developed or developing. People are materially poor because of one or more of the following factors:
- Physical or mental disability which effects the possibility of employment
- Marriage breakdown causing a split into two households.
- Single parents struggling to balance a job and child care.
- Insufficient jobs with a meaningful salary.
- A major employer or industry closing down causing a disruption in the local economy.
- Choosing not to work and deliberately living off benefits. (I am NOT suggesting that more than a tiny minority could be classified as “scroungers” or “benefit cheats” but obviously there are a few who fit into this category.)
- Addiction to alcohol, drugs, gambling etc,
- Debt.
- Crime.
- Prejudice based on racism or class.
- Inadequate education, or failing educational achievement. Continue reading “Social Justice (UK)”
Changing the world one person at a time
I want to change the world! I have a vision of a world without extreme poverty; a world where everyone has the same opportunities that I have had. But I realise that I cannot do that on my own, and in any case, as an aim, changing the world is a bit vague. The world consists of people: we can only change the world, one person at a time.
So, this article is about one young lady whose life has been radically changed through a family in England who cared enough to sponsor her through Karuna Action, and a partner organisation in Sri Lanka. Buddika was brought up in a small hut built on the beach in Sri Lanka. Why build a house on the sand? Homes are built on the beach because poor people cannot afford to build anywhere else!
Without help, Buddika’s life would have been very different. Continue reading “Changing the world one person at a time”
Love and Justice
JUSTICE WITHOUT LOVE IS LEGALISM.”
God’s love in Action…
For many years the strap line for Kingscare (the former name of Karuna Action) was, “God’s love in action”. Love is voluntary, and is an excellent motive for giving.
- We need to be sure that our love is not condescending.
- It needs to be more than just sympathy.
- It must not be out of a sense of superiority.
- We can stand alongside the needy in the world, and stand up for them. That is where justice comes in.
Compassion and Justice 