Posted on May 16, 2009 - by ericholter

The Gospel and the Poor, by Tim Keller

The Gospel Coalition’s publication, themelios had an excellent article in volume 33, issue 3 by Tim Keller called The Gospel and the Poor. Tim Keller is pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York city and has well developed views on the church and urban life.

As I am looking to plant a church in Durham, NC, Lord willing in 2011 this article is of particular interest. Keller’s analysis of the call in the gospel to serve the poor is challenging. Yet he was clear that there are definite distinctions in what the church, as an entity, is itself called to do in serving the poor in contrast to other Christan means. He carefully and Biblically analyzes the responsibility that the people of God have toward the poor (whether the poor are in the church or not). While he’s careful to distinguish evangelism proper as distinct and more foundational than ministry to the poor, he yet contends that they are inseparable (though not in a rigid temporal way).

Keller offers three categories as the causes for poverty, namely: injustice and oppression, circumstantial calamity, and personal failure or irresponsibility. He demonstrates that while we might like to put people cleanly into one of these categories when contemplating how and when to minister to them, most of the time individuals who need help are a combination of all three.

While in recent American history there has been a fairly close alliance bewteen the church and conservative politics he offer a fair critique of political points of view on poverty. Conservatives typically see personal responsibility as the cause/cure of poverty while liberals tend to see poverty primarily as an effect of social injustice and structural inequities. His Biblical analysis points out that both are often named as causes of poverty. As Christians we ought to always be humble, and willing to provide help to the poor. Yes, slackness leads to hunger, yet “A poor man’s field may produce abundant food, but injustice sweeps it away” (Prov 13:23)

The ultimate take away for me was that the church always needs to be considering the needs of the poor. This may, in some limited ways, take the form of direct service to the poor. But perhaps more predominantly by teaching and applying the gospel is such a way that church members develop Christ glorifying compassion, generosity, eagerness for sharing, and willingness to help as individuals, citizens and participants in organizations that provide special services to the poor. Always, as he states “it should…be clear that the motivation for our aid is our Christian faith, and pains should be taken to find non-artificial and non-exploitative ways to keep ministries of the Word and gatherings for teaching and fellowship closely connected to ministries of aid.”