Crown Advocates Four Steps to End Poverty

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Aug. 4, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- After years of traveling the world and the nation developing, observing and leading anti-poverty efforts, Crown Financial Ministries CEO Chuck Bentley noted that there is something important missing from current efforts … that Peter Buffet also observed.  "It is time to rethink how we seek to help the least of these, now numbering about 2 billion of our neighbors," said Bentley in a piece at RealClearReligion.

"Peter Buffet created an uproar when he famously coined a term in a New York Times article – 'the charitable industrial complex,'" declaring that a new approach was needed, Bentley said, in his article developed from a white paper presented at Christian Economic Forum, which selects delegates from across the world. The by-invitation-only event that just concluded brings together economic leaders to discuss faith-based solutions to business, financial and poverty issues.

Most multi-billion dollar charitable efforts provide short-term relief or long-term development. "I believe we may be missing the most obvious solution -- God's plan to escape poverty and thrive in mind, body and soul, found in His plan for the Jewish exiles in Babylon," said Bentley.

Step One: A Self-Sustaining Settlement -- "Build a house and settle down. Plant a garden and eat from your own garden" (Jeremiah 29:5). Eating from the fruits of your labor rank high in priority. This clear directive has many social and cultural benefits, and in modern terms equates to establishing a consistent source of income.

Step Two: A Growing Family -- "Marry and have sons and daughters. Seeks husbands and wives for your sons and daughters. Increase, do not decrease!" (Jeremiah 29:6) Economists like to see total population rise, because it means more people are earning money, expanding the tax base and paying for schools for the young and pensions and health care for the old.

Step Three: A Solution Oriented Enterprise-- "Seek the peace and prosperity into the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray for it, for if it prospers, you too will prosper." (Jeremiah 29:7). We are to build enterprises that will assist others to achieve their goals and objectives.

Step Four: Undivided Worshipers -- "Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you ... They are prophesying lies to you in my name." declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 29:8-9). A great failure of poverty eradication programs and economic development initiatives is refusing to acknowledge that the spiritual condition of people impacts everything.

"Christians are to serve the needs of others through peaceful means, but our ultimate aim is to be focused on making disciples," said Bentley. "This is counter-intuitive and turns modern capitalistic greed and aggression upside down. Our heart attitude must be to seek a win/win for those we are serving, putting others before ourselves, just as Jesus did."

Crown, a non-profit, empowers people with biblical financial understanding. Theirs is a strong, international grassroots organization with offices in the U.S. and overseas, founded by the late Larry Burkett.  For more information, go to www.crown.org, for interviews, e-mail: [email protected] 

SOURCE Crown