Another important teaching written about by both Mark and Luke is the story of the poor widow. ‘Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the large crowd putting their money into the temple treasury,’ (Mark 12:41-44)
‘As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins, ‘I tell the truth’ he said, ‘this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put all she had to live on.’ (Luke 21:1-4) in this passage Jesus is saying that it doesn’t matter how incredibly poor or rich you are, anyone can give. What is important is the attitude and you give it with. Despite the widows poor amount she gave it was worth more than all the rich peoples. For if you give with the purpose of looking good, gaining publicly or reward, then your gift is worthless. This passage brings an important message of how we as Christians should act unselfishly.
In the parable of the Good Samaritan Jesus demonstrates that it is important have care for all people Luke 10:25-37 in this teaching a man comes to Jesus and he asks what he had to do to receive eternal life, Jesus told him to follow the scriptures, ‘love your neighbour as you love you love yourself,’ Jesus justified this, and told the man the story of the Jericho a man who was beaten and left to die, two people walked by and ignored him until a Samaritan who was travelling by ‘heart was filled with pity,’ and cared for the man.
‘Jesus concluded, ‘in your opinion, which one of these three acted like a neighbour towards the man attacked by the robbers?’ The teacher of law answered, ‘the one who was kind to him,’ only the Samaritan acted like a neighbour, Jesus told the man to go and do the same. This is one of the most famous stories of Christian responsibility for when a man was in serious need, someone helped him. For eternal life Jesus wants all Christians to do the same.
In conclusion to these references to Christian responsibility for other people each passage I have shown is relevant to the final point of ‘love thy neighbour’ Christians believe that each and everyone of us is responsible for each other and that every one should be treated as an equal there should be no rich and poor divide.
(AO2) Chose two specific example of problems faced by people in developing countries and explain how Christians might apply the beliefs you have identified to the problems.
In this short essay I am going study two countries in the developing world and to suggests ways a Christian’s might apply their beliefs I have identified to these problems.
Christians are modern day disciples that learn from the Bible about the true rewards charity. One of the most influential teachings being ‘the sheep and the goats’ Matthew (25:31-46) The passage tells us that to have eternal life we must we must be prepared to act like the sheep and care for others.
It was the goats that got it wrong, they didn’t help those in need in a variety of many situations. Jesus tells us a very important statement: that if you help someone in need then you are also Jesus himself and yourself as you will be rewarded when your time comes.
There are six main areas of need that are no different today, we should help others in this way-these are what the sheep (Christians) did/ should do to help;
- Hunger – the person is feed
- Thirst – the person is given water
- Stranger (a refugee?) – invited (welcomed) in.
- No clothes – given clothing
- Sick – cared for
- In prison – visited
Many agencies and charity organizations try to do these things for people today. For example, some people recognize the Salvation Army to work in all 6 of these areas across UK where people live in relative poverty. Other charities work aboard in LEDC’s, places of absolute poverty where people have no food, shelter or security, a situation for millions of people in the world. Charities such as CAFOD and Christian aid work there.
CAFOD is the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development. It is the official overseas development and relief agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales.
CAFOD has been fighting poverty in developing countries since 1962.
CAFOD act based on principles of compassion, solidarity, stewardship and hope. Confronted by immense poverty and suffering, CAFOD's most fundamental response is compassion. CAFOD also stands alongside excluded communities, sharing resources, uniting in prayer, defending rights and challenging the systems that keep people poor.
CAFOD draws its inspiration from Scripture, the Church's social teaching, and the experiences and hopes of the poor. Their mission is to promote human development and social justice in witness to Christian faith and Gospel values
Not only does CAFOD promote long-term aid by long-term development, helping people in need to bring about change for themselves through development and relief work but it also provides emergency aid responding to emergencies by providing immediate help for people affected by conflict or natural disasters.
An example of the is the work CAFOD do in the many countries across the world is that in Bangladesh, where the people face the problem, that despite 98 per cent of the population having access to wells or taps, only 70 per cent are currently drinking safe water. The falling water table, increasing salinity (salt levels in the water) and naturally occurring arsenic in underground water all pose threats to drinking water supplies therefore many people are at risk from dying of thirst or more likely from illness caught from the poor quality water. New technology is urgently needed to address these threats. Another high priority is the development of low-cost, hygienic latrines in villages.
The CAFOD-funded NGO Forum for Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation this is one of the main organisations working to improve water supplies in poorly-water served areas of Bangladesh. As a result of CAFOD’s funding the NGO Forum has been able to instal 55 rainwater harvesting systems to store rainwater for drinking and 15 arsenic removal plants to provide arsenic-free water.
This example of work from CAFOD shows great Christian responsibility, alike the sheep in Matthew (25:31-46) CAFOD are applying their beliefs; if people are of Thirst – the people are given water.
Another example of a problem faced by developing counties is natural disasters unlike the UK or America when natural disasters occur in LEDC’s it can take years to rebuild family homes and account for losses.
In January 2001 Raidhanpar village in Gujarat, India, was affected by a huge earthquake. Drawing on £1 million donated by CAFOD supporters to the earthquake appeal, CAFOD helped thousands of villagers to rebuild their lives. As part of the initial emergency response, CAFOD and Caritas (there partner charity) built more than 9,000 temporary shelters.
Just over one year later these shelters have been replaced by several hundred permanent houses made from earthquake-resistant, reinforced concrete. Villagers now own new houses – built with the help of CAFOD, and the local government to withstand future tremors. Local people were even involved throughout the rebuilding programme.
This is another example of how Christians apply their beliefs to problems faced by others; CAFOD is one of the many Christian organizations alleviating poverty, a great example of how Christians actually respond to world poverty.
(AO3) ‘Charity does not have the effect Christians want. It makes people lazy and keeps them poor’ do you agree? Give reasons and show you have considered more than one point of view.
I believe that although Charity can make some people lazy this is not always the case. Lots of people may agree and there are many good reasons for this.
For example in the UK there are thousands of poor and homeless people that become very reliant on either the government or relations. Eventually these people become dependent on this help to live and become lazy feeling that they do not have to work.
In a first world society such as ours people are able to rely on services such as the NHS and government funds to help them live, this is because the poor in the great Britain only live in relative poverty, in the UK the government has established a certain standard of living which people expect. Those who do not have the means to reach this standard are said to be living below the line of poverty. In Great Britain a poor person may have enough to eat, a home and even a car and many consumer durables; he or she on the other hand could be homeless and begging for money or food. In each case the person is poor relative to those around them, and according to life expectations and chances.
As a result, of this efficient service provided by Christians who’s reaction is to help others in need, I do feel that people are becoming a lot more lazy and leaning on the government to provide them with both money and homes to live in, this service not only encourages some people not to work to restore their life but, in some cases keeps people poor.
However, on the other hand in some places in the world charity is needed to survive. In many third world countries people rely on charity for simple day to day living. This is different from in the first world as people live in absolute poverty.
In the developing world many people have no shelter or food and little prospect of either. Many people unlike in the first world don’t even have access to the most basic of education or health care such conditions exist in much of the developing world, this poverty is seen as absolute.
People in the third world are unable to lean on the government or be lazy as they must work in order to survive, third world families struggle to receive the many things that we take for granted, basic things such as food, water, health, education and work, making charity a life saving option not a service.
In my opinion charity has varied effects, although it may make some people lazy and relent through aid in the UK, in developing countries I believe it is gods send. Through long term aid in countries such as Africa, it helps people build or rebuild a sufficient life, the key aim being self-sufficiency, becoming self reliant, and the country eventually managing on its own.
Bibliography
- St Marks Gospel and the Christian faith, Michael Keene
- The Holy Bible
- Contemporary moral issues, Joe Jenkins
- Letts study guide GCSE RELIGIOUS STUDIES 2003
Name: Laura Maria Meszaros
WORLD POVERTY
Candidate no. :
Centre name: NDHS
Centre no. :1851
Teacher : Mrs Hammersley