Please disable your Ad Blocker to better interact with this website.

Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image

Affluent Christian Investor | December 8, 2023

Select a Page:
Select a Page:
Scroll to top

Top

Uncategorized
No Comments

Toxic Charity: Lessons from Bob Lupton

I recently had the opportunity to hear Bob Lupton, author of Toxic Charity: How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help (And How to Reverse It), speak at the co-lab conference in Chicago.

I was especially struck by his take on the receivers’ response when we offer charity:

  • Give once and you elicit appreciation;
  • Give twice and you create anticipation;
  • Give three times and you create expectation;
  • Give four times and it becomes entitlement;
  • Give five times and you establish dependency (Lupton in Toxic Charity, p. 130).

The system of charity is broken: Necessary for short-term relief, charity is like putting a Band-Aid on a broken bone.  As Lupton says, long term it reinforces the underlying issues of poverty—hopelessness, powerlessness, and helplessness.  Affirming the superiority of the giver, it subordinates the receiver.

As Christ followers, we are called to something better.  Christ came to break the cycle of spiritual and physical poverty.  Therefore, let’s not create dependency.   Instead, let’s encourage the poor to use their God-given talents and skills.  Let’s uphold and affirm the poor’s dignity.

____________________________________________________________

Read an interview with Bob Lupton in Christianity Today: How Charity Can Be Toxic, Just in Time for Christmas.

On the topics of relief, aid, and charity:

· “Aid is not the Answer”

· “Why Telling One Story Isn’t Enough”

· “Why We Need to Listen to the Poor: HOPE’s Untold Story”

 

Join the conversation!

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, vulgarity, profanity, all caps, or discourteous behavior. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain a courteous and useful public environment where we can engage in reasonable discourse.

Trending Now on Affluent Christian Investor

Sorry. No data so far.

Right Report

ALERT: CHINA JOE Determined To DEMOLISH US Economy, Make Prices EXPLODE & Kill THOUSANDS Of Jobs By Doing THIS!
America's Freedom Fighters
ALERT: CHINA JOE Determined To DEMOLISH US Economy, Make Prices EXPLODE & Kill THOUSANDS Of Jobs By Doing THIS!
White House Propagandist Karine Jean-Pierre Says It’s ‘Stunning’ GOP Demands Secure Border: ‘History Will Remember Them Harshly!’ (Video)
Conservative Firing Line
White House Propagandist Karine Jean-Pierre Says It’s ‘Stunning’ GOP Demands Secure Border: ‘History Will Remember Them Harshly!’ (Video)
*NEW* BREAKING: Pentagon Set To Deploy These TERRIFYING WEAPONS Against Humans [W/VIDEOS]
America's Freedom Fighters
*NEW* BREAKING: Pentagon Set To Deploy These TERRIFYING WEAPONS Against Humans [W/VIDEOS]
The True Story And Meaning Of The Hanukkah Holiday
The Lid
The True Story And Meaning Of The Hanukkah Holiday
Missouri Sen. Schmitt Files Proposal To Dismantle DEI Offices In The Federal Government (Video)
Conservative Firing Line
Missouri Sen. Schmitt Files Proposal To Dismantle DEI Offices In The Federal Government (Video)

What We’re Looking At Today

  • Full video: Jordan Peterson on the Channel 4 Controversy and Philosophy of "How to be in the World"
    January 28th, 2018
  • Be Grateful for the Intelligent Design of Your Eyes
    December 23rd, 2017
  • TAX REFORM: The Most Important Things You Need to Know
    December 22nd, 2017
  • What Is 6th Gear? » Intermittent Fasting And Keto
    December 18th, 2017
  • DiscoveryInstitute
    December 7th, 2017
  • The King’s Choice – SAMUEL GOLDWYN FILMS
    October 12th, 2017

    • Follow Us

    Facebooktwitterrss

    Like us on Facebook

    Affluent Investor

    The Affluent Mix

    Become An Insider!

    Sign up for Affluent Investor's free email newsletter and receive a free copy of our report, "The Christian’s Handbook For Transforming Corporate America."