The scriptures are actually very clear that we are called to help the poor.

And if the Third World poor can actually become as wealthy as minimum-wage earning Americans, they'll soon be sending out missionaries of their own. It's already happening in many places.

I think there's a big difference between "the wealth that's been created without any of these principals (sic)" and what Jay and the author (and Scripture, for that matter) would deem true wealth.

Wealth without those principles is just mammon.

Maybe they're adding stories because they're following God's way of communicating.

I know I'm being a bit cranky, but it is hard for me to come out of reading The Blue Parakeet and then reject the narratives other people use to communicate.

It's entirely possible to get rich by destroying the environment. Of course, you can only do that for so long, but you can sure do it. But wealth does not prove you have God's blessing.

The point the author makes is that there are many places where poverty is caused by a destroyed environment. That's not the only cause of poverty, but it's very common in Third World countries. In such locations, if we don't address the environment, we don't address poverty.

He points out more broadly that poverty comes from destroyed relationships. Even in the US where the environment is less of a factor, where you find pockets of poverty, you'll find destroyed relationships. If you don't address the relationships, you won't address the poverty.

Interesting points. Certainly I too am for a clean and sustainable environment. But I'm curious how the author, or you, explain all of the wealth that's been created without any of these principals. For instance, during the Industrial Revolution there was a lot of wealth created but workers were treated poorly, as was the environment. Or India, which has one of the fastest growing economies, whose citizens are not right in their relationship with God (most are Hindu), does not treat their labor force well, and has an atrocious record on the environment.

Your point three is great, our relationship with ourselves is vital. I have repeatedly stated in pats posts that there are three commandments, that is Love God, Love all the people around you and Love yourself. A person with a low self confidence cannot advance past his or her poor self image.

The Gospel for Asia group talks about this in detail. Throwing money or diverting missionaries to charity is a mistake and takes away from the most important priority, that is preaching the Gospel. The person converted to the Gospel will have a better self esteem and be able to free himself from poverty both spiritual and material.

We have been to many food banks. That is a good work but it would have been more benefical to the person receiving food to have been taught the Gospel.

Anyway, that is why I stated that we need to have our Church meetings designed to feed the poor, make friends with them and share our self esteem in the Gospel. Isn't that what Jesus did?

Praise God for saving me

Bob