We were not created to become permanently vulnerable or to embark on a life of social exclusion….I cannot help but think that very little has changed. It is very easy to explain away the problems of poverty but considerably harder to eradicate it.
Historically, ‘they’ were envious of a mans horse, today it is his Range rover! Only technology has changed. Yes, communication has highlighted the problems, but doesn’t solve them. So easy to philosophize, harder to become less selfish in a material, throw- away world!

James has the answer..Chapter 2..’ Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him. “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed”, but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

I rest my case……

I am still enjoying a mixture of shame and encouragement after hearing a sermon this Sunday on Nehemiah 5 from our link Bishop Samuel of Nzara, South Sudan. He and his colleagues bless us and heal us more than I think they can ever imagine when they visit us (Salisbury is the link diocese for the Sudan’s). They reposition our understanding of church and our personal responses to the gospel which are knocked so out of kilter by the modern world.

I am totally convinced that the Sudanese church gives more to us than we do to them, despite the material generosity of our diocese. For starters we get great, direct biblical teaching delivered by those who see its relevance and effectiveness to daily life. Many of our parishes rarely get this; they are losing a lot.

When personally confronted by poverty our wallets cough up some small words; we the church need help to know how to use the bigger words and to whom we should address them in our land. The electorate isn’t listening.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/art-news/10056505/London-takes-90-of-all-charitable-arts-funding.html

And excellent piece, by the way.