Conversation Point

In This Moment

Romans 8 and the G-8 Summit

The G-8 Summit concluded this past week, eight men from leading industrialized nations, including the United States, having gathered in Scotland over an ambitious and historic agenda: eradicate extreme poverty on the African continent in our lifetime. Although these leaders meet annually, it was this year's agenda that drew international attention.

From Diane Sawyer's Brad Pitt interview several weeks ago, to the profound impact of the Live 8 Concerts around the world over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, most of the world is aware of the three point plan presented by Bob Geldof and Bono, organizers of the Live 8 Concerts: In order to help Africa move itself forward and heal, we, the wealthiest countries of the world need to increase aid, forgive the debt Africa owes to us and remove trade barriers that hinder African exports. The G-8 leaders agree they want to see Africa move forward, but do not agree on how to help make that happen. Britain came into the meeting wanting to offer more upfront aid, while our own United States government baulked at the idea.

The One Campaign website, designed to promote African relief efforts by obtaining the support of one person at a time, framed the basic desires of this movement: "We believe that in the best American tradition of helping others help themselves, now is the time to join with other countries in an historic pact for compassion and justice to help the poorest people of the world overcome AIDs and extreme poverty."

There are a number of reasons why this comes down to the very practical basis of why we should help people we don't know who live, quite literally, half way around the world: We are called to do so by our faith.

How many places does scripture direct us to care for those who have less than us, not out of pity, but because we can? How often did Jesus preach among his community members about sharing wealth, appreciating each person's contribution, and humanity as a whole? Do you remember the parables that Jesus told about investing resources wisely, instead of making the conscious choice to squander them, or hoard them away so no one could benefit from them, including the person doing the hoarding? The Bible is pretty clear about God's intent among us regarding distribution of wealth.

The Bible is also quite straight forward about forgiveness: When we are able to forgive each other, God also forgives us. Forgiveness of a burdensome, crushing financial debt seems to be one of the most gracious, simple and generous things we can do as a country to assist another country in creating stability within its own borders. Does the portion of the Lord's Prayer dedicated to exactly this premise mean anything if we cannot live into our words, repeated thousands of times in each of our lifetimes, in real, concrete ways? If, "Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors," doesn't include forgiveness of financial debt, what does it mean? We did not create the United States without help. Do we still owe France for what they contributed to our cause 229 years ago?

I believe our faith also speaks to the equality of worth of each person in God's creation. I Corinthians 12 is focused on this understanding as it discusses the distribution of God's wealth of Gifts among all believers. Everybody gets at least one. Everybody. Which means that helping people help themselves isn't so much charity as it is an act of reciprocity, free trade if you will, of God's spirit among believers of a shared faith. What is vitally important to remember is that, as St. Francis of Assisi wrote," It is in giving that we receive." When we give, someone else is able to give back, and the flow of abundance is made complete and continuous in God's grace.
During Ms Sawyer's interview with Brad Pitt, he paused over the idea that our generation can be know as the people that eradicated extreme poverty. He expressed humble awe at how incredible it would be to be remembered for making such a difference in the world for so many people. He is right.

Romans 8 is frequently quoted, at least parts of it. Verses thirty-one through thirty-six express such confidence in God that, even though the list seems crushingly endless on what can attempt to separate us from God's love, verse thirty-eight reminds us that, "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." We aren't just conquerors, we are more than conquerors, through him who loved us. As the world turns to recreate a relationship of support, forgiveness and reciprocity with Africa, we are not alone.

posted by Cory L. Kemp @ 8:27 PM