Posted on 06/15/2005 3:25:37 PM PDT by Recovering_Democrat
The ONE Campaign: An Advocacy Letter From Rick Warren
The text of a letter, signed by high-profile evangelicals, challenging Pres. Bush to change U.S. policy toward the poor.
Dear Co-worker in Christ,
I have a simple request -- but it could determine whether millions live or die.
You've probably read in the papers about "The ONE Campaign: To Make Poverty History" that's been endorsed by a wide coalition of folks from all across the faith and political spectrum. Helping the hurting is something we all want to do.
I've never been involved in partisan politics--and don't intend to do so now--but global poverty is an issue that rises far above mere politics. It is a moral issue … a compassion issue … and because Jesus commanded us to help the poor, it is an obedience issue! He told us to do all we can to alleviate the pain of our brothers and sisters: "Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me." (Matthew 25:40, NKJV)
That's why John Stott, Billy Graham, and many other evangelical leaders are joining me in lending our names and prayers to this campaign. I deeply believe that if we as evangelicals remain silent and do not speak up in defense of the poor, we lose our credibility and our right to witness about God's love for the world: "If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?" (1 John 3:17, NIV) We are blessed to be a blessing to others, and certainly America, as the most blessed nation on our planet, has the greatest obligation to help those who are stuck in poverty around the world. Last month, I was in Kenya and Uganda, and then in Rwanda where the average income in that nation is 67 cents a day! Imagine trying to raise a family on that.
If you were hopelessly in debt, with no chance of ever getting out of debt -- or even your children getting out of debt -- you'd despair. But if someone cancelled all your debts -- as the Bible commanded Israel to often do -- you'd have the hope of a new future. The poor aren't asking for a handout -- they just need a hand up!
This summer, at the G8 conference, our nation has a historic opportunity to lead the world by showing a visible and significant commitment to the fight against global poverty, hunger, and disease. In early July, President Bush will gather together with leaders from the world's eight wealthiest nations in Edinburgh, Scotland, to discuss these very issues -- especially in Africa.
We all grieved when 250,000 lives were lost in the tsunami in Southeast Asia. But there is a health tsunami of that proportion in Africa every 12 days!
What can we do? For the past two years, I've had 4,500 of our Saddleback members quietly testing a prototype of our global P.E.A.C.E. Plan in 47 countries. It is a strategy for small groups in churches to show compassion. Once we have the template perfected, we'll share it with every church that's interested.
But there is something much simpler that you can do right now: Join me and other evangelical leaders in an open letter to President Bush that encourages him -- with our support and prayers -- to take specific, measurable actions to fight poverty, hunger, and disease at the G8 summit. Below is a copy of the text of this open letter we're sending.
All I need you to do is e-mail me back at rick@peace.gs giving your name and title, and I'll add your name to the list. Also you can visit www.one.org for more information.
If you can send a copy of your signature (preferably in a jpeg format) to add to the bottom of the letter, that would be great, but don't let that delay your response. We'd rather hear from you now.
Thanks in advance for showing your compassion for those suffering from disease, hunger, and poverty.
May God bless your ministry,
Dr. Rick Warren Pastor, Saddleback Church Author, The Purpose Driven Life
Dear President Bush,
Because:
ONE billion people around the world live on less than ONE dollar a day;
The US government spends less than ONE percent on overcoming global AIDS and poverty;
Citizens are uniting as ONE across political and religious divides to support action to overcome the emergency of global AIDS and extreme poverty. At the G8 leaders meeting on July 6th we urge you to:
Help the poorest people of the world fight poverty, AIDS and hunger at a cost equal to just ONE percent more of the US budget on a clear timetable;
Cancel 100% of the debts owed by the poorest countries;
Reform trade rules so poor countries can earn sustainable incomes. We urge you to lead an historic deal with other nations to help Africa and the poorest nations overcome global AIDS and extreme poverty. Together as ONE, we can Make Poverty History this July.
Sincerely,
Address: ____________________________________
City, State: ____________________________________
Zip code: ____________________________________
That being said, Bush has done a lot to eliminate AIDS and poverty. I wonder, really, if these "high profile evangelicals" have seen that Bush wants these poor countries to adopt freedom and capitalism as a lifestyle. Or do they just like throwing money--someone else's moneyy--at problems?
I appreciate Billy Graham and John Stott and Rick Warren, all of these men do a great service to the world as a whole. I think they're smart enough to understand countries need to be FREE before they can be prosperous.
he just gave away $40 billion! While in this country. we have 100 handout programs for every 1 person in need. I don't agree with the premise of his letter.
The more I hear from Warren, the more I wonder about his credibility.
Lets just say I respect his goals, but I am skeptical of his motives.
The other thing, while I support alms giving, I don't like government getting involved.
Something smells fishy on this one, I will have to do some digging.
From his website, more about his plan:
http://www.saddlebackfamily.com/home/todaystory.asp?id=7312
He's asking government to partner, but his emphasis is on churches stepping in to help overseas.
Just another compassionate but naive Christian. The problem of the poor in other countries is their GOVERNMENTS. The best thing to alleviate poverty is for the US to support the establishment of REAL DEMOCRACIES in other countries---NOT give "foreign aid" and "drugs to stop AIDS". That kind of thing is simply feel-good band-aids.
The problem is not a lack of money.
Must....resist.....making.....usual....comment....about.....Rick....Warren. :-[]
IMO, As long as a person has a continuous promise of charity they will never become self reliant. That being said, as far as the 3rd world poverty, It could be eradicated in a decade if DDT is allowed, bio-engineered food is made available and OK'd by that international organization that perpetuates poverty in the name of eradicating it. That would mean getting rid of corrupt dictators and western regimes that see nothing but profit in the perpetuation of "solving" poverty rather than doing it. There ain't no money to be had if the problems fixed....IMHO
By all means, let's help the poor, the hungry, and the sick—it is our Christian duty to do so. But let's really help them, and not simply pour more money into the bank accounts of international bureaucrats and Third-World kleptocrats. That will only make things worse.
I wonder if all the people who want the debts cancelled for Third World countries would also agree that no further loans should be made? If a country wants to borrow money, they can sell bonds on the free market.
Having said that I'm not going to blast Warren for this, or that matter question his motives as another poster has done. To me this letter sounds like a respectful request for a change of policy, not a Bush-bashing diatribe. And frankly I find that refreshing, and I'm not at all disturbed by that kind of disagreement.
I also think that the "100%" mantra that the extreme debt-cancelling advocates push for is politically chosen. It's a negotiation tactic. In other words, I think that if you cornered one of those guys in a room, and asked them honestly if they thought it was productive to cancel the debt of an evil dictatorial regime just because its subjects were poor, I think that at least some of them would agree that the answer is "no". But by asking for 100% they are moving the marker close to what they might consider a more realistic goal.
Evangelicals are free to give whatever percentage of their incomes they wish to relieve poverty in Africa. Hey, maybe instead of building mega-churches, they could divert some of those funds too fight hunger. But when they campaign to tax the rest of us for the purpose of confiscating our wealth to dole out to others, they are advocating a Protestant version of Liberation Theology - Marxism, plain and simple.
BTW, Stott is a Democrat. I think he is a fine Christian man, but he does htink the government is the answer to all our problems. I believe in ending poverty AND in promoting freedom. As long as you seek to end poverty by limiting freedom then you are not doing the right thing, imo. People should CHOOSE to end poverty, freely. Christians should lead the way. But you are not obeying God if your plan is Robin Hood style -- rob the rich to feed the poor. Warren should first sell everything he owns and give THAT to the poor. Then he will have room to ask things of others.
Thats why I'm asking you to join me in demanding that the US join its coalition allies in overthrowing every last one of the petty, murderous despots that persist in strangling the African economy generation after generation.
Thats why, in obedience to Jesus, we need to send in the mercs and take down Mugabe this week, and we can think about Khartoum next week.
I appreciate Stott and Graham, but I am wary of Warren.
You.....and.....me.....both...
Maybe Rick will agree to sell every thing he owns and give it to the President of Swaziland or better yet agree to send all book proceeds to the government of Swaziland.
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