2 of 2

Awareness is good. But more is needed. To emerge from poverty, destitute nations must declare war on corruption. It is common knowledge that on every level of official and unofficial business, bribes, crooks, and extortions are par for the course in many of the countries most plagued by poverty. So what if our government devotes billions of dollars in aid to end poverty if we cannot make sure that local officials at various levels won't keep big portions of the funds to themselves? That's why, if it were up to Fileta, he would cancel the debt of developing nations, provided a portion of the freed-up funds would be used to root out corruption.

Finally, a proven way to curb poverty dwells within the Great Commission: As we support churches and mission organizations that instill biblical ethics in the hearts of the corrupt, we weed out—human heart by human heart—those who would steal from the poor. It's a slow process, and we can't fancy its completion in 2005 or even by 2025.

But, at least in some hearts and some villages, it's bound to both save and change lives.

Copyright © 2005 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

CT's coverage of the G8 Summit and Live 8 include:

Jesus at G8 | Christian advocacy for Africa gains notice at top meetings. (July 06, 2005)

'Violence Gets All of the Attention' | Evangelical Yank activists complain about being upstaged by London bombings. (July 11, 2005)

Videos of Jars of Clay playing Flood and Show you love at Live 8 are available from AOL.

Make Poverty History offers a white band to show that "you are part of a unique worldwide effort in 2005 to end extreme poverty."

World Vision's G8 call to action is available on their website.

More about the concerts is available from the Live8 website.

Articles elsewhere on evangelical participation at the rallies outside the G8 Summit includes:

US evangelicals boost green lobby | Environmentalists are blaming US President George Bush and his friends in the energy industry for wrecking a G8 deal on global warming before he has even boarded the plane to the summit in Gleneagles. (BBC, July 5, 2005)

Bush goes with flow of rightwing tide | President guards his legacy but supporters start to show movement on vital issues (The Guardian, UK, July 5, 2005)

Poverty takes center stage | Rock stars, religious leaders and others show renewed zeal in war on world hunger (The Dallas Morning News, June 25, 2005)

Whose jubilee? | Powerful names in Christendom join music moguls to mount a seductive campaign to cancel poor-nation debt—a plan more likely to benefit oppressors of the poor than the truly impoverished (World, June 25, 2005)

'Earthy evangelist' changes US climate | Europe's environmental activists are not renowned for their faith in the power of prayer. But in the run-up to the G8 summit they should put their hands together for the Rev Richard Cizik. (Daily Telegraph, UK, June 23, 2005)

Christian activists welcome Live 8 opportunity | The campaign to end poverty in Africa will soon get a boost from some big-name entertainers, and Christian anti-poverty activists are welcoming the effort. (Canadian Christianity)

first page |  2 of 2

share this page

September 2005, Vol. 49, No. 9