Christmas comes at an extremely hard time for many Alabamians. The nation is mired in the deepest and longest economic recession in the post-World War II era. Unemployment is higher than at any time since 1983. Alabama’s October unemployment rate of 10.9 percent was higher than the national average. In fact, 39 states had unemployment rates lower than Alabama, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
Home foreclosure rates recently set new highs for the ninth consecutive quarter, and home values continued a downward slide. What savings people had in the summer of 2007 when the recession started have largely been used up. Many have exhausted their unemployment insurance, and only an extension of that program by the government keeps them going.
Some economists talk about an economic recovery and point to the strong growth in the stock market since March of this year as evidence of a recovery. But most working people have not seen any signs of things getting better. Jobs are scarce. Wages are falling. Many people are scared.
Against this background, it may not be surprising that the Economic Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced Nov. 16 that hunger in the United States rose rapidly during the last year and is now at the highest level since USDA began tracking hunger in 1995.
Nationally 17 million households fall into the categories of low and very low food security. Someone decided those categories were more palatable than hungry. But the definitions spell it out. Low food security means people do not get enough nutrition and calories to sustain health. Very low food security means people go to bed hungry.
These 17 million households make up 14.6 percent of all American households. That is a little more than one out of seven households. If one considers only those who suffer hunger because there is not enough to eat, then that number is 6.7 million households — about one out of every 15.
Prior to the beginning of the recession, the number of food insecure households had been holding steady. In 2007, it was 11.1 percent. But the economic crash sent the percentage of hungry people shooting upward to a record percentage and at a record pace.
Not unexpectedly, there is a close relationship between food insecurity and poverty. Almost half the households living in poverty report low or very low food security.
Statistics from recent years show Alabama’s poverty rate has climbed to 16.6 percent, according to the USDA. More frightening is the fact that 23.6 percent of all children in our state live in poverty. That is almost one in four. Some Alabama counties report more than 46 percent of children living in poverty. The lowest percentage is 9.
If national trends apply to Alabama, then that means up to 12 percent of households with children do not have enough to eat and family members go to bed hungry. That is a terrible thing. It will take more than a Christmas food box to change the condition.
Baptists and other Christians are known for doing good deeds during the holiday season, but where is that same concern in the heat of summer? Where are Baptists when it comes to providing long-term care?
Judging from a survey conducted for the American Bible Society, most people do not know the Bible teaches concern for the poor, let alone that Christians should actively care for the poor.
A survey released Nov. 23 found that 54 percent of U.S. adults attributed a Bible verse about caring for the poor and oppressed to politicians and celebrities rather than the Bible. When asked the source of the saying “You must defend those who are helpless and have no hope. Be fair and give justice to the poor and homeless,” 25 percent answered it came from President Obama or the Dalai Lama. Others receiving credit for the saying included Martin Luther King Jr. and Oprah Winfrey. Only 13 percent attributed the saying to the Bible. Actually the verse is Proverbs 31:8–9.
Even though 80 percent of American adults claimed to be familiar with the Bible, more than half of those said the Bible offered teachings about heaven, hell, adultery, pride or jealousy. Few thought poverty and justice were even mentioned in the Bible.
If one looks only at Scripture texts mentioning poverty, then one finds more than 2,000 references. If one looks at passages dealing with poverty and righteousness, then there are more than 300. The Bible has more to say about poverty than any of the other topics mentioned above.
But too often, Christians have acted in ways that evidenced little concern or compassion for the poor and needy. Those who hear our words and see our actions conclude the Bible is not concerned with the poor, just as the survey found.
We seem to think that because Jesus said the poor are always with us, we have permission to ignore them or take advantage of them. We have not learned the Word of God recorded in Proverbs 29:7, “The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern.”
Even names for God in the Old Testament point to His concern for the poor. In Deuteronomy, God is Defender of the fatherless and widows. In 1 Samuel, He is Rescuer of the poor. The Psalms referred to God as Protector of the poor and Savior of the poor. Isaiah identified God as Provider of the poor and Refuge of the poor.
There is no question that God cares about the poor. It is equally clear that the Bible teaches concern and compassion for those in need. The only question is will we obey the Word of God?
One who obeys God’s Word will care about the growing number of hungry people, about opportunity to earn a living wage, about children fulfilling all the potential God placed in them at creation rather than having their physical growth and mental capacities stunted by lack of nutrition, about issues of justice and righteousness.
When we are doers of the Word, as James wrote in his New Testament letter, then everyone will know the Bible teaches care for the poor and God’s children are involved in letting the Father’s love for the poor be seen through their actions.
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