seeking the ‘why’ of poverty

At the present point in time, the most recent estimates hold that almost 800 million people are still living in extreme lack. Poverty is connected with almost all the scourges of the human experience: morbidity and early mortality, corruption and oppression, crime and conflict, terrorism, slavery, sexual violence, human trafficking and family breakdown are all intertwined with this affront to humanity.

Encouragingly, UN estimates claim that the target of halving extreme poverty was met five years ahead of the 2015 deadline and that more than a billion people have been lifted out of poverty since 1990. In 2015 alone, foreign aid received worldwide totaled US $160 billion, dwarfing the US $4.6 billion received in 1960. The largest success has been Eastern Asia (particularly China), with Southern Asia (including India) and South Eastern Asia taking significant strides. However, amongst leading thinkers in economics and sociology, considerable debate still rages as to why some communities remain in poverty whilst others progress rapidly out. 

In 2006, Colombia University’s Jeffrey Sachs made a compelling argument in The End Of Poverty that impoverishment is caused by ‘Poverty Traps’ that would only be defeated by a ‘Big Push’ of economic resource. At the same time, William Easterly (Sachs’ counterpart at New York University), counter-argued in The White Man’s Burden that it is actually the West’s continued intervention in developing communities that directly limits their growth potential.

Three years later, Oxford University educated Zambian, Dambisa Moyo, was far more biting, claiming in Dead Aid that gratuitous aid programs are in fact almost single-handedly responsible for crippling her African continent. Harvard University’s Amartya Sen, the recipient of the 1998 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, took a more reserved approach in Development as Freedom by pointing out that the denial of certain freedoms and capabilities is both the root cause and result of poverty.

Christian theologians – those who actively engage in the study of God, His character and His actions - argue that Christian theology can be an important voice at this table. The Bible is awash with the contrasting images of human flourishing and human impoverishment. Its library of 66 texts shows an incredibly nuanced - and remarkably balanced by contemporary measures - understanding of the complexities of poverty. In fact, the socioeconomic plight of humanity is so ingrained in Christianity that well-versed  theologians, and by extension the Christian communities that they have a mandate to serve, should have a very insightful  and ethical  contribution to the poverty discourse.

For instance, the Hebrew language [in which the majority of the Christian Old Testament was written], contains the word שָׁלַם , translated as ‘shalom’ and meaning ‘to be complete’ and ‘to be sound’: a state of wholeness and unity, and restored relationship. Though predominantly translated throughout the Bible as ‘peace’ – which in our English understanding is usually equated with an absence of strife or war – the Hebrew שָׁלֵם should be seen in the light of completeness, wholeness, harmony, fulfilment, functional and unimpaired relationships and the successful accomplishment of one’s undertakings. If there is a more decorative image of the antithesis of poverty, it remains yet to be seen.

Understanding the fundamental causes of poverty is an essential tool if we are to best address this scourge. The best research confirms that poverty is not a static phenomenon; identifiable causes help generate, and regenerate, poverty. Poverty is caused, people are provoked to become poor, and communities lack for a reason. There are recognized triggers, events and circumstances that virtually guarantee entrapment.

Knowing why people are experiencing poverty helps us to better design strategies to help. In fact, the ancient philosopher Aristotle believed that knowing why something occurs is of such significance that we cannot truly say that we know about a ‘thing’ until we have grasped why it came to be. So, do we want to understand poverty? Then we must understand why poverty happens.

In his work, Dr. Barnard helps people understand ‘Why poverty?’ He uses comprehensive theological research to help explain modern economic theory, while at the same time allowing robust sociological data to shed light on the Biblical texts. Importantly, he grounds his work in real-life data: interviews and surveys with the very people who are experiencing poverty. This is a completely new and innovative approach. 

Drawing on such extensive research, Dr. Barnard has developed a framework for understanding the causes of poverty: a framework that satisfies theory, remains faithful to Biblical teaching and is consistent with the voices of those that matter most. The principles are both universally applicable (they can be implemented anywhere in the world) and locally contextual (they consider the impact of the local environment). Furthermore, the principles are relevant for any group size: individual, family, community or nation.

Dr. Barnard uses this research to serve churches, schools, nonprofits and other organizations as they strive increase their impact when helping those in need.