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I have been thinking a lot recently about the connection between welfare dependency and Christian 'good works'. Perhaps this has more to do with my missional context than yours, but please bear with me.
Welfare dependency is when people have received assistance (of a material, social or professional capacity) for so long that they become dependant on that assistance. The classic stereotype highlighted by A Current Affair is the dole bludger who refuses to 'get a job'. Obviously this stereotype, as with all stereotypes, is a gross generalisation that ignores the complex reality of each individual's story. Welfare dependency is a failure of the system to properly empower individuals to assist themselves. It can also be a failure of individuals to take responsibility for their own situation. It is compounded by issues such as mental health issues, long term unemployment, lack of job opportunities, being a single parent and the behaviour of well meaning social workers.
When welfare dependency meets with Christian 'good works' we have a problem. I use 'good works' here to mean those activities undertaken by Christians to help people. These activities can be purely from a social gospel viewpoint, or from a 'works as mission' viewpoint.
For a welfare dependant person (WDP) their relationship with a service is based on what they can receive. Christian groups that offer something to the WDP will be viewed as similar to any other service. The more involved the Christians get in the person's life, the more they become like any other of their 'workers.'
How do we do authentic mission in this situation? How do we avoid our messianic complex being fed by their need for us?
I don't have any answers for these questions. They are just some of the questions I am thinking through at the moment. What thoughts do you have?
I'm not sure...I'll have a think about it.
ReplyDeleteI've been thinking how it's interesting that so many people are saying how 'lucky' they are...that the wind has been in their favour, that they still have houses, that they still have lives...where does 'blessed' come into that? Is that just a Christian word? What is luck?
Also, how come at times like these we are allowed to say on national television 'Our thoughts and prayers are with you'...because usually that would offend somebody, so we'd have to add in every type of religious 'prayer' there is...so as not to offend somebody.
What is luck? What is science? A fire burns the available fuel, fanned by the wind and moving across terrain. It is possible to assess the threat of a fire on a property based on science.
ReplyDeleteThe wind change that came through on Saturday saved some communities and pushed the fire onto others.
There is science, but then there is also the chaos system of the weather. To assign God as saving some houses suggests that he chose not to save others. To suggest that God suspends science to save some people and yet lets science kill others is unfair, cruel and is not a God that I would want to follow.
As for prayer, it is a generic term. Most religions pray, or are at least comfortable with that word. "Thoughts and prayers" is a well worn cliche. I doubt many news readers and reporters who use the phrase stop and pray for the people they have suggested it to. But perhaps when we pause and think the best for those people that is prayer. Even if they aren't a 'believer' by our definition.