Customer Reviews

Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger: Moving from Affluence to Generosity

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I first read this book five years ago, and have not been able to look at the world through the same eyes ever since. For fear of treading on theologically "taboo" grounds and/or jeoporadizing contemporary Protestant notions of "salvation," many evangelical Christains have often shied away from concerning themselves with social and ecological issues. However, it is to this neglect that Sider holds Christians accountable in this volume, and I doubt that one could read this book and come out on the other side unaffected in some way.

Though at times this work might err on the side of diatribe, Sider has nevertheless done a fine job of providing statistics, history, and Biblical evidence (see below, however) to support his bold call for Christians of all backgrounds -- and evangelicals in particular -- to be aware of and concerned about the grave economic imbalances that exist between and the consequent injustices resulting from the wealthy and resource-gobbling Western Europe, America, and Japan on the one hand, and the remainder of the developing world on the other. These imbalances and injustices set the stage for a whole host of other specific problems, none of which Sider seems to miss in the enormous amount of statistics gathered and compiled for this project.

A somewhat unfortuante negative of the book has to do with Sider's use of Scripture in support of his message. While one does not have to read too far into the Hebrew Scriptures to find very real concerns for the poor and oppressed, Sider unfortunately tips the scales a bit and might read more of this emphasis back into them than they are willing to offer. As has been the case throughout history, one can always find Scripture to support just about any imaginable agenda -- environmentalism, advocacy for the poor, support of African American slavery and subsequent segregation, various political agendas, oppression of women, et. al. In this case, I tend to believe that it is somewhat dangerous to demand that Scripture speak to contemporary American (or international) politics and economics, regardless of particular persuasion. Additionally, I was a bit disappointed in the lack of simple suggestions as to how Christians can go about addressing some of his concerns in their own communities and the world community at large. There are obviously no simple solutions to these problems, but the amount of information in the book vis-a-vis "application," if you will, is less than proportionate.

Overall, this is a deeply challenging and eye-opening read, and a much needed wake up call to the churches of wealthy America and Western Europe. Though his methods may be a bit rough around the edges, his message is clear: [rich] Christians have a lot of work to do, both inwardly on themselves, and outwardly on the suffering world around them.

It's about our salvation! I would say this is the basic message of Rich Christians in a Age of Hunger. Sider makes it loud and clear that these two facts are undeniable and inescapalbe. First, God is not passive about economic justice. Just read the 64 passages in The Bible about the liberation of the poor and oppressed and God's love of the poor and oppressed including Matthew 25:40. In addition, poverty and its horrible effects are wide spread in our world today.

Up to now, most of us have been denying the challenges of poverty to avoid feelings of guilt. What we need to do today is remind everyone that economic justice is about compassion not guilt. We can practice our compassion by doing our best to be more generous everyday. In the business world, this is known as "continuous improvement."

Some good companions to this book are Opting For The Poor by P.J. Henriot S.J, How Much Is Enough? by Arthur Simon, and Unexpected News by Robt. M. Brown. These great books inspired me to compile a social ministry manual which is online and free at www.slu.edu/departments/church/SocialMinistry.htm .

Ron Sider and this book is the main reason why I chose to go to seminary to prepare for the ministry, why I do music ministry among the homeless, and why I chose the Mennonite Church as my home denomination (freedom to focus on issues of compassion in tandem with evangelism). That's the hand of God in all of this. I'm amazed to see some STILL haven't made their peace with scripture's view of materialism and justice for the poor, but I shouldn't be surprised, because Jesus said there definitely would be goats to weed out in the end times!

Just looking over the "attack reviews" here is pretty revealing. One reviewer seethes with anger over the idea of putting others interests ahead of his own. Have you never read Paul? To wit:

Ro 9:3 "For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen by race."

Php 2:3 "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves."

Or how about Jesus:

Mt 16:24 "Jesus told his disciples, 'If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.'"

Lu 6:20 "Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God."

Matt 25:44 "Then they also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to thee?' 45 Then he will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.' 46 And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Along with all of this are the typical misrepresentations of Sider's theology: he advocates Marxism (no, he actually supports local-government control of affairs as the best way to bring about change); he thinks people should eat even if they don't work (never said that? where?); he is a liberal (actually he was schooled in Christian apologetics early on by John Warwick Montgomery); he is against earning a living (so laughable as to not even deserve a response). To those who persist in these ad hominem attacks, I say one thing: Ex 20:16!

So the idea of America being "rich because others are poor" is sheer nonsense, eh? Tell this to the Native Americans who were the victims of a near-genocidal attempt at taking away their homeland? (If you think I'm parroting what I know nothing about, look at Klamath County, Oregon, which in the days before the white settlers was a land rich in the fishing industry. Look at the area's current struggles SINCE we took over.) Tell this to African slaves who were used to practically build this country- to a large degree. Look into the history of things like "insurance policies" taken out on slaves as if they were property. Then look at how British and American interference in the Mid-East is STILL resulting in a turbulence- we build up dictatorial regimes & wonder why we are still hated over there & in other parts of the world as well. Bottom line: The U.S. is not perfect, not the "New Israel", not above committing sheer evil. Stop acting as if we are.

What bothers me the most about Sider's opponents is this: what if we really ARE wrong in the way we approach public policy in regards to poverty & wealth and the Bible has something to say about it? Not an outlandish idea since this happened to Israel. The detractors of this theology would have us bury our heads in the sand & not search our hearts & the scriptures & listen to the Spirit, since our Capitalism has already been "justified" in our eyes.

Go ahead and buy your books by dominionist heretics like Chilton. You need your conscious salved between now and the separation of sheep and goats. Make sure you stock up on some good systematic theology to keep you with the illusion that you are "predestined" to go to heaven and nothing you will do can keep you from that destiny, so you won't have to spend your nights awake bothered by the verses that place responsibility to repent on YOU. You don't want God to tell you that he is lord even of your wallet, so why bother? OR...maybe you would like to approach books like Sider's with an attitude of humility and resolve that you will do whatever GOD wants you to do with your life. Who knows, you might like submitting to God? His yoke is always easy!

Despite the over use of the term, I can sincerely call this book "life-changing". It led me to reconsider my relationship with the poor and what that said about my relationship with God. The book should challenge anyone calling themselves a Christian into thinking deeply about materialism and greed. I doubt that anyone living in the US could read this book and not find areas of their lives that need to change.
The author's use of a myriad of statistics and UN reports proves to be the weak point. Although heart stirring, the data slows the book down and complicates reading. Also, until the final section, the book leaves the reader wishing to do something, but not knowing what. Overall, the style of the writing does match up with the quality of the content (which accounts for the missing star in the rating).
Luckily this book concentrates on content. The view of the poor is excellent; the call for repentance is strong; and the suggested solutions are helpful. I would recommend this book to anyone living in an industrialized nation that is trying to imitate Christ.
"'How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!'"

Be prepared to take some reflection time after reading this book! All in all, I found it to be a great book and a very noble one. It is challenging, and even a bit extreme, but Sider has spoken so much of what we need to hear as prosperous, affluent Christians. We focus on so many aspects of the Christian life, but we forget about our responsibility to the poor. We kind of skim right over it in the scriptures. Sider reminds us that God is on the side of the poor, and that our active faith should reflect this truth in the activity and concern of our lives. So often in this society, we are concerned with the security of our future, our 401k, our portfolio, our bank accounts. We think mainly about what we can do to make life more comfortable for our OWN families. SOME Christians, unfortunately, don't look much different. Churches are building multi-million dollar structures, requesting congregations to be generous in their giving because "this building needs to be finished so we can have room to fit in 2,000 more people". I think as Christians we are called to more than this. The body of Christ extends far beyond the church pew and those Christians simply living in our city, state or country. Sider asks the question "how can we remain affluent when 40 billion children died today of starvation?" The book is compelling, challenging, worth the time to read. Be prepared to look within yourself...be prepared to embrace a faith that is ACTIVE, not passive.

This book is challenging to the lifestyle of a materialistic, get all you can, culture. Not only did it challenge me to think about Sider's ideas, but it has caused me to reexamine my own lifestyle and priorities. A must read for all thoughtful Christians.

true, the book makes you feel guilty. but it's factual and realistic. and if you're ready for it, then you should read it. suggestion: read other books alongside this one. (read books that tell you not to help the poor, i dare you.) but i think you just might end up sympathetic to sider, who asserts that we should be helping the less fortunate, and even aids us in discovering productive ways to do it. guilt is not the way to live. but once you tackle it, you can get over it and learn to live responsible to the knowledge you have... and this book is the one to help you with that.

Believe it or not ten years ago I wasn't all to keen on Ronald Sider. But my views changed for a variety of reasons. First of all since the late 90's the United States has undergone a positive boon financially. Then we became victims of violence and saw firsthand how Christians overall have a deaf ear when it comes to helping those amongst them who are crime victims.

Christians as a whole will help drunks, druggies and unwed mothers. But helping caregivers of the ill, or those amongst us who have done nothing wrong to be where they are at, often are overlooked. Now the talk is cheap crowd wont like his books. But I do hope that more of them will be honest as I was and reread what he has to say and start walking the talk. I personally believe in welfare reform and programs that aim to help people help themselves. But I also believe that when hard times hit the yuppies and corporate types that societies thinking on the needy change big time.

Warning: This book will change your life! Was it not our Lord who said, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth" (Matthew 6:19). And yet this is eactly what the majority of people who call themselves His followers do. Almost every Christian I know spends 90% of their time making life as comfortable as possible for themselves (and looking good while doing it). Those who chose to live according to the Gospel are the minority among those who call themselves Christians.

As far as the person below who critized Mr. Sider for exhorting us to be willing to lose even our souls for the sake of nonbelievers, have you not read the scriptures? St. Paul said, "For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, the people of Israel." (Romans 9:3-4a) Here Paul is teaching EXACTLY what Mr. Sider teaches in his book. And if we should be willing to lose our souls for the lost, how much more our luxury homes and SUV's!

I think the people that trash this book are missing the point. Sider does not promote marxism. He calls for democracy in the last chapter. But even if his political suggestions sound a little off, well, I don't think that was the point of his writing the book anyway. I'm sure it had more to do with the many Christians of the world that do nothing or only small, token deeds to help the world's poor.

Also, if anyone would complain that this book's point is to guilt-trip us into helping the poor, I think Sider makes it clear that it isn't his goal. I think he himself sufficiently acknowledges that he and others won't be able to live up to the idealism he presents, but that that doesn't mean we can't at least try to change our ways.

I also disagree with those that would say the Western World's wealth is totally due to our own efforts. No doubt, the US and other wealthy nations are rich largely because of democracy, capitalism, and the resolve and hard work of their citizens, but I don't buy the idea that we've allowed third world countries the same opportunities. It is completely naive to think that our government and multinational corporations don't often act in the interests of ourselves while at the expense of other nations.

Anyway, the book is great. Maybe it's good to take some parts with a grain of salt. I think the important thing to take away from the book is that we shouldn't allow hardness of heart to justify selfishness and apathy toward the poor. Whether you agree with the book or not, remember the opportunities we have to do something about the suffering many other people endure.