Customer Reviews

Rich Christians In An Age Of Hunger: Moving from Affluence to Generosity (20th Anniversary Revision)

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Sider presents us with a problem as Christians. We are filthy rich while others are extremely poor. While some will call this book "liberal" and "socialist," the best word for it is orthodox. One of the best points Dr. Sider makes is that while we try desperately to be theologically orthodox (and he is), in our actions we are heretics. The book of Acts describes the system of the early Christians regarding money quite well. The were essentially communists, but most importantly they shared and didn't care for material possesions. The same is true of the early Christians, they would take literally Jesus' words "Sell everything you have and give to the poor..." Sider's facts are shocking as to how poor suffering souls are over the world. The basic premise of this book is to show the extreme poverty of most of the world, and then show the Bible's opinion on this. He is a prophet against materialism and I like his style. He supports capitalism as I do, but he believes we as Christians are just as materialistic as the non-Christians. It was Jesus himself who said "Its easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven." Finally a book that does not confuse Biblicism with conservative economics.

Many conservative reviewers would like to essentialize Ron Sider with ad hominem attacks like "liberal" or the ever popular slander "socialist." However these labels do not do justice to the complexity of Sider's argumentation.

Even if one disagrees with the last section of his book (his policy proposals), one certainly cannot disagree with the the first two sections of his book on the huge degree of world hunger and on the Christian obligation to respond to these issues by placing the needs of the poor above their own needs. (Whether they do that privately or through the state is really a secondary issue, all are called to live justly despite their political leanings).

In lectures which took place at Wheaton College, Sider explained that the truly valuable contribution of his book takes place in these first two sections, because they force conservative christians to admit that they have a responsibility to "live justly" and follow the clear Biblical command layed out in I John 3:16-18, "We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has the world's goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little chidren, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth." (NIV)

To his credit, Wheaton's professor and staunch defender of the free market, PJ Hill, admitted that even though he believed in private free market solutions to the problems that Sider outlined, he agreed with Sider that all Christians must be willing to live simply and place the needs of their brothers and sisters before themselves through humble charity.

This is a far cry from many of Sider's foes, who would equate poverty as a curse from God and who would label so called "third world" countries as "backward" because of this (as in Productive Christians in an Age of Guilt Manipulators). Such Western arrogance forgets that the early disciple James said the exact opposite, "did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom?" (2:5).

Both conservatives and liberals alike must come to grips with issues of world poverty and the need to live justly in a world of increasing injustice. Sider's book is an invaluable tool in this journey.

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!

After reading the reviews posted, all I can say is that this book proclaims real biblical truth. While I am not an economist, and cannot verify the soundness of the economic theory, the main message of the book is certainly true: there are lots and lots of desperately poor people around the world, and God loves them; and who God loves, we should love too. It is so hard living in the West, especially in a wealthy country like the USA, to have a global perspective that constantly keeps in mind and has compassion for the suffering of the poor in the third world. And considering how much Jesus talks about money and the dangers of being rich, it is valuable to read a book that challenges us to instead store up treasures in heaven. The central messages of this book are really uncontroversial in light of scripture: God loves the poor. We should give generously and effectively. We should love the poor. That's really what this book is saying. From Ron Sider's repeated disclaimers and prefaces to his specific economic suggestions, it doesn't seem Ron Sider is saying there is only one definite way that will truly help the poor. All he's saying is that we must help them. Do unto others.... Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. The third section was pretty dry and difficult to get through (but with important facts and figures), but the the rest of the book is convicting and inspiring. This is a book that every Christian should read--and approach with an open heart and willingness to make lifestyle changes. Reading this book as a Christian in America is a lot like Jesus' confrontation with the rich young ruler; and after reading it, many people go away sad (or angry!). But imagine the joy in store for the person who really takes this biblical call to love the poor seriously...it's immeasurable.

This book is the current discussion point of the small group of which I am apart of through my church in Indianapolis. We were guided to this book by a friend who is currently headed to Sierra Leone for missions work. As someone who has a firm grasp on global political issues, I was wary at first of reading something that I thought we just be an in-print version of a Sally Struthers commercial.

With the first two chapters, I started to fear that my suspicions were correct. The bland facts, while startling to someone who may have a vary narrow world view, are just not that shocking in the day and age of constant streaming images from around the globe that we have today. But once past those bland chapters, the book took a sharp turn and started discussing the actual spirtual responsiblities that God has layed upon us and expects from us. This was what I needed to hear, and I can truly say that this book has really made me rethink my entire idea of giving and the need to work with the poor.

This is an excellent book to read, whether on your own or with a small group. Also recommended for any and all who constantly call for the trimming and cutting of social programs and foreign aid. We all need to rethink where are priorities lie at times. This book will help you along that path.

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 .

Contrary to the previous reviewer of this book, I believe that Sider makes a cogent argument from the Scriptures of God's concern from the poor, and His desire for radical involvement on the part of His people. Sider aptly draws the other side of statistics that are commonly pointed to, and sheds new light on old problems. What you will need to ask yourself is whether you wish to give the least that is required of you, or if you wish to do everything you can to labor with God for the evangelism of the world and the liberation of His people He has created from poverty.

Reading this book has helped me to see that this world does not revolve around me or the west. Mr. Sider goes through and gives pratical, challenging ways to implement loving the poor. This book has helped reshape the way I see and think about Jesus. It has helped to show me the Lord is not just concerned with the western world, but also for the majority of the world that does not live in the west. He came to set the prisoners free. This book challenges readers to do the same. I loved this book. It has the potential to change your life, if you let it.

As a reformed evangelical, and a moderate-conservative democrat, who has read a great deal of Sider, and heard him speak on multiple occasions, I will say this: Do read this book. That's not to say that Sider doesn't, on a number of occasions, go too far, distort the numbers, and even come dangerously close to Socialism (though, I imagine some of this has been revised in later editions - his views have changed somewhat over the years) - he does. But the core of this book is indeed life-changing: a impassioned, Evangelical challenge to our modern-day consumerism. My suggestion, however, after having read this book is to also pick up the absolutely solid (though not as easy to read) "Neither Poverty nor Riches" by Craig Blomberg - a thorough-going Biblical theology of material possessions & wealth. Combined, the challenge of Sider, balanced with the solid Biblical understanding of Blomberg, and any believer will walk away with a full-orbed, Scriptural, understanding of what I believe God would have us do with our possessions.

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.