Use your powers for good not evil!

This is a report or better yet reflections on a book I just finished. It has challenged me to think deeply about what we do there in Africa. Happily I can report I was edified and in many ways confirmed that what we teach and the style and philosophy of Theological Education by Extension is addressing the core of the problem, not simply treating the symptoms of our brokenness.


The book, "When Helping Hurt: How to Alleviate Poverty without Hurting the Poor and Yourself” by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert begins by stating the book is a work of cumulative effort and years of trying to make the best impact for Christ while trying to help the most hurting and needy in this country as well as the 2/3s or majority world (as they call it) while damaging the least. I appreciate this because it was not the latest-greatest idea that made this book resonate with me but rather the thoughtful, at times painful, admission that so often, we in the west get relief, development and rehabilitation so terribly wrong.

It begins by laying a premise that the earth and all that are in it are broken. Our relationship with God, each other, creation and even our understanding of who we are created to be and for is damaged due to the fall as stated in Genesis. This four dimensional problem or brokenness is/will be resolved through only one means; that is Christ and his redemptive work on the cross and activity in our lives. The book builds on Col. 1:15-20 that ‘all things will be reconciled to Christ’ and although this sounds good I would have to study the text more fully support his wide sweeping use of ‘all things’ and what it entails to be reconciled.

(Funny so often I find myself going back to Richard Niebuhr’s great book ‘Christ and Culture’ in which he delineates how one views Christ’s effect on culture and vice-versa.
The five major definitions being as stated below.
Christ against Culture. For the exclusive Christian.
Christ of Culture. For the cultural Christian,
Christ above Culture. For the synthesist,
Christ and Culture in Paradox. For the dualist
Christ Transforming Culture. For the conversionist,
Because, how we view Christ’s effectiveness and influence shapes how we view not only scripture but the world as well and what effect one has on the other)

So…Corbett/Fikkert believe the saving, reconciling work of Christ is all inclusive and therefore the church should be addressing each facet of human existence in which it finds itself in order to renew and ‘right’ the relationships. I agree with them but would clarify that much of the reconciling will only be done upon Christ returning to earth to judge and renew.

A statement I do appreciate very much is that they state much of the pain and suffering is due to a failure to apply a Biblical worldview to life and practice. This failure results, as we know too well, in broken relationships, broken systems of government and a twisted society as a whole. It does not take a genius to figure this stuff out, but it is nice the authors took the time to put it succinctly into writing.

So how does this all apply to poverty and human suffering? Easy, if, as they state, ‘poverty is a feeling of helplessness and powerlessness (the inability to choose)’ (paraphrased) then reestablishing people to be the image-bearers of God, gifted and of valuable, each persons’ outlook and attitude is bound to change. Yet if we continue to simply treat the symptoms of brokenness nothing will ever change.

Not only this, but we ‘the powerful’ (western, i.e. wealthy in time, cash, choice and power) create in ourselves a ‘god-complex’ in which we feel we are solving others’ problems and in fact at times exacerbate the feeling of powerlessness in others as we neither train, teach or imbue others with the truth of their own value and abilities.

There is an entire chapter dedicated to avoiding paternalism. It is assumed once we understand how we commit paternalism we will be equipped to avoid it.
We can do more harm than good when we do for people what they can do for themselves. Often paternalism is found in the form of resources but also in spirituality, knowledge, labor and managerial organization.

The book states that often short-term missions as well as much of relief and development work is done on an incorrect premise. That is, often we believe what the people need is relief when in fact what they need is rehabilitation or development (both longer term and more relational than relief). The three are often confused and in an effort to get more bang for our buck or a power emotional experience we don’t take the time and think things through carefully enough.

For definition:
Relief is urgent and temporary, what people cannot do for themselves (stop the bleeding).
Rehabilitation is working to restore to the pre-crisis level with the individuals
Development is moving the people to complete reconciliation in all relationships

Relief then by definition is doing for others what they are unable to do for themselves, similar to handling a trauma situation. If you think about it, by the time we westerners react and do charitable things often the situation is well beyond trauma and moved into rehab. An equation he uses to help is that effective relief should be seldom, immediate and temporary.

Rehabilitation, being the next step after the bleeding is stopped is the pursuit to reestablish the group to pre-crisis state. He lists some best-practices for good rehab which all involve being relational and connected to the group one seeks to minister to and help.
1.Ensure participation in the assessment, design, implementation and evaluation of the program
2.Conduct an initial assessment plan and strategize with the fact (resources present) in mind.
3.Respond when the needs are unmet locally.
4.Target assistance based on vulnerability and need.
5.Aid workers must possess appropriate qualifications, attitudes and experience for the job.

Development therefore being the most inclusive and far-reaching endeavor should require the most amount of time and strategy to best grow and train (disciple) people into being all that God intended. This development then takes on the auspices of not only humanitarian but Biblical teaching and training!

The last few chapters of the book focus on how to access and develop a strategy for finding out not only the needs of the community but the resources and strengths that lie therein. This is a positive approach and empowers individuals and communities to take ownership and pride in the decisions they make and fruit seen as a product of the work.

An interesting continuum is given near the end of the book. It is a continuum of participation. Think about your own giving, your churches ministry or a local charity you know of and then try to see where they fit.

Coercion (outsider predetermined) doing to
Compliance (outsider incentive motive) doing for
Consultation (outsider options given) doing for
Cooperation (partial shared responsibility) doing with
Co-learning (insider directed) doing with
Community Initiative (inside ownership) responding to

It is easy to see how when an idea or ‘betterment’ is given from the outside the local community the community does not have the inclination or empowerment to claim it for their own and therefor the program or idea often fails to survive long term.

In the end, if all our efforts should be directed at reconciling in a fourfold manner, then the key would have to be relationship and near the end of his discourse Steve writes,

“Participation is not just the means to an end but rather a legitimate end in itself”

My conclusion, I agree and would encourage anyone who is in ministry or gives in support of a ministry to read this book. If our relationship with God and others is healed we will have peace with God, not guilt and we will do good to our neighbor. If I know who I am in Christ, what abilities and gifts he has given me I will continually change for the good and use my ‘powers’ for the good of all those around me not simply for selfish reasons or glorification but to be part of the reconciling process….or relationship. And lastly if I see the world as a gift, as an environment in which I was designed to thrive and be a blessing, willn’t I treat it better and fight for its protection, as well as see how to be the best steward of what little piece is mine?
Reconcile. Fix what is broken and be part of the healing.
Use your powers for good people.