In chapters 7-9 Sider turns to action: What are some practical steps that can be taken to reduce or even eliminate hunger and poverty? Each chapter addresses a different arena of action.
By the Family
Here Sider suggests a graduated tithe, something used by he and his wife. Generally we ask what can we afford to life on. The graduated tithe turns the question on its head asking what do we need to live on.
Sider also suggests communal living to a lesser (sharing less commonly used tool) or greater (common household and purse) extent. Sounds a lot like the church witnessed to in Acts.
Within the Church
Here Sider explores his categories of open accountability and far-reaching liability. The best bet for restoring such fellowship (koinonia) in Sider’s estimation may be house churches, with or without ties to a larger infrastructure.
He also explores the commune in this chapter, and there is an anecdote about Reba Place Fellowship, a sixty year old community outside Chicago, which I must retell:
One incident suggests the character of their availability to one another. One day a man with a serious drinking problem dropped in to talk with Virgil Vogt, one of the elders. When Virgil invited him to accept Christ and join the community of believers, the man grew uncomfortable and hastily insisted that he simply wanted money for a bus ticket to Cleveland.
“O.K.” Virgil agreed, “we can give you that kind of help too, if that’s all you really want.” He was quiet a moment, then he shook his head. “You know something?” he said, looking straight at the man. “You’ve just really let me off the hook. Because if you had chosen a new way of life in the kingdom of God, then as your brother I would have had to lay down my whole life for you. This house, my time, all my money, whatever you needed to meet your needs would have been totally at your disposal for the rest of your life. But all you want is some money for a bus ticket….” The man was so startled he stood up and shortly left, without remembering to take the money. The next Sunday he was sitting next to Virgil in the worship service.
Against the System
Finally, Sider explores some way to change the evil structures, highlighting a few organizations who are working in this arena. Fair trade, debt cancelation, and increased foreign aid (allocated with wisdom and impact for the poor) all receive consideration.
Finally, a quote from the Epilog:
If at this moment in history a few million Christians in affluent nations dare to join hands with the poor around the world, we will decisively influence the course of world history. Together we must strive to be a biblical people ready to follow wherever Scripture leads. We must pray for the courage to bear any cross, suffer any loss and joyfully embrace any sacrifice that biblical faith requires in an Age of Hunger.
We know that our Lord Jesus is alive! We know that the decisive victory over sin and death has occurred. We know that the Sovereign of the universe wills an end to hunger, injustice, and oppression. The resurrection of Jesus is our guarantee that, in spite of the massive evil that sometimes almost overwhelms us, the final victory will surely come. Secure on the solid rock, we will plunge into this unjust world, changing now all we can and knowing that the Risen King will complete the victory at his glorious return.
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