Christians are called to help all people live “a life of peace” (Luke 10:5-6). This means we should be actively working to resolve social problems in our world. There are many ways that we can respond to social problems as Christ-followers. First, we can pray for those who are affected by social problems, including interceding for those who are directly impacted, as well as for those who are working to resolve the issue. Prayer is a powerful way to bring about change in our world. Second, we can support organizations working to resolve social problems, including financial support, volunteering our time, or raising awareness about the issue. There are many ways to get involved, and every little bit helps.
In addition, we can speak out against social problems. This could involve writing letters or articles, calling our representatives, or participating in protests or rallies. We need to use our voices to demand change. Furthermore, we can live out the love of Christ in our everyday lives, signifying that treating everyone with respect and dignity, regardless of their social status. It means standing up for those who are being oppressed. It means living out the gospel in our lives. The solutions to social problems will always be imperfect, but when we include Christ in our choices, we can be confident that we are doing everything we can to love our neighbor and build a more just and peaceful world. When we include Christ in our choices, the solutions to social problems will differ. We will be motivated by love and compassion rather than hatred and bigotry toward Christ.
In my personal prayer life, I often pray for all people and those in authority. One concrete example of an action that flows from this prayer is that I try to be more understanding and patient with people, even when they frustrate or annoy me. I remember that everyone struggles with something, even if it is not always apparent, and we all deserve compassion and grace. Additionally, when I pray for those in authority, I try to be more mindful of their decisions and their impact on others. I try to understand their challenges and perspectives more and pray that they will make wise decisions that benefit as many people as possible.
I developed four interview questions addressing common bias concerning the poor and their assumptions:
- What common misconceptions or biases do people have about the poor?
- How do these misconceptions or biases affect how people view and interact with the poor?
- What are some of the challenges the poor face in society?
- How do these challenges contribute to poverty?
The feedback I received was not surprising, coming from someone with no biases toward the poor. I interviewed several people, and I got various opinions on the matter. Some gave no idea about the matter. After interviewing my friend John on the matter, he responded that people have many common misconceptions or biases about the poor. He gave this example that some people may believe that the poor are lazy and do not want to work, are all criminals, or are all on welfare. These misconceptions or biases can affect how people view and interact with the poor. Furthermore, John stated that these misconceptions or biases could affect how people view and interact with the poor. For example, if someone believes that the poor are lazy and do not want to work, they may be less likely to help the poor or offer them opportunities. If someone believes that the poor are all criminals, they may be more likely to be afraid of them or avoid them. The poor face several challenges in society. For example, they may have difficulty finding housing or jobs, be discriminated against, and not have access to healthcare or education.
After receiving this feedback, I better understand how to pray for all people and intercede for them as instructed in 1 Timothy 2:1. I can pray that God would help to break the cycle of poverty and that He would provide opportunities and resources for the poor to improve their circumstances. I can pray that God would change the hearts of those who have misconceptions or biases about the poor and that He would help us see the poor as He does – as people who are worthy of our help and compassion. I can see how the challenges that the poor face can contribute to their poverty and how this can make it difficult for them to escape it.
Bias and assumptions about the poor perpetuate the problem’s continuance in several ways. One way is that bias and assumptions can lead to discrimination and exclusion from opportunities, resources, and services. This, in turn, can lead to further poverty and social problems. Bias and assumptions can lead to negative stereotypes and attitudes and negative behaviors and interactions. This, however, can lead to further poverty and social problems.
I believe we blame the person for placing poverty in their social life. Person-blame approaches to health and illness focus on individual responsibility for maintaining health and preventing illness (Leal Filho, W. et al.,2021). I believe one way to counteract bias and assumptions is to increase understanding and empathy, which can be done through education and exposure to different perspectives. Moreover, I feel that it can be done by listening to and valuing the experiences and perspectives of those different from us. I believe that every person’s other way to counteract bias and assumptions is to challenge them when they arise.
Reference
Leal Filho, W., Marisa Azul, A., Brandli, L., Lange Salvia, A., Gökçin Özuyar, P., & Wall, T. (Eds.). (2021). Reduced inequalities. Cham: Springer International Publishing.