The many biblical calls to care for the vulnerable—the poor, widow, orphan and foreigner—are not optional but a fundamental expression of Christian faith and love. [Deuteronomy 10:18–19, Isaiah 58:6–10, James 1:27, Matthew 25:34-40]. Inherent in this moral calling is the biblical dignity that every human is created in the image of God [Genesis 1:27].
Christian faith-based organizations, churches, and individuals generously invest important funding, skills, and expertise around the world. But the private sector cannot effectively go it alone. Key to modern foreign aid’s historic success is the U.S. government’s participation and its partnerships with secular and faith-based organizations in meeting the complexity of global needs.
The rapid destruction of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) leaves humanitarian organizations scrambling to meet needs, as they are forced to close programs, halt half-done projects, and lay off staff.
Before the U.S. pulled out of foreign aid, our government used its influence to launch global initiatives to eradicate diseases like small pox and polio; underwrite innovations in global health like treating HIV/AIDS, malaria, and COVID-19; convene global leadership, and work government-to-government.
The result has been unprecedented success: 20 million people are walking today who would otherwise be crippled by polio; more children survive and thrive beyond their critical fifth birthday than at any time in recorded human history; billions now have safe drinking water; improved farming meets nutritional needs; girls are able to go and stay in school; whole nations have moved from aid to trade, and so much more.
U.S. foreign aid has never come at the expense of domestic needs because also remarkable is the cost. The U.S. government spends one half of 1% of the federal budget on foreign aid. Faith-based organizations are key partners who receive funds to implement programs.
Extremist views of foreign aid are embedded in nationalist and isolationist perspectives. They will assert the word “neighbor” implies a sense of “nearness.” Jesus’s command then is to love the people we personally encounter and prioritize our friends, family and community. “If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” [1 Timothy 5:8 says]
But Christian distrust of or opposition to foreign aid goes beyond the call to focus close to home.
Some Christians say aid is government overreach, socialism, or contradicts conservative Christian morals with services or foreign aid recipients they categorize as immoral (e.g., reproductive health, LGBTQ+ services, Muslims, communists.) Some assert foreign aid should be delivered by private faith-based organizations and charities and some believe this is Christian missionary work that should convert people or make aid contingent on conversion. Yet others see foreign aid as a conspiracy, controlled by global elites who wish to erase Christianity. For those who believe in End Times, aid is pointless and interferes with God’s judgment and plan.
Past success and forward progress are under tremendous threat. The U.S. government’s sudden shuttering of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and withdrawal from foreign aid leadership led to U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres to offer this bleak assessment, “Hunger and malnutrition are spreading faster than our ability to respond.”
“The poor you will always have with you” [Matthew 26:11]. One of the key roles Christians can play is to remind our communities and our government leaders—especially Congress which holds the purse strings—of our calling to care for marginalized children, families, and communities everywhere. Because no one speaks up for these most marginalized communities, our leaders need to know Christians believe it’s unconscionable for the U.S. government to rollback global health, humanitarian, and economic progress. They also need reminded of the tremendous benefits to U.S. health, security, and the economy because when global economies improve, so does U.S. economic and job growth.
Here the Bible feels particularly prescient: “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” [2 Corinthians 9:6–8].
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