has anyone read this book?

[Amanah]

The Hole in Our Gospel: What Does God Expect of Us? The answer that changed my life and just might change the world.

Was thinking of reading it, can anyone recommend it?

http://www.amazon.com/Hole-Our-Gospel-Expect-changed/dp/1596440279/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1318165407&sr=1-1

Book Description
Publication Date: March 10, 2009
Stearns, the CEO of World Vision, says Christians have a huge hole in their lives, an emptiness that comes from ignoring the plight of the poor. He details his own quest to fill this hole by leaving Lenox Inc., where he was CEO, to run a not-for-profit that helps feed, clothe, and educate children worldwide. Unlike many evangelical Christians, Stearns believes poverty is explained by something more than choices, and lifting cultures from the systemic causes of poverty requires a multi-pronged approach. This accessible book will make it into the hands of evangelical Christians who may not pick up one of the many ABA books on issues of hunger, access to clean water, malaria and AIDS. Readers of Rick Warren, Jim Wallis and N.T. Wright will find Stearns synthesizing thoughts from them as well as from economists and missionaries.This is a passionate and motivating magnum opus from the leader of one of the most recognized aid organizations in the world. The book is a surprisingly no-holds-barred prophetic voice in the wilderness crying out to rich Americans, "Repent and help your world neighbors."(Mar. 10) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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[Michael The Disciple]

Its a shame that helping the poor has hardly been taught in many Christian circles.

[Michael The Disciple]

When Paul went to Jerusalem to check his gospel with that of the Apostles they were given the right hand of fellowship. They only wanted to also make sure they would remember the poor.

2:9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
2:10 Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do. Galatians 2:9-10

This was very important to the Apostles. However keep it in context. The Apostles did not go forth to reach the poor as their primary goal. It was to win souls to Christ and then they would help the poor as they had opportunity.

Some have forsaken the true gospel in their zeal to do good to the poor.

[Hoovie]

I have not read the book, but I have given to World Vision on occasion.

IMO the distorted view is fostered in part, by a misapplication of tithing in the church, and an attempt by the government to forcibly extract money and redistribute wealth (they actually do a horrible job at finding and helping the needy).

[houston]

Jesus was against socialism... said there will always be po' folk!

[Nitehawk013]

If we were more interested in helping the poor and having benevolence funds than we are in having big buildigs and gymnasiums then this hole would disappear.

[AreYouReady?]

Do we really know how much of those monies go to the people that need them and not to salaries of big charities?

The Bible says when we do alms, not to let the right hand know what the left hand is doing.
People can look around them and pick a person or family to help without anybody knowing it but the family and the person who is helping out.

[Jay]

The problem in the United States is that we are so rich that only a very few are actually poor in the Biblical sense of the word. Many of the ones that are genuinely poor have a problem in that the governmental levels take so much money, that it is sometimes enough to survive on. Further, professional panhandlers and willfully homeless people cause people to not wish to give to the truly needy. All of these are problems that must be addressed by society, but will be neglected.