toxic charity: how churches and charities hurt those they help (and how to reverse it)

8/13/2019 Toxic Charity: How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help (And How to Reverse IT)

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Toxic Charity

How churches and non-profits hurt

those they help and how to reverse it



Almsgiving is Mammon’s perversionof giving. It affirms the superiorityof the giver, binds the recipient,demands gratitude, humiliates himand reduces him to a lower statethan he had before. -Jacques Ellul



Progression of one-way giving

Give once = appreciation

Give twice = anticipation

Give three times = expectation

Give four times = entitlement

Give five times = dependency



A crisis need demands emergency

intervention;(like an earthquake, tsunami, famine,war:

i.e. stop the bleeding)

Crisis or Chronic?



Crisis or Chronic?

A chronic need requiresdevelopment.

(like rebuilding homes, re-starting businesses, rebuildinginfrastructure: i.e. strengtheningcapacity)



Crisis or Chronic?

Address a crisis need with acrisis intervention,

And lives are saved .

(doctors and medical supplies totreat the wounded, food andwater to feed the starving, tentsto shelter the refugees…)



Crisis or Chronic?

Address a chronic need with acrisis intervention,

And people are harmed.

(Dependency increases, work-ethic

erodes, dignity diminishes)



1. I will never do for others what they can do forthemselves.

2. I will limit one-way giving to crises and seekalways to find ways for legitimate exchange.

3. I will seek ways to empower by hiring, lending,and investing and offer gifts sparingly asincentives to reinforce achievements.

An Oath for Helpers



• I will put the interests of the poor above my own (ororganization) self-interest even when it means settingaside my own agenda.

• I will listen carefully for spoken and unspoken needs(knowing that many clues may be hidden)

• Above all, to the best of my ability, I will do no harm.

An Oath for Helpers



Dialogue and conversation

toxic charity: how churches and charities hurt those they help (and how to reverse it)

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