The Way I see it

"As white evangelicals have captured material resources, they in turn have been captured by the comfort of the middle class. Addressing the felt needs [of the poor] involves the possibility of releasing monetary resources to support such outreach, and it involves setting priorities from self-aggrandizement to sacrifice. Instead of limiting one's concern to self and the nuclear family, the Christian must broaden the circle of love. This will mean time spent to help others,energy expended rather than guarded, and an orientation of giving rather than getting. Comfort and recreation time may have to assume a secondary role to compassion and redemption time."

 For many, the cost is too high. They feel they have worked too hard to get to the apex of middle/upper-class life and don't want to give up the rewards and risk their resources. As a result most middle class churches have been uninterested in ministry to those with significant needs who require more than an occasional guilt offering."

From, "Planting Urban Churches," and the essay by Craig Ellison.

( Edited by Harvey Conn). 1997