A RE-FOCUS ON EMPOWERMENT

One of my daughter’s favorite movies is the Veggie Tales story of David and Goliath.  As a five year old she loves the animated and colorful characters, the funny movements of the vegetables as they hold items and eat things despite the absence of arms, the creative songs and lyrics and of course the ability for the show to bring to life a tale so famous and full of life.  (OK, so I must admit, those final few items might be likings by me, her father, more than her.)  Either way, this compelling story is full of wonderful principles and re-affirming values.  As I watched the movie with her a few weeks ago I realized for the first time that David was also portraying a concept that is often missed in our retelling of the classic bible story, the principle of empowerment.  We enviably don’t pass up the opportunity to commend David for slaying the giant and overcoming seemingly impossible obstacles while trusting God in the face of adversity, and we shouldn’t, but there is also more there that we mustn’t miss.  For the first time a few weeks ago those crazy vegetables uncovered for me a new concept I had never seen in this story before, the theme of proper biblical empowerment.

As a pastor working in the area of spiritual and community development I often find myself evaluating philosophies and ideologies concerning individual and community growth and development.  How are our strategies on development being impacted by our pre-conceived worldviews and cultural belief systems?  It is a question that digs to the true roots of our poverty alleviation efforts and profoundly influences the concepts we are planting in the minds of our “clients.”  For many Americans the concept of empowerment is closely connected with the transfer of resources, wealth, and technology from the more well-off to the less-well off.  This past week my wife read to me a quote from a book we have both really enjoyed reading.  The book is Seven, an experimental mutiny against excess by Jen Hatmaker.  The book has set forth a great challenge to all individuals and families looking to re-focus on the priorities of life.  While reading the book the following sentence jumped out to us. 


“The poor don’t lack ambition, imagination, or intelligence; most simply lack resources.  We have what they require and more than we need.  We could share.”  (Seven, page 169) 

As much as I have enjoyed the premise of the book, the above statement is an indictment on the American paradigm for overcoming poverty.  That paradigm is one based on a secularistic worldview that reinforces the belief that what really matters are material resources.  Intangible resources such as mind, spirit, creativity, beliefs and culture are downplayed, ignored or often neglected.  In one sense Jen is correct.  We do have excess, and for many living in deep poverty the material needs are overwhelming.  As well, as indicated in the quote, these poor people have been created in the image of God and do have value, purpose, talents, gifts and the ability to think and create, so they don't literally lack an imagination or intelligence.  However, the distribution of resources will not magically restore for them a sense of ambition or a newfound creativity to envision or development.  Where the secularistic, materialistic perspective of poverty alleviation falls short, and I believe this quote becomes misleading, is through the realization that simply distributing resources encourages needy individuals to look outside of themselves or their communities for resources FIRST, limiting their ability to see the bountiful resources in their midst. I agree, more finances, resources and technology could and should be given to poverty alleviation.  However, the question remains: “Will the resources that are given have the effect of empowering the poor or hindering them?”   

(A biblical perspective on resources is also needed and I will address that concept in a future blog.)

Elisheva Sadan's book Empowerment and Community Practice describes empowerment as the following:

“Empowerment is a process of transition from a state of powerlessness to a state of relative control over one’s life, destiny, and environment. This transition can manifest itself in an improvement in the perceived ability to control, as well as in an improvement in the actual ability to control.” (pg 144)

What I find interesting about this statement is that empowerment is deeply tied to one’s ability to control, whether perceived or actual.  For many living in deep poverty lacking a sense of control is a significant issue.  Sensing that they cannot control or change their situation, (Fatalism) leads to perceived powerlessness that becomes debilitating and incapacitating.  A common theme I have noticed over the past 3 years of working with the most vulnerable here in Bolivia, is that many of them lack a sense of self-worth.  They have become indifferent towards their situation and often blame themselves for there inability to overcome and conquer their situation.  They have lost their sense of dignity and value, which is absolutely devastating to see.  Reversing this paradigm is very difficult and we must be extremely careful in our efforts to do so.  With that said, if our answer to this issue is simply giving them “things” we are only re-enforcing their perception of inadequacy!  In a sense we are confirming that yes, in fact, they can’t change, and the only hope for a better future comes through our gifts and altruism towards them.   Sadan’s book continues in this vain by stating that:

“Empowerment is a transition from this passive situation (their sense of helplessness) to a more active situation of control. The need for it is part of the realization of one’s very humanity, so much so that one could say that a person who is powerless with regard to his life and his environment is not realizing his innate human potential. (pg 144)”

“…his innate human potential,” wow,!  How often we forget what it means to be made in the image of God.  We cannot strip the poor of their value and hinder their God-given ability to discover their own resources and potential!  This is a grave tragedy.  This is the “American” way…. and this is not empowerment.

When thinking of empowerment I choose to use the word permit rather than give.  There is a time and place to give, but more often than not we give and neglect to permit.  We must work alongside of them helping to develop confidence, boost self-esteem and enhance their skills to render them proactively assertive and participatory in matters directly affecting their lives.  They need to be permitted to realize their abilities and understand their capacity to change the situation.  This process may not be easy, or immediate but it’s what empowerment is.  Permitting them, maybe for the first time, to see their God given potential.    

King Saul (the asparagus) graciously placed his royal amour on David (an even smaller asparagus) and commended him into battle with the giant.  After all, in order to defeat such a warrior as Goliath one must enter the battle with the best of the best equipment, tested and proven to work.  “Clink… clunk… bang…” and there stands David with only his eyes peering through the amour completely incapable of moving, yet alone able to defeat the mighty Goliath.  Saul tried to empower David with his kingly sword, helmet and amour, but in reality he merely hindered his ability to fight the giant.      

“…I cannot go in these, he said to Saul, because I am not used to them.  So he took them off.  Then took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand approached the Philistine.”  (1 Samuel 17: 39-40)

“As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him.  Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead.  The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.  So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.”  (1 Samuel 17: 48-50)

The task that young David the shepherd faced seemed impossible.  The odds and statistics were stacked against him.  Yet, he managed to overcome the task that seemed unfeasible.  The battle that day was not won with the most sophisticated and proven armor of the day.  Rather David chose the weapons that he knew how to use, the weapons that were available to him.  He defeated Goliath that day with a staff, sling, stone and faith that God would prevail against all obstacles. 

Empowerment is about putting into practice what we already have and know.  It’s about permitting others to see the resources that exist and encouraging them to imagine and create, with ambition, a new and better future.  The church holds every human being to be a creation of God. Therefore, each person is valuable. This belief is at the core of Christian theology and thought. If properly understood and applied, it feeds a long-term commitment to address the needs of all men, the poor included.  The biblical perspective of empowerment is one that overcomes all odds by using the resources God has provided within us.  The poor don’t lack ambition, imagination or intelligence… they simply don't know they have it.   Just as David accomplished the seemingly impossible, so too can we, as we partner with the poor and properly empower them towards a better more biblically prosperous future.