The Myth of the Undeserving Poor - A Christian Response to Poverty in Britain Today

by Martin Charlesworth, Natalie Williams

A Christian response to poverty in Britain today. When you think of poverty in Britain today, do you picture innocent children going without food or scroungers lounging on the sofa all day watching TV and cheating on benefits claims? For Christians, what we think about the poor in our nation needs to be shaped by biblical values, but can so often be framed by the dominant narratives of the day, which affect our attitudes and actions. Have we fallen for the myth of the undeserving poor?

Genres: Christian, Social Justice

128 pages, Paperback

First published September 22, 2014

Reviews

[Robin Peake · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has been on my to-read list for a while. It's an excellent short read that explores the relationship between how we view those in poverty and our proximity to 'the poor', our politics, and our media diet. It then goes on to propose a Biblical view of how we're to view, treat and respond to those in poverty.

The chapter on how the media portrays these issues was especially illuminating e.g. 78% of articles on poverty feature no voice from those experiencing it.

I'd especially recommend this to Christians who want to shape the conversation around poverty amongst those they influence.

[Tanya Marlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an unexpected jewel, and a timely book considering all the press and TV programs that vilify the poor as benefit-scrounging scum. The book is short, and presents intelligent, statistical analysis of poverty and faith in the UK and a reasoned biblical and theological response to poverty without being emotive. This makes it essential reading for Christians of all political persuasions, to challenge their assumptions and check they are basing their opinions on fact rather than myth. I found it inspiring – in a world that is so often dark and depressing, it makes me glad that there are people like Natalie Wiliams and Martyn Charlesworth. They give me hope.

Through the authors’ research (which was of a high standard and moderated by an independent researcher) I was shocked to discover these facts:

- “Children living in poverty were twice as likely to come from a working household than one in which no adult works”
- Academic analysis of media coverage of the poor shows “a thinly veiled attitude…that poverty is a character defect.”
- Under Thatcher’s government, welfare spending (as a percentage of GDP) was higher than Blair’s, which was lowest since 1950s. Now lower still.
- “Inequality between richest and poorest has risen faster in Britain that in any other developed country since 1975.”
- When Christians were asked about the morality of economic inequality the answers split according to which political party they supported.
- Conservative-voting Christians were significantly less sympathetic to poor than Green or Labour-voting Christians.

There were so many other brilliant facts and observations that my book is worn out from all the underlining. Highly Recommended.

[Peter Parslow · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is an important book for Christians in the UK to read. It was written within the past few years in a UK context (which in itself is pretty unusual for a Christian book!) - in fact, by a friend of my son.

I think it would also be useful for other "Brits" interested in working to reduce the burden of poverty.

Martin & Natali start by looking at the "complex heritage of care for the poor" in Britain: the changing relationship between Church & State from medieval times, Elizabethan, Victorian, early & late 20th century. They then look at the "biblical case for radical mercy". It then switches to social research mode, to ask "who are the poor?" before looking at individual and communal ways to respond.

A challenging read for me, and I think it would be for many. At only a hundred pages, why not read it & decide?

[Harry Newton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book for me wonderfully sets out the church's responsibility to walk with those as well as to serve the poor amongst us. Along the way it powerfully challenges steryotypes and encourages a deeper constructive and long lasting engagement with the issues that cause and sustain poverty. As well as the way our attitudes and actions need to change. This is an important and helpfully proactive book. Moreover as a bilically rooted Christian myself this book challenged me and helped shape my heart attitude on this vital socetal issue.