Poor people are non-Christians

I'm getting tired of the poverty angle the church keeps promoting. Had a sermon "The Rich Young Ruler". C liked it - I really wasn't into it. The pastor presented North Americans as all Rich Young Rulers. Our response to Christ is to give choices to those around us. She brought what she called "heroes" to church as they decided to live in a poorer part of town in order to serve them.

I have heard this before - we are called to serve the poor - lets find poor people and help them out.

This church is in a wealthy part of town. The poorest are those who are students. The majority of the community is not living in poverty. The solution seems to be that we are to find poor people. What I want to know is why aren't there any Christians living in Regent Park? Do all the Christians live in the rich parts of town? If so why don't I see a lot of people on the streets around the church in church? Or are they all busy on Sundays slumming it?

I am not poor. I have never been poor. I did not come to Christ out of my physical poverty - no soup kitchen, food drive or mental health outreach service was ever going to reach me. I was too rich to need these things. Why am I to be taken out of my community that I understand and thrust upon the poor as though I am the answer to the questions I don't even know?

Let's stop treating the poor as an way - an easy way I might add - of sharing Christ. These are people - not projects. Let's assist the Christians and churches in those areas with funds - that is what is needed - churches cannot exist in poor areas because the Christians cannot give enough to pay the rent and salaries of the church workers. I say to all churches - direct a portion of your tithes to a poor church - who can use the money to help the Christians address systemic needs. Ask people for what they need - and respond.

Let's stop assuming that poverty is a non-Christian problem!