Back in April, we were all shocked to hear about the killing of more than 1000 people in the collapse of a garment factory in Bangladesh. Though frankly, with the Boston marathon bombing and the explosion in West, Texas, we were more focused on things closer to home.
I couldn’t help but remember that those people were working in terrible conditions so that I can buy cheap clothing. I don’t spend much time thinking about why so many things are available to me at such low prices. I don’t like to think about who had to work so that I could have an abundance of things to choose when I go to the store.
Do you think about those things? Have you intentionally purchased any sort of “fair trade” products? Do you think Christians should be involved in helping improve the working and living conditions of people in other countries?
What responsibility do we bear for the “production chain” behind the goods we consume?
photo by Jaber Al Nahian
Tim, thank you for starting this important moral conversation. I try to purchase fair trade and organic. I personally boycott Fruit of the Loom because of the way workers in Haiti are treated.
If the Republicans/Tea party get their way we wont need to go to Bangladesh to see such things, they want to eliminate all federal oversight and safety regulations, you have to look no farther than at the bridges and public buildings that are swaying in the wind of republican austerity. The fight they are putting up against minimum wage increase, which if the democrats actually are able to get it through, we will still be so much behind price increases that we still can only afford “Bangladesh” products. They are fighting work place safety rules, have been ever since OSHA came into existence. Yes Christians should stand up for the poor, but you can’t even get them to agree on what “god” to pray to. why would you expect anything more from then than the non-believer on the street? People like Tim Archer who write articles directed to the Christian community should fill those articles with the sermon on the mount, people who have the “way” should also have the “will” .
Well I could write a book, but it would do no good. If we could get the “Christian” publications to do what they should be doing, we might actually see a change. Yes I know you have said over and over again, that you are not a citizen of this world, but does that mean you should not be concerned ?
” Do you think Christians should be involved in helping improve the working and living conditions of people in other countries?”
Oh by the way Tim all Christians don’t live in America. Tim nothing pushes my buttons more than mistreatment of the working class, and the poor. Unless it is the “trinity doctrine”.
Mat 5:3 Blessed [are] the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Luk 16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
What did Lazarus do to deserve going to “the heavenly kingdom” other than being “poor” ?
I can’t help but believe the way we treat the poor today, will become our judgment tomorrow. I do believe it is said so in many places in scripture.
That’s true, Laymond. But every Christian can help people in other countries. You see, even if I live in Argentina, people who live in Bolivia are in another country.
“Oh by the way Tim all Christians don’t live in America” I meant to add, “and all poor people don’t live in other countries”
There are millions in need right down the road from Christians, and even some of them are Christian.
Laymond,
(Sit down for this) I agree.
I’ll also say that not all oppression of the workers occurs overseas.