tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10512467.post114082368616166429..comments2023-07-15T02:18:38.947-07:00Comments on Contrarian Views: ONE QuestionsDavid M. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15720778073616293157noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10512467.post-1141337501124081422006-03-02T14:11:00.000-08:002006-03-02T14:11:00.000-08:00Hi Jeremiah,Thanks for stopping by and leaving a c...Hi Jeremiah,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. I agree with you, Pastor Roberts, and anyone else who thinks that starvation anywhere in the world is unacceptable with only a few slight caveats. <BR/><BR/>Let me explain. First, there is definitely a difference between hunger, malnutrition, and starvation. The three are not the same and the response to each should be completely different. When an aid organization claims that 2 billion people in the world are chronically malnourished, the organization is either telling a complete lie or is incompetent. The number is phony. <BR/><BR/>For the most part, hunger is good. During fasting, hunger reminds us of our dependence on God. During times of little, hunger motivates us to move forward. <BR/><BR/>Also for the most part, malnourishment is neutral. People are more susceptible to disease and have less energy, but malnourishment is a temporary condition that can be alleviated with a better diet. Malnourishment is not related the amount of food or even the type of food, but to the balance of food. Some wealthy people are chronically malnourished.<BR/><BR/>Starvation does lead to death. However, the cause of the starvation must also be diagnosed before the cure is prescribed. People who are starving because they are not being allowed to eat and when they have not committed a crime deserving death, need to have whatever is causing the prevention removed. If the starvation is being caused by a corrupt government, the corrupt government needs to be deposed. This is a fact in some cases in Africa now.<BR/><BR/>However, the majority of the people starving in Africa now are starving because they were given aid when they were hungry. It is a fact, a very sad fact, that good hearted Christians in America have caused and are causing some of the starving in Africa right now. God help us.David M. Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15720778073616293157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10512467.post-1141335976792685092006-03-02T13:46:00.000-08:002006-03-02T13:46:00.000-08:00Why can’t a moral person choose to be poor?I think...<I> Why can’t a moral person choose to be poor?</I><BR/><BR/>I think that you are misunderstanding the issue of what the Pastor Mark means by poor. It is one thing to choose to live a simple (from the outside regarded as poor) lifestyle. It is quite another to die of starvation because there is simply no food.<BR/><BR/>We are not talking about people who are choosing poverty or simplicity. God help us, that we would choose this more and more. We are talking about starvation. No moral person chooses starvation. It is the starvation and malnutrition of men, women, and children around the world that is unacceptable.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com