Toxic Charity, by Robert Lupton

Chapters One & Two

1.  Lupton’s opening statement sets the tone for his book:  “In the United States, there’s a growing scandal that we both refuse to see and actively perpetuate.  What Americans avoid facing is that while we are very generous in charitable giving, much of that money is either wasted or actually harms the people it is targeted to help.”

What was your initial response to that statement?  Did you react with agreement, disagreement…or somewhere in between?

2.  He continues:  “We mean well, our motives are good, but we have neglected to conduct care-full due diligence to determine emotional, economic, and cultural outcomes on the receiving end of our charity.  Why do we miss this crucial aspect in evaluating our charitable work?  Because, as compassionate people, we have been evaluating our charity by the rewards we receive through service, rather than the benefits received by the served.  We have failed to adequately calculate the effects of our service on the lives of those reduced to objects of our pity and patronage.”

Where do you find the truth in this statement?  Where might you counter with, “Yeah, but…”

                                                                

3.  And again,  “We respond with immediacy to desperate circumstances but often are unable to shift from crisis relief to the more complex work of long-term development.  Consequently, aid agencies tend to prolong the ‘emergency’ status of a crisis when a rebuilding strategy should be well under way.”  “When relief does not transition to development in a timely way, compassion becomes toxic.”

Can you recall situations where this assessment played out?  What circumstances contributed to this predicament?

4.  Lupton provides, “The Oath for Compassionate Service,” on pages 8-9.  Quickly review them again...

What are the challenges to meeting these criteria today?

5.  In chapter two, Lupton describes the short-term service industry, emphasizing the shortcomings of various service projects and mission trips.  He does cite “micro lending” as one example of a positive approach to assisting others.  Mostly, the author gives example after example of huge projects gone awry, with the exception of a few in which he was instrumental in leading.

Is there a common thread that runs through these stories of failure and stories of success?