Baptist News Global
Sections
  • News
  • Analysis
  • Opinion
  • Curated
  • Storytelling
    • Faith & Justice >
      • Charleston: Metanoia with Bill Stanfield
      • Charlotte: QC Family Tree with Greg and Helms Jarrell
      • Little Rock: Judge Wendell Griffen
      • North Carolina: Conetoe
    • Welcoming the Stranger >
      • Lost Boys of Sudan: St. John’s Baptist Charlotte
      • Awakening to Immigrant Justice: Myers Park Baptist Church
      • Hospitality on the corner: Gaston Christian Center
    • Signature Ministries >
      • Jake Hall: Gospel Gothic, Music and Radio
    • Singing Our Faith >
      • Hymns for a Lifetime: Ken Wilson and Knollwood Baptist Church
      • Norfolk Street Choir
    • Resilient Rural America >
      • Alabama: Perry County
      • Texas: Hidalgo County
      • Arkansas Delta
      • Southeast Kentucky
  • More
    • Contact
    • About
    • Donate
    • Planned Giving
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Advertising
    • Ministry Jobs and More
    • Transitions
    • Subscribe
    • Submissions and Permissions
Donate Subscribe
Search Search this site

November 16, 2017

‘Shoe boxes’ article helpful, but too negative

To the editor:

The information contained in the article, “Stuffing shoe boxes for the world’s poor? Maybe you should reconsider,” was eye-opening and a good thing to bring attention to. It certainly made me re-think things.

I just wish the tone hadn’t been so negative and judgmental. I think many people would gladly reconsider what they are doing when exposed to what the real needs are. But when they are being accused of being involved with a “toxic charity like OCC” it will put them off so they shut off the deeper message of the article. If it were an article that encouraged evaluation and understanding without lambasting what people are doing, it would go much farther to changing people’s minds about their approach to poverty.

I was quite moved by the content, but don’t feel comfortable sharing this article with others because it would do more to offend and close some people’s minds than to accomplish what the actual intent was. But I would share it in a moment if it were more sensitive to those who sincerely have enjoyed partaking in this effort each year. These people may be uninformed, as I was, but most do not do it out of guilt or to relieve their conscience, but out of a heartfelt assumption that they are participating in a lovely and generous deed. I believe most of these same people would alter their approach, when it is pointed out what actually benefits the poor.

I wish writers would be more neutral in articulating their message, realizing that they are speaking to an audience with a wide variety of experiences, background, viewpoints and perspectives. Putting others on the defensive by criticizing (almost ridiculing) does little to promote a change of heart. It only serves to widen the divide.

Karen Dahl, Sandy, Utah

Primary Sidebar

Get BNG headlines in your inbox


Curated

  • Can AIPAC Still Claim the Middle Ground?

    Can AIPAC Still Claim the Middle Ground?

    July 1, 2022
  • Afghan Taliban hold 1st major clerical meetup since takeover

    Afghan Taliban hold 1st major clerical meetup since takeover

    July 1, 2022
  • His Election Polarized the Philippines. Now Evangelicals Are Repairing Burned Bridges.

    His Election Polarized the Philippines. Now Evangelicals Are Repairing Burned Bridges.

    July 1, 2022
  • Preacher at CBF Assembly Blasts ‘Slave Bible Hermeneutic’ that Opposes Social Justice

    Preacher at CBF Assembly Blasts ‘Slave Bible Hermeneutic’ that Opposes Social Justice

    July 1, 2022

In case you missed it. Catch our webinar on Ukraine and religious freedom

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v71RAKaEKbo

Watch our other webinars

BNG has hosted several webinars in the series of “Conversations That Matter.” Click here to view them all.

Conversations that Matter.

© 2022 Baptist News Global. All rights reserved.

Want to share a story? We hope you will! Read our republishing, terms of use and privacy policies here.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS