is No wonder then…Nehemiah angry… In verse 6-11 he appeals to their for consciences…and asks compassion…how can you do this to people who have already been sold to the gentiles…above are your own all…they people… At least drop the interest and give them back their fields in order to be able to start paying things off… for us to make direct comparisons with our own time but Now…its difficult clearly we would be operating and purposes for His within God’s best plans community of we were in any way oppressing our believers…if own… here at what about the systems in place in That’s probably unlikely DBC…but our keep people in a position of not being able country…which oppressed…and to pay back to get debt…or work… As we said at the is difficult to a proper start…poverty define…but…if definition of poverty exclusion which is what happens includes…Social poor skills, low incomes, poor housing, high crime through…unemployment, environments, bad health and family breakdown... a righteous judgement has to be those in high Then…surely made…in holding places accountable for any actions which make it harder and harder for people to get out of these circumstances… Where is the voice of the prophets Nehemiah…and today… Verses 12-13 Putting it right communally Slide - 7
No wonder then…Nehemiah is angry… In verse 6-11 he appeals to their consciences…and asks for compassion…how can you do this to people who have already been sold to the gentiles…above all…they are your own people… At least drop the interest and give them back their fields in order to be able to start paying things off… Now…its difficult for us to make direct comparisons with our own time but clearly we would be operating within God’s best plans and purposes for His community of believers…if we were in any way oppressing our own… That’s probably unlikely here at DBC…but what about the systems in place in our country…which keep people oppressed…and in a position of not being able to pay back debt…or to get work… As we said at the start…poverty is difficult to define…but…if a proper definition of poverty includes…Social exclusion which is what happens through…unemployment, poor skills, low incomes, poor housing, high crime environments, bad health and family breakdown... Then…surely a righteous judgement has to be made…in holding those in high places accountable for any actions which make it harder and harder for people to get out of these circumstances… Where is the voice of Nehemiah…and the prophets today… Verses 12-13 Putting it right communally Slide - 7