Tag Archives: Toxic Charity

March is Reading Month: Toxic Charity and Women Who Run With the Wolves

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By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

In honor of Dr. Seuss’ birthday, March has been designated as Reading Month. To celebrate and encourage reading, we are asking local officials, residents and WKTV staff and volunteers to tell us about a book that they enjoy. Happy Reading!

Today’s reading selections comes from Starla McDermott, who for the past six years has been serving as the development director for Guiding Light Mission. Since 1929, Guiding Light has been serving the Greater Grand Rapids area with a focus on offering safe and secure shelter for men looking to engage with society. The mission offers the following programs: the Back to Work Program, a short-term housing facility for men who are working or looking for work so they can save for permanent housing; and New Life in Christ, a program for men who are suffering from addiction, homelessness, loss of employment and other issues and they are looking for a new way in life. For more on Guiding Light Mission, visit www.guidinglightworks.org.

Book: Toxic Charity: How the Church Hurts Those They Help and How to Reverse It
Author: Robert D. Lupton
Genre: Christian Literature

Book: Women Who Run with Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype
Author: Clarissa Pinkola Estes
Genre: Self-help

For a work-related book, “Toxic Charity” is a good one. Published in 2011, “Toxic Charity” takes a look at traditional charity models and new ways to help, not sabotage, those that charities are trying to help. My personal favorite is “Women Who Run with Wolves,” which unfolds rich intercultural myths, fairy tales, folk tales, and stories, many from her own traditions, in order to help women reconnect with the fierce, healthy, visionary attributes of this instinctual nature.

On the shelf: ‘Toxic Charity’ by Robert D. Lupton

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By Karen Thoms, Grand Rapids Public Library, West Side Branch

 

Using the kindheartedness of most Americans as a backdrop, Robert Lupton’s Toxic Charity shows how the choices we make to express our compassion can have negative consequences on the very people we hope to help. It is a hard read because most of us who give have done some of the things he identifies as damaging. Yet he does not leave us to wallow in guilt or shame but quickly charts a course correction for givers that can make a restorative difference in the lives of hurting people.

 

Throughout the book Lupton walks us through actual situations where people or churches are giving time or money. Outcomes of these efforts are gleaned and measured. The stark findings command our attention: much of our giving is a Band-Aid and sometimes the results are disastrous! Lupton is able to turn our good intentions upside down to reveal pages of negative repercussions. We are brought up short story after story and then faced with the hard truth. There are no quick fixes when we are hoping to help people toward wholeness here or abroad. Being willing to consider Lupton’s assessments is a first step toward moving from hurtful aid to wholeness and development. 

 

Helping agencies and compassionate people will be challenged by the evidence in this book. Armed with this new knowledge Lupton turns the reader’s attention to the cure as he proposes an Oath for Compassionate Service, describes in detail what service with dignity looks like, and finally suggests steps to reaching the better outcomes we had hoped for in the first place. After reading Toxic Charity you will likely be changed in how you evaluate the use of your resources.