Toxic Charity: How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help (And How to Reverse It)

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Toxic Charity: How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help (And How to Reverse It)

4.05 of 5 stars 4.05 · rating details · 353 ratings · 105 reviews

Public service is a way of life for Americans; giving is a part of our national character. But compassionate instincts and generous spirits aren't enough, says veteran urban activist Robert D. Lupton. In this groundbreaking guide, he reveals the disturbing truth about charity: all too much of it has become toxic, devastating to the very people it's meant to help.

In his fou...more

Hardcover, 208 pages

Published October 11th 2011 by HarperOne

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Apr 30, 2012 Scott rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book reads like sitting in your living room across from a veteran mercy minister and you simply ask him "I see there's a problem and I want to help, tell me how to help." Lupton spends the rest of the book doing just that. Identifying the problem and then proceeding to tackle it.

One of the things I found most fascinating was that there seems to be two categories of people that pose difficulties toward effective mercy ministry. Also, as a caveat, it should be noted that I'm just an observer...more This book reads like sitting in your living room across from a veteran mercy minister and you simply ask him "I see there's a problem and I want to help, tell me how to help." Lupton spends the rest of the book doing just that. Identifying the problem and then proceeding to tackle it.

One of the things I found most fascinating was that there seems to be two categories of people that pose difficulties toward effective mercy ministry. Also, as a caveat, it should be noted that I'm just an observer so what I say should be taken with a grain--no, a spoonful--of salt.

First, those that have care, concern, and want to help but are misguided. For the sake of classification, I'm going to call them the "Feelers" because they are mainly motivated by feelings of despair for the poor and marginalized. The problem with the Feelers though is that their primary motivation is their feelings, and so once their feeling is satisfied they don't think twice about the ramifications of their deed. This is dangerous because good-intentions that aren't gated by well planned action can do more damage than good. This seems most evident in the case of Africa--over a trillion (!) dollars of aid and development has remained stagnant. College students are tremendously guilty of falling into the Feeler category as they desperately want to have compassion toward a broken world but often times only support a cause in so much as it satiates their feeling of making a difference. Lupton writes mainly in this book to the Feeler and with some education can utilize the good intentions of the Feeler into a force that can catalyze development in broken areas.

Secondly, those who are doing, have done, and are typically jaded. We'll call them "Doers". To be honest, the Doer troubles me more because in the midst of getting their hands dirty, they see the despair, thanklessness, and loneliness that can come from mercy ministry. They see that community development isn't easy and have seen their efforts bear little to no fruit. Thus when a 20 passenger van rolls into their neighborhood brimming with idealistic 18 year olds knowing the solution to the problem, the pain from the sting is unbearable. In situations like these it's hard not to want to beat your chest chanting all the things you've done for the community while an idealistic teen stands far off asking to be of some use for God's kingdom coming.

All things considered, the two categories reminded me of one thing: any ministry toward community development desperately needs the gospel.

The gospel enables people to work with little to no praise because their approval has been sealed by a heavenly Father. The gospel enables individuals to work hard and sacrifice time or money or comfort because they have a Redeemer who sacrificed the wonders of heaven to bear a wooden cross. The gospel transforms the day in, day out hardship and suffering into perseverance, endurance, and joy. Community development or mission not seen through the framework of the gospel (creation, fall, redemption, restoration) will yield little results and harbor much resentment, burnout, and ultimately failure.

Which brings me back to my review: my only request from Lupton's book is that he would have been more heavy handed on the framework to which one can do mercy ministry, namely, the gospel. It could be that since he is writing to church folks he can make certain assumptions (and it seems like he makes passing comments that reflect the gospel framework), however I'm of the opinion that you can't be too explicit when it comes to spelling out the gospel.

I am incredibly humbled and grateful to see brothers and sisters in my congregation, by God's grace, dive headfirst into the world of mercy ministry, motivated by a love for their fellow man and a want to see the kingdom of God be ushered in house by house and block by block. (less)

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Jan 14, 2012 Tina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian, nonfiction

This was a tough one to read, not in terms of reading level, but the overall content. No one who gives through a charity or church wants to think of their giving as "toxic". We mean well, so we assume our giving is going to do good wherever it goes.

In Toxic Charity, Lupton challenges any kind of 'hands-off' giving by pointing out it can actually be harmful to the recipients. Rather than giving blindly to human needs, he encourages people to think strategically about how to give while allowing re...more

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Mar 13, 2013 Ben Yosua-davis rated it 4 of 5 stars

I so badly wanted to give this book five stars. It's critique of churches and charities is disturbing, brilliant, and incisive. As someone who works in the non-profit field, it challenged a lot of my assumptions about how my work can help or hurt people.

There were two shortcomings, one minor, one major, that prevented me from giving the book five stars. First, Lupton writes from a very clearly "churched" perspective, using church language without explanation that people not connected with Christ...more

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Mar 23, 2013 Hillsa rated it 3 of 5 stars

I just finished this book for my church's book club. I thought it was very thought provoking. Some things I agreed with in principle, and some concepts didn't sit well with me from a practical point of view. Yes, if you provide someone a way to accept handouts forever - the incentive to do for self can disappear. Yet, not everyone can get themselves together - even if they go through a training program or rehab. And yes, building an infrastructure that empowers the charity recipients is ideal, b...more

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Aug 27, 2012 Erin rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: christianity

Huh...so basically 95% of the charity work I do (and probably most of us do) could be considered toxic: doing for others when they could do it for themselves, charity leading to attitudes of superiority and condescension on the part of the giver, charity work making the giver feel good, regardless of how the receiver might feel, charity work treating situations like emergencies, and workers being there only short-term, and not for the long haul. It's a lot easier to do one-time charity work than...more Huh...so basically 95% of the charity work I do (and probably most of us do) could be considered toxic: doing for others when they could do it for themselves, charity leading to attitudes of superiority and condescension on the part of the giver, charity work making the giver feel good, regardless of how the receiver might feel, charity work treating situations like emergencies, and workers being there only short-term, and not for the long haul. It's a lot easier to do one-time charity work than it is to make an ongoing commitment, but true transformation happens when relationships exist, when people who wish to help are in the trenches with those needing help, seeing what work needs to be done and then doing it. For people who wish to be helpful, it's difficult (and this speaks to me) to not just jump in there and fix it, take over and tell you what you need help with. People knee-deep in the situation (residents of Haiti, inner city neighborhoods in Atlanta, a failing school system in Detroit) have to lead the charge, and they need the support system. That's where charity workers come in--we're the support. We're the money to give people microloans to start new businesses; we're the hands and feet when disabled people need a new roof (that they have paid for); we're the people with connections to city councils and banks and education systems. We're the ones who can listen and offer guidance and another perspective when a project stalls. But we cannot give money away and think we're done--that's easy and it benefits few. We cannot take over and think that action doesn't deplete dignity and foster resentment. I've seen this in my own personal relationships, and it spoke to me. This book is highly recommended for anyone who regularly volunteers but wonders if maybe they are doing more harm than good (or they wonder if they can even SEE the good). And the best part is Lupton gives great advice and concrete examples for how to turn our charity work from toxic to productive. Wanting to help is not enough--you have to do it smartly. Lupton just made so much common sense--really great read. And a great discussion with my church folks!(less)

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Jul 19, 2012 Ashley rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: christianity, non-fiction

Robert Lupton presents some very challenging and thought-provoking ideas on church outreach and mission trips in his book Toxic Charity. Basically, he proposes that the way churches do ministry now only hurts the people they are trying to help instead of making things better. Pulling examples from all over the world, he shows how free charity creates only a dependence on the giver and does nothing to help people become self-sufficient.

While Mr. Lupton doesn't present many ideas about how to cha...more

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Jul 31, 2012 Mike Hyatt rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: church-ministry, charity

Toxic Charity by Robert D. Lupton confronts the elephant standing in the room of many charitable organizations and ministries. The elephant that no one wants to talk about is the "destructive do-gooder practices currently dominating the compassion industry." (pg. 8) Lupton, using plenty of illustrations and case studies, argues that there is lots of harm coming from our kindness and desire to give.

The old adage "feed a man a fish and he'll eat for the day; teach a man to fish and he'll eat for...more Toxic Charity by Robert D. Lupton confronts the elephant standing in the room of many charitable organizations and ministries. The elephant that no one wants to talk about is the "destructive do-gooder practices currently dominating the compassion industry." (pg. 8) Lupton, using plenty of illustrations and case studies, argues that there is lots of harm coming from our kindness and desire to give.

The old adage "feed a man a fish and he'll eat for the day; teach a man to fish and he'll eat for a lifetime" illustrates this. Give a man a free fish every day and after some time he will come to expect and even feel entitled to that fish. Even worse he will no longer be able to feed himself because he is dependent on another for the fish. An act of kindness in this case has done more harm than good over the long term. But teaching a man to fish is better all the way around - for the man, for his family and for society.

Lupton thinks that much of charitable work is feeding a man a fish rather than teaching him to fish. I tend to agree. His solution (this is simplified from the book) is to limit one-way giving to emergency situations. In other words, the only time we should feed a man a fish is in times of crisis when his life is literally on the line. During the other times, even when there are chronic needs, the goal is to develop and empower those in need or teach them how to fish.

How does one do this? How does a person offer wise and helpful charitable service? "The Oath for Compassionate Service" outlines what to do and what not to do.

"• Never do for the poor what they have (or could have) the capacity to do for themselves.
• Limit one-way giving to emergency situations.
• Strive to empower the poor through employment, lending, and investing, using grants sparingly to reinforce achievements.
• Subordinate self-interests to the needs of those being served.
• Listen closely to those you seek to help, especially to what is not being said— unspoken feelings may contain essential clues to effective service.
• Above all, do no harm." (pg. 128)

Overall I agree with the main premise of the book. There was one issue I did have. I felt that after the first third, the author began to whine a bit. He made mention on several occasions of how some did not take his advice, or stopped working with him and his organization, or wouldn't partner with him... It sounded like whining to me and in my opinion did not add to the book. Other than that I think this book will provide some correction in the area of charitable work.

I do recommend this book to churches and specifically pastors and those serving in mercy ministries at those churches. As Lupton states early on, religiously motivated charity is often the most irresponsible (pg. 4). We can do better and must. This book will provide some ways for us to think through how to wisely love our neighbors in need.
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Oct 03, 2012 Shirley Freeman added it

This is a must-read for anyone engaged in ministry with the poor or the disenfranchised. Lupton has over 40 years experience in urban ministry. He critiques everything from local church food pantries to government and NGO aid to Africa. He offers alternatives such as food co-ops and cooperatively run thrift stores. He talks about the importance of mercy and justice ministries - both/and. He talks about betterment (give a person a fish) vs. development (teach a person to fish). He believes passio...more

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Jan 24, 2012 Ryan Wilson rated it 3 of 5 stars

An even-handed look at how many charities can be harmful toward the populations they aim to serve. He discusses topics such as dependence and dignity while opposing the generally accepted model of charitable services. I think the book does a really good job of challenging and exposing the traditional understanding of church-sponsored and other nonprofit ventures. Good intentions count for something, but it's the responsibility of donors to carry that through to its end: donating to responsible a...more

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Jan 26, 2012 Paul Heidebrecht rated it 4 of 5 stars

The World Bank and the IMF aren't the only ones to waste vast amounts of money on fruitless and ill-advised aid projects around the world. Christian churches have mastered this failure as well with their mission trips and food pantries and giving to emergency relief. We respond from the heart but not the head. We don't ask enough questions and think about the long-term impact of what we do when we give to those in need. The reason is painfully obvious: we give out of guilt and because it makes u...more

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May 03, 2012 Ageena rated it 4 of 5 stars

Lots of food for thought in here. How to help the poor help themselves without furthering the welfare mentality with give aways that feel good to the givers but diminish the self-respect and self-worth of the receiver. Developing community by seeing the assets of people there first before imprinting our own plans on them. The intrinsic value of meaningful work and the need that people have to work for their food, housing, clothes and other needs and wants. How giving Christmas presents to needy...more

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Mar 06, 2012 Idiosyncratic rated it 2 of 5 stars

I have worked in an extremely poor neighbourhood for 15 years. While there were some useful concepts in this book, it was still essentially a middle-class viewpoint on what the poor should do to cure their ills. The lack of awareness in this book was summed up in a sentence where he talked about " 'lifestyle' poverty" versus "true emergency". "Lifestyle" poverty? REALLY? That, to me, was a dead giveaway that, underneath all his well-meaning thoughts and work, he is really only interested in the...more

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Mar 27, 2012 Tommy Estlund added it

Much better than I thought it would be based on the first few pages. I was under the impression this was going to be just another "blame the victim, don't help those who can help themselves" kind of a things. In reality, this book focused on the responsibility of those who want to "help" to develop a relationship with those who need help, instead of just taking the easy way out and giving some money here and there. (This has kind of been a pet peeve of mine in regards to short-term missions work...more

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Dec 03, 2012 Jack Kooyman rated it 5 of 5 stars

All congregations, Christian ministries, colleges and seminaries need to read this important book and consider how to apply the truths that Bob Lupton so clearly explains. Christian missions and outreach efforts among and to those who are poor have too often kept people dependent and fostered learned dependency. While food pantries and short term mission trips might feel or seem like good and helpful to those engaged in them, they rarely contribute to any long term change or empowerment of those...more

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Aug 05, 2012 Sally rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction, theology-ministry-church

Great look at how well-intentioned aid can actually work against long-term progress toward self-sufficiency. Since my children have participated in mission trips, against my husband's better judgment, it was interesting to read how many of those trips are truly just "compassionate vacations", for the benefit of the workers, not the intended audience. The question is, how can we improve the situation? I am struck yet again by the time and purpose required to assess a situation, develop a plan, an...more

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Aug 13, 2012 Brenda Bailey rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book gives a perspective from the receiver of charity. It was very helpful to me. I never want to feel that my giving or service is hurtful to someone. Here is a part from the book that I particularly liked. "Made in the image of God, we are created with intrinsic worth. And anything that erodes a rightful sense of pride and self-respect diminishes that image. At best we are fragile, easily wounded by criticism or insult. But those who have been devalued by society are unusually sensitive t...more

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Apr 24, 2012 Jennifer rated it 5 of 5 stars

I am a member of a board of my church that determines how a significant Outreach budget is distributed to local organizations. As a committee we just finished reading this book, which has opened our eyes to well intended but ultimately unhelpful approaches to charitable giving. This book, a compelling read, will be the certerpiece of a new strategic plan for our group. If you are actively working with a group that provides services or support to worthy causes, I urge you to read this book. in ad...more

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Feb 01, 2013 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Oh, boy, did this book keep me up thinking at night. Highly recommend. It was an easy ready, but challenging and troubling and difficult -- in a very valuable, much-needed way. I am rethinking the charities I support and as a result of this book my church is assessing how we go about "helping."

I think this book is a great asset for decision-makers at the front lines of charitable work, but I felt it was a little lacking in guidance for someone like me who is connected to most of my charitable a...more

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Jun 21, 2012 Frank rated it 5 of 5 stars

An important book written from someone who has worked on the frontlines in the inner city. He offers a clear and compelling argument for why soup kitchens, clothes closets, and Christmas toy giveaways to needy families is harmful. He then makes an even more compelling case for alternatives that empower people, requiring something of those we wish to help.

Church leaders should take the time to read and reflect on this wise little book. Warning: your opinions are likely to change and then you mig...more

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Feb 12, 2013 Tim Ervolina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Lupton identifies the elephant lurking in the room where most charitable giving, especially faith-based charity, takes place: it rarely results in real, sustainable long term change.

His solution: asset-based community development, an approach that has been used for at least two decades by community organizations, who try to increase the capacity of neighborhoods and communities to transform themselves from the bottom up. The challenge that ABCD has is the reality that donors don't really like t...more

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May 26, 2012 Eileen Kooreman rated it 4 of 5 stars

As a fan of John Perkins, John McKnight and others who believe in volunteerism that involves development and long term sustainability rather than betterment or charity, the concepts Dr. Lupton writes about are not new to me. However, what I loved about this short readable book was its suggestions for practical application. Instead of just providing criticism of individuals and churches, this book is a toolkit for how serving others can bring great rewards to the giver and give dignity to the rec...more

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Mar 23, 2013 Aneel Trivedi rated it 4 of 5 stars

"Toxic Charity" was recommended to me by no fewer than three people I deeply respect. The premise is straightforward, the way we "do" charity (particularly the church), while good-hearted, is not always in the best interest of the people we're trying to help. The argument is not new, I've heard something similar before many times. What sets Lupton's work apart is that he moves beyond the criticism of "handouts", and discusses more effective ways to bring about real change.

A couple takeaways......more

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Apr 30, 2013 Roseyreads rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I thought this book was great. Lupton supported his main idea with testimonies from poor persons themselves and from all kinds of people who have worked in the betterment and in the development of poor neighborhoods. It was refreshing to have someone show how hand-outs may help in a time of crisis but how they can keep people dependent if there is no change from the hand-out to the development of the poor person's own potential talents and ability to work and maintain their dignity. They can go...more

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May 06, 2012 Missy rated it 3 of 5 stars

I think this is a must read for anyone who has ever participated in church outreach ministry. It gave me a new perspective on how helping out of love can hurt. However, since it was written primarily from a Christian perspective, I was disappointed that the author didn't back up most of his assertions with scripture. An example would be his dislike of food banks and pantries. When James 1:27 clearly calls us to care for the orphans and widows. I volunteer at a food bank that primarily serves th...more

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Mar 31, 2013 Jean Marie Angelo rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book was the choice of the rector of our parish, who serves on a dicocesan commitee for mission. It was a suprising choice for our church, given the 20 or so service programs we run out of our community center. This author, who is also a paster, is very bold in his view. He makes it clear that much "do-gooder" work is wasted time. He believes much Christian mercy really fosters dependancy in those we are trying to help. It is a harsh view. Most distrubing is his view of what he calls religi...more

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Sep 01, 2012 Harold Cameron rated it 5 of 5 stars

Americans are an extremely giving, generous people when it comes to charitable giving. That is an indisputable fact. And most Americans give with good intentions. However, with all of our giving are we really helping the people that we are giving billions of dollars to help or are we doing more harm than good?

Author Robert Lupton takes an objective look at the critical issue of charitable giving to the poor and needy and raises some very appropriate concerns and asks some hard and necessary ques...more Americans are an extremely giving, generous people when it comes to charitable giving. That is an indisputable fact. And most Americans give with good intentions. However, with all of our giving are we really helping the people that we are giving billions of dollars to help or are we doing more harm than good?

Author Robert Lupton takes an objective look at the critical issue of charitable giving to the poor and needy and raises some very appropriate concerns and asks some hard and necessary questions in regards to the matter.

In Chapter one of his book, Author Lupton addresses what he refers to as the “growing scandal” related to the matter of our generosity in giving in that either much of the money we give is misappropriated or “wasted” or actually does more harm than good to the people we are giving the money to. He is not trying to be mean spirited like The Grinch in the popular children’s book “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas,” by discouraging people from giving altogether; but rather, he is using the message of his book to communicate other possible and just maybe some better options to how we are currently doing giving in our country.

Author Lupton asserts in his book that most of us have “good intentions” by our giving as generously as we do as Americans. He is rightly concerned however that with all of our giving we might actually be doing more harm than good to the people we are giving to. The author states by our methods of giving we are turning needy people into “beggars” thereby robbing them of their initiative and dignity, and thus, leaving them in far worse shape than they were before we ever gave to them.

Author Lupton is someone who has been and is on the front lines of serving the needs of others as an “urban activist” so in Toxic Charity he writes from experience, with compassion as well as with a keen insight as to the changes that need to be made so that we might be more effective in our giving to the needs of others. He challenges us if that if only we will stop doing what we are doing we will stop getting what we have been getting as donors which has been dismal results for the most part up to this point in time.

What we pretty much have created is a world full of needy, dependent people who feel that they are entitled to the handouts and help they are receiving now and have become complacent and are content with them rather than reaching out for a hand up…that is their being given the education, tools and resources along with their having to do the work necessary to become independent and even thriving. And he provides us creative ideas, practical resources, (such as the “Oath for Compassionate Service”); along with helpful tools and examples from the lives of people on the front lines that we can use to improve greatly on our giving. If we will but heed his warnings, have “ears to hear” and will listen and apply our hearts to understanding in regards to his advice in the matter of giving everyone involved in the process will be the better and richer for it.

To learn more about the book visit the website of Harper One Publishers.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Harper One Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”(less)

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Sep 01, 2012 Cathy Hasty rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

In 191 small pages with many lists, Dr. Lupton challenges some of the core assumptions of church and non profit service and giving to the poor. The concern I have is this may be taken to justify dismantling necessary social programs. This would be a misreading of his work, both this book and his years of service. He writes in a direct and compelling way from his experience of 40 years in urban ministry and his knowledge of national and international charity programs. He addresses the complex dif...more In 191 small pages with many lists, Dr. Lupton challenges some of the core assumptions of church and non profit service and giving to the poor. The concern I have is this may be taken to justify dismantling necessary social programs. This would be a misreading of his work, both this book and his years of service. He writes in a direct and compelling way from his experience of 40 years in urban ministry and his knowledge of national and international charity programs. He addresses the complex difficulty of helping those who need help in ways that do not damage the person by creating shame, dependency and simmering anger.

Lupton writes sobering anecdotes about what is said and done behind the scenes of the service projects both here and overseas. His stories reveal that too often the service project and acts of compassion hurt and undermine the people who are targeted for help.

His assessment of mission trips is striking when he describes unemployed qualified people standing outside a church being poorly painted by volunteers who are paying thousands of dollars for the experience. He reminded me of the story I have heard behind the popular Toms shoes, that they displace the makers of shoes in the countries. The examples are strong anecdotes which are sometimes over stated to make his point about food pantries and African Aid. He outlines examples of people and organizations that provide “help” which is organized too quickly from a top down approach.  I was interested in his reflections on the short-term service projects and community leadership and intervention, and its examination of how one-way giving poisons relationships. I still recommend it as a starting place for discussion and understanding, but only as a starting place.  
Lupton's approach, that of asset-based community development; aims to empower and partner with those helped, recognizing and engaging their capacity to contribute to their community with their own resources, knowledge, and wisdom.

Lupton argues for an approach that facilitates engaging the skills and energy of the local people to fund, build, and manage their own resources.   He is not advocating that support be withheld and he is not against charity. What he advocates is a focus on results rather than intentions, on the good of those helped rather than the benefits to the giver (e.g., the 'life-changing experience' of young participants in expensive mission junkets or the warm feelings of congregations that want to help.)

The virtue of charity in this view cannot stand alone. It requires the exercise of other virtues like justice and prudence, and full engagement of the head as well as the heart. Americans are very generous in charitable giving. A great deal of money is either wasted or actually harms the people it is targeted to help, according to Robert Lupton. He wants to see giving and practical help delivered in a way that produces sustainable positive outcomes.  Compassion is such a virtue that it seems sacrilegious for someone to question whether it is achieving its desired aims. People dig wells in Sudan or send food to Haiti or serve in a soup kitchen and simply assume that they are helping people out of poverty, without considering whether they are creating dependency, destroying personal initiative, and disempowering the recipients of the aid.  The problem is not compassion or charity. The problem is the unintended consequences. The book details a broad range of unintended consequences of mission trips, service projects, public housing developments, international partnerships, Christmas gift distributions, foreign aid projects, food banks, and other activities designed to help the poor.  The author proposes an oath for compassionate service which includes elements such as:   * Never do for the poor what they have the capacity to do for themselves * Limit one-way giving to emergency situations * Listen closely to those you seek to help * Above all, do no harm  He acknowledges that there are situations where one way giving is effective; he proposes that when the emergency situations are resolved, the giving be evaluated. He does not address free education and free lunch programs. I would like to see more of the research and data behind his anecdotes. (less)

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Jul 04, 2012 Erik rated it 3 of 5 stars

Challenging. Not anything I could do. THis man has dedicated his life to effecting real change. I still am not sure how I can make my small effort more transformative. He promotes and lives, in a big way, the second (better) half of the classic saying, "Give a man a fish and he eats for a day, teach him to fish and he eats for a lifetime." It is all about developing a relationship with people, recognizing their potential, and helping them help themselves. The normal mode of charity -- simply giv...more

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Jun 06, 2012 Drew rated it 4 of 5 stars

Must read book for Christians and any other people engaging in serving low-income peoples/neighborhoods. This book challenges the typical ways Christians do ministry amongst the poor and shows how these methods are not only ineffective, they, in fact, do more harm than good.

Lupton also does a great job (as usual) of writing very practically. Practical "next steps" are clearly laid out. This leaves churches without an excuse as they seek to serve the poor well.

The only thing that Lupton fails to...more

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Oct 29, 2012 Wally rated it 5 of 5 stars

I bought this book on Kindle on the recommendation of evangelist Michael Gott. I'm really glad I did. Author Robert Lupton forced me to look "through the other end of the telescope" at the way I have done mission trips and mission projects. He gave me a new set of questions to ask myself as I plan future projects and a different criteria for evaluation. Any church or group that seeks to enter into any type of project, especially a long term one, needs to read this first. You'll make wiser decisi...more

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About Robert D. Lupton

Bob Lupton is the founder and president of FCS Urban Ministries, a non-profit organization serving inner-city Atlanta, and is on the board of the Christian Community Development Association. He is a Vietnam veteran, has a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Georgia, and consults and lectures internationally on urban issues.

More about Robert D. Lupton...

Books by Robert D. Lupton

Theirs Is the Kingdom: Celebrating the Gospel in Urban America

Compassion, Justice and the Christian Life: Rethinking Ministry to the Poor

Renewing the City: Reflections on Community Development and Urban Renewal

Return flight: Community development through reneighboring our cities

Refounding the Church from the Underside

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title link	preview: Toxic Charity: How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help
avg rating	preview: Toxic Charity: How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help Goodreads rating: 4.05 (353 ratings)
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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11869727-toxic-charity?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348474454l/11869727.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11869727-toxic-charity?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Toxic Charity: How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help by Robert D. Lupton[/url]

Toxic Charity: How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help (And How to Reverse It)

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