Abolishing Positive Commitment. Another battle in the culture war.

Commitment: The state or quality of being dedicated to a cause, activity: synonyms: dedication, devotion, allegiance, loyalty, faithfulness. Oxford dictionary.

The message on some billboards in WI and MN read: “Tired of poverty? Finish School, Take Any Job, Get Married, Save & Invest, Give Back To Your Neighborhood.” The billboard was created by the Center For Urban Renewal and Education in Washington DC. An organization founded by a black women named Star Parker, who stated:

“I lived criminal activity, drug activity, sexual activity. I barely graduated high school literate. I was in and out of the abortion clinic, after clinic. I lived on welfare.”

She said it was these five precepts that pulled her out of poverty. Apparently, many have stated that this message is sexist and racist, including many on the political far left and some of the leaders in the BLM (Black Lives Matter) organization who pressured the billboard owners to remove the message. One person was reported as stating: “To every woman, that’s damn near ‘keep her barefoot and pregnant,'”. Hmmm, I just don’t see that.

I see these precepts as encouraging positive commitment. Commitment to yourself, your employer and fellow workers, to a very special person & life-long relationship, to financial security and to selfless concern for others within your community. This is the foundation of “hope”…the ability to see yourself in a better place, a better way, a better situation in the future. The opposite of these precepts breeds “hopelessness”!

Look at the information below relating to worldwide poverty and the connection to education in the article, Understanding the Connection Between Education and Poverty Feb 07, 2020 – Globalcitizen:

“Nearly 60 million people could escape poverty if all adults had just two more years of schooling, and 420 million people could be lifted out of poverty if all adults completed secondary education, according to UNESCO. Education increases earnings by roughly 10% per each additional year of schooling.” The author asks: “Why does poverty stop girls from going to school?” “Poverty is the most important factor that determines whether or not a girl can access education, according to the World Bank. If families cannot afford the costs of school, they are more likely to send boys than girls. Around 15 million girls will never get the chance to attend school, compared to 10 million boys.”

It is clear that this research, which I believe could be applied to any nation, shows it is not finishing school, or simply a lack of education that will keep girls/women “barefoot and pregnant”. Educated parents can escape poverty and raise their children out of poverty. Their educated children can go on to raise their children out of poverty. Seems like a good plan to me. And these statistics, though related, do not address the positive impacts from the other four listed precepts on the billboard. All of them together are very powerful!

So…since when did positive commitment start to become negative? I’m not sure exactly; perhaps at the very first rebellion against God. However, it was predicted some 2000 years ago that the “last days” would show an increase: “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents , ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God-having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.” (2 Timothy 3:1-5) A stark warning!

Regardless of where we are in this time-line, the human characteristics listed in this Scripture are not positive and should be avoided. It is these that will keep women “barefoot and pregnant” and in poverty.

The Prophet Isaiah stated: “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter” Isaiah 5:20.

I think, as important and positive as these five precepts are, they are not complete. I would add two more: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind”. And, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus, as recorded in Luke 10:27.

I pray these billboards and this message are restored and lives are changed through positive commitment.

Mike