The Rt Rev Sally Foster-Fulton makes a rallying call for justice for the poorest in society.

‘For you always have the poor with you,’ These words from the mouth of Jesus have so often been used to normalise poverty.

Taken as an absolute and without context, it is tempting to use them as a shield against responsibility or a ‘get out of guilt free’ card. But these are words better seen as a rallying call and an indictment against the systems that keep some people poor.

In this iconic text, Jesus is quoting Deuteronomy, and the focus there is specific. ‘Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you to open your hand to the poor and needy neighbour in your land.’ There will always be emergencies, moments of crisis, natural disaster; but we should not equate that with systemic poverty – politics, policies and mechanisms that are set up to benefit the few at the expense of the few. That poverty is a political choice, totally avoidable, and Jesus railed against it.

If we look at the Bible, we see that Jesus talked a lot about money. In fact, 16 of the 38 parables were concerned with how we handle our money, one in ten verses in the gospels (288 in all) deal directly with the subject, and overall, in our sacred texts, there are 500 verses on prayer, fewer than that on faith, but more than 2000 verses on money and possessions and how we do or do not share.

There will always be times when people need our help and generosity; but, charity is not a sustainable, long-term solution – for that, we need justice. The cost of living crisis is crippling our most vulnerable. The intersectionality of spiralling costs causing devastation and misery. Consider the implications of rising energy costs on a single mother with a disabled child who needs specialised care and mechanisms that require electricity? Consider the implications for those seeking refuge in this country who have minimal access to funds? Consider that 50% of the clients currently coming to Christians Against Poverty advice centres have unsustainable budgets. That means that once they work with people to find a debt solution and even get them debt free, because they do not have enough money for the basic essentials that we all need (food, fuel, clothes) they are highly likely to go back in to debt again.

Communities of faith across Scotland are stepping up to help their neighbours – food banks, community fridges and cafes, warm hubs, school uniform and clothing swaps – these are all vital because we cannot sit by and let our neighbours suffer. And these compassion initiatives compel both individuals of faith and local churches to seek justice to overturn the unfair structures pushing and trapping people in poverty.

Do not underestimate the power of your voice. Give to and support these projects, but also write and lobby your MPs and MSPs, sign petitions, go to protests, and join campaigns. We need both compassion and justice.

This month, we mark Challenge Poverty Week https://www.povertyalliance. org/cpw/. The Church of Scotland and others join the Poverty Alliance to call on the Scottish government and our communities to actively support those living in poverty in this country. The calls to action are specific and are based on the findings of a short-life working group, including the Church of Scotland. It complements our joint campaign with the Catholic Church and CrossReach, calling for fair pay for social care. Basic solutions to alleviate suffering include action across fair funding for the third sector; adequate incomes; food; housing and transport. I encourage us all to join the call of Christ, to listen and learn more, and to actively seek solutions.

When Jesus said ‘Blessed are the poor’, he nailed his colours to the mast – ‘this is what my vision is. It is a world where everyone has enough and can live a dignified life.’ There will always be times when people need our help and generosity; but, charity is not a sustainable, long-term solution – for that, we need justice.