Disclaimer: The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of clay Magazine or TPS.
Every Christmas since the 1990s, Samaritan’s Purse has urged Christians to fill up shoeboxes with toys and gifts for children overseas. With these shoeboxes, the organization hopes to help children in need and share the gospel. Across the United States, Samaritan’s Purse gathers shoeboxes to ship overseas, gives them to groups of children in need, and proceeds to tell the kids about Jesus’s love. This is certainly no small charity event. In 2020, 7.8 million shoeboxes were donated (Williams). However, in the past few years, Christians have begun to question the potential consequences of giving children in developing countries these shoeboxes. But what could possibly be wrong with giving a poor child a present for Christmas?
First of all, introducing a child living in poverty to Christianity by giving them a cute present may leave a consequential, long-term association between Jesus and getting material things. After their shoeboxes are handed out to children, people with Samaritan’s Purse talk about Jesus and His great love. In the mind of a young child, they will associate the adorable teddy bear they just received with Jesus. Although that might seem sweet and acceptable, this gives the impression that if someone follows Jesus, they receive material items in return. In reality, the Bible teaches the opposite dynamic and instructs Christians to focus on giving and living a life of servanthood. Many long-term missionaries have experienced the reality that when people receive material things in response to following Jesus, they may follow Jesus because, subconsciously, they hope to receive more material things since they are so poor. Although spreading the gospel overseas remains necessary and important, teaching about Jesus after giving impoverished children presents can serve as a manipulative tactic and often times negatively affects their long-term impression of Christianity.
Unfortunately, these shoeboxes also bring negative consequences for local communities in the countries the organization is trying to reach. Giving out small toys and items to kids for free can take away the livelihood of someone at the local village level. Oftentimes, adults in these countries make a living off of selling small items, so when a bunch of Christians come over and give free handouts of those items, this can and does hurt their financial situations. Essentially, these shoeboxes may give some kids a moment of joy around the Christmas season, but in the long term, these shoeboxes can hurt local communities more than they help (Howell). Further, when parents watch their children receive gifts because they are poor, they can feel embarrassed and ashamed that they cannot buy those items for their children themselves. This potential loss of dignity burdens parents and makes their life harder (Howell).
Although preparing shoeboxes for kids in need overseas may seem exciting and helpful, it is focusing more on that they are kids and less on the fact that they are in need. Money spent on shoeboxes could be raised to fit the specific needs of different families in different countries. Instead of giving money to charities for shoeboxes, the money could go towards plans like purchasing a family a helpful livestock animal or sponsoring a specific child’s education (Howell). These investments would become beneficial in the long-term for those families and children. In the process of helping others, as the Bible instructs Christians to do, people should remember that the Bible also instructs His followers to make wise and insightful decisions. Proverbs 12:15 (ESV) reads, “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.” God desires for His people to come together as a congregation and decide how to maintain an efficient and generous community, which includes our methods of charity.
The impulse to help the less fortunate during the holiday season is an admirable one; yet, ultimately the means we choose to help do matter. Helping others should be about what is most helpful to the recipients, not what makes the giver feel good. Perhaps as western Christians, people should consider how to show what real Christianity is (not western materialistic Christianity), realize the impact that a truckload of shoeboxes has on a local community, and develop a view for a long-term impact. Although Western Christians possess good intentions with these shoeboxes, considering the consequences of sending them to developing countries remains crucial.
Works Cited:
English Standard Version Bible. (2001). ESV Online. https://esv.literalword.com/
Howell, Brian M. “Perspective | Filling Millions of Shoe Boxes of Toys for Poor Kids Seems like a Great Idea. Here’s Why It’s Not.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 27 Oct. 2021, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2017/12/20/filling-millions-of-shoe-boxes-of-toys-for-poor-kids-seems-like-a-great-idea-heres-why-its-not/.
Williams, Dana. “Donors Made 2020 Operation Christmas Child a Success.” Grand Rapids Herald-Review, 22 Jan. 2021, https://www.grandrapidsmn.com/opinion/donors-made-2020-operation-christmas-child-a-success/article_bd448ca2-5cfd-11eb-9178-bf783bceaf23.html#//.
Photo Credit: https://lifepointchurch.us/event/operation-christmas-child-shoeboxes/