Will you be watching the first presidential debate tonight? After some back and forth this week about whether John McCain would be in Mississippi for the debate it now appears things will proceed as planned.  Well, sort of.  This debate, hosted by Jim Lehrer of PBS, was supposed to focus on foreign policy and national security.  After the financial turmoil of the past couple of weeks it now appears the candidates will spend time addressing the American economy.

If you could suggest one question for Jim Lehrer to ask McCain and Obama, what would it be? I would like to see the candidates asked how their foreign policy will affect the world’s poor.  World leaders gathered at the United Nations yesterday for a progress report on the Millenium Development Goals.  While progress is being made to eradicate extreme poverty, there is still plenty to be done.  Yesterday’s report indicates that,

The proportion of people in sub-Saharan Africa living on less than $1 per day is unlikely to be reduced by the target of one-half.

About one quarter of all children in developing countries are considered to be underweight and are at risk of having a future blighted by the long-term effects of undernourishment.

More than one third of the growing urban population in developing countries live in slum conditions.

Given this timely report, I would like to hear the candidates talk about their commitment to the Development Goals.  I’d like to know if they see a connection to our foreign policy/national security and the lives of the extremely poor.  However, given the doom and gloom from Wall Street it’s likely that most of the debate will center squarely on America’s financial goals for itself.

Regardless of what questions are asked tonight, America’s policies towards the global poor are not simply a matter for politicians.  Last month a letter addressed to “the Church in the United States” was sent from Christians leaders in the global south.  The letter serves as a rebuke to the American church from our family around the world.

Therefore, we have this against you, brothers and sisters, that along with this powerful announcing of the Gospel, the Church from the United States has not also raised its voice in protest against the injustices that powerful governments and institutions are inflicting on the global South – injustices that afflict the lives and ecosystems of millions of people who, centuries after the proclamation of the Gospel, still have not seen the sweat of their brow turned into bread.

Notice that the admonishment is not for the American government but for the American church.  These leaders are not looking to a Republican or Democratic president for their hope, they are looking to their Christian family.

And so we ask you as sisters and brothers, citizens of the wealthiest most powerful nation on earth, to publicly challenge your candidates and political leaders – now and after the elections are over – to lead the world in the struggle to cut global poverty in half by 2015. If you who know the Truth will not speak for us who will?

Perhaps the real action won’t be during tonight’s debates but what happens in church services over the next couple of months.  Will our attention be primarily on ourselves as we ride this financial roller coaster?  Will we look first to our politicians and government to solve the issues affecting the global poor?  Or, will we listen carefully to our Christian family around the world and determine how our words, actions, prayers and votes can seek justice and mercy on their behalf?

Related…

• Scott McKnight on why the Christian’s hope cannot be political.
• Bono on the Millennium Development Goals.