The preferential option for the poor is considered one of the most significant theological contributions of the 20th century. But liberation theology and its ideas came into heavy criticism, particularly among those who raised alarms regarding the Marxist character of some expressions of liberation theology. Additionally, mainline Christianity’s accommodation or indifference to aspects of the “American Way of Life” have made it difficult to engage the preferential option for the poor as a shaping force for Christian discipleship in the U.S. This project seeks to develop the option for the poor as a central dimension of Christian life within the context of longstanding divisive issues in US Christianity.

As a theocentric concept, the option for the poor is grounded in our understanding of Divine life as revealed in scripture. We opt for the poor because the scriptural witness to God’s love refers to a God who enters history on the side of the oppressed in order to be in solidarity with them and transform their suffering, as in the Exodus story, the witness of the prophets, and the life of Jesus.

This project develops the option for the poor as the incarnational principle of Divine love, arising from Jesus’ life as evidence of God becoming incarnate and taking on our poverty (death) to transform and heal the human family and all of creation. The Incarnation is the historical entering of God into the human story of suffering.

Serving as the theological glue that brings an incarnational vision of God’s love and how we are to live into that vision, I seek to present the option for the poor as common ground for Christians in the U.S. to engage divisive policy issues: immigration, health care, inequality, and racial justice. This project seeks to present the preferential option for the poor as having the potential to offer some unifying and galvanizing foundations for Christians in the U.S. by journeying from prophetic indictment to inclusive invitation.