If the poor will always be with us, why should we eradicate extreme poverty?

Because we can, experts say. Humanity has the means to end worldwide poverty in our lifetime. The real question is, will we do it?

A new study guide released today by the National Council of Churches USA, Eradicating Poverty: A Christian Study Guide on the Millennium Development Goals, tackles these and other pressing issues.

The Millennium Development Goals are a set of eight goals to end extreme poverty, hunger and disease by 2015, agreed to be world leaders in 2000.  (Click here to read the goals.)

The study guide aims to motivate people to make the goals a reality, according to Lallie B. Lloyd, author of the guide.

"Since the Millennium Development Goals were announced in 2000," Lloyd writes, "a global movement has emerged. Around the world, and across the United States, Christians are joining other people of faith . . . in a unified effort to eradicate extreme poverty."

The goal is not a fantasy, says economist Jeffrey Sachs. "Ours is the first generation in the history of the world with the ability to eradicate extreme poverty. We have the means, the resources and the know-how. All we lack is the will."

Jesus told his disciples that there will always be poor people, and so long as sinful humans are in charge of the earth, that will remain true. But millions around the world are trapped in a relentless, hopeless poverty that kills people -- that allows children and their parents to suffer and die from starvation, disease and political neglect.

Jesus would be appalled by poverty this extreme, and by Christians who are indifferent to it.

"If we were to learn today, for the first time in human history, we have the tools, knowledge and wealth to end extreme poverty," asks Dr. Antonios Kireopoulos, Associate General Secretary of the NCC for International Affairs and Peace, "would we take the necessary steps to do so?"

The editors and writers of Eradicating Global Poverty believe the answer is, yes.