Fully agree - not only driect to a rescuse mission type program - but take him there if necessary.
Show us the facts!
NO, I would not have given him cash, I would give him what he (apparently) needs most - a friend.
Van & NC Tentmaker - both excellent posts
What would the reaction be at the church you attend?
Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by Crabtownboy, Jul 24, 2013.
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About 15 years ago I headed a homeless ministry in the church I was attending, one Sunday I jumped in the van early and went downtown and picked up three men went back to the church seated them and stood back and watched.
I'm no longer a member of that church. -
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Revmitchell Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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Originally Posted by Bro. Curtis
We won't know, because this is a one-sided story, dishonest, and created to call Christians cheap and uncaring.
Originally Posted by Arbo
How is it that you know what the intent of the story is? Could your animosity toward CTB be clouding your judgement?
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OnlyaSinner Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
Our pastor would counsel, "Be wise as sepents and harmless as doves." The church never gives cash, though individual members are certainly free to do so. We'd ask some questions (and pray for wisdom) to attempt to sort out the con artists, and if convinced the situation was genuine, might take the person shopping, line up a motel for short-term homelessness (longer term we'd offer a ride to a rescue mission several towns to our south.) Folks with cars might get gas cards. Any such contacts, with or without gifts, cons or genuine, would be accompanied by the Gospel. Offering cash makes it too easy for recipients to buy smokes or booze or other drugs, and we shouldn't be enabling stuff like that.
As long as a person's dress, aroma, or conduct doesn't cause significant distraction to others, he/she would be greeted/invited and allowed to sit anywhere there's room. Should the person be that kind of distraction, two members of the same gender would counsel the person in a room away from the sanctuary. Do we always get it right? Of course not, but as long as we lean on God, He will direct. -
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Bro. Curtis <img src =/curtis.gif>Site Supporter
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Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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I did get some stares because of the way I was dressed. Rolling around in mud will do wonders for your appearance. But other than some antsy ushers, everyone seemed to be okay with my presence. I was friends with the pastor so he was in on it. Folks were wide eyed and crying by the time he was done with his sermon.
2 For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, 3 and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,” 4 have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?
5 Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? 7 Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called?
8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,”[a] you do well; 9 but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. James 2:3-9
The people inside the sanctuary were actually very nice, just seemingly a bit weirded out. -
So anyhow, what's the big impact? Some more folks will grit their teeth and sit by the homeless looking people now and feel like they did their "job" as Christians? Is that it? Do they all look like that guy? Is that how you tell? What if someone is homeless but doesn't look like that? Should there be stories of how people didn't notice because the homeless person wasn't wearing proper "I'm homeless" apparel?
And why does everyone seem to feel the need to be made to feel bad over not feeling bad over strangers not giving money to a fake homeless person in a fictional story on the internet? ROFLOL
Come on, we don't need fake stories if we want to feel bad. We're all quite horrible enough if we stop and really think. If we're not, then good, keep it up and go for even better, and don't stop and try to purposely feel terrible. That's not the goal. -
I wonder if Jesus would be ok with the use of a parable...
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Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
Here is what most of these churches dont do....they dont address life on this side of death. Consequently, the world will grow less & less interested in your dogmas & modern churches.......and from my prospective, its a good thing. -
I'm sorry to disagree with you, but...
If I am ever made aware of a legitimate need in my church or town I do my very best to find help. I have given money out of my pocket to help people with legitimate needs. I have bought meals and groceries for people with real needs. I've even provided a place to stay in my house for people who were homeless. I've paid utility bills and rent for people who needed help out of my own funds. I'm a sucker for a sob story. My wife has to watch me- or we would likely be homeless ourselves.
I don't need made-up tear-jerker stories to tell me what the church should do and how.
Jesus himself said, "The poor you always have with you". Poverty will never be eradicated even if the churches, and Christians, poured every penny of their budgets into that mission.
Helping the poor is not the main mission of the church- preaching the gospel and making disciples is. Helping the poor is a way to do that and not an end in itself.
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