- Feb 3, 2016
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I have to ask folks...have you noticed a lot more posers coming into your church for the express purpose of hunting for volunteers to do their dirty work? What’s your opinion on helping these people who are pretending to be Christians? Do you think we should help them anyway as it sets a good example...even if you’re being used, not paid for your work or lied to?
We’ve had a lot of them come through our little country church. They come, give a sob story, pretend to be in need and really aren’t...then they get volunteers to do their dirty jobs, (plowing snow, help move or paint...some kind of job they’re too cheap to pay for themselves) then, they disappear from the church. Some even stay to see how much undeserving help they CAN get. I’m not talking about that poor, grouchy widow who needs her lawn mowed. I’m talking about that rich, widow who has more money than Trump but comes in seeing who she can scam so she can save up for a trip to Hawaii.
I hate to say this, but most of them are stingy, well-off, elderly people too. They’re living on a budget but instead of living within their means and refraining from unnecessary spending, they’re looking for people to come and do services that they simply don’t want to pay for or do themselves. There is no distinguishing between needs and wants with these kind of people. They think that their quality of life is a need and not a want.
I’ve caught two couples in their scams. One lady was saying her husband was in the hospital and then went on and on about how she needed her living room painted and had no help. We drive by their house and he’s in his privately owned pond, pulling cat tails out. Looked mighty sick. *sarcasm*. Every time she needs something done, she’ll come to church and give a big lie of a sob story then start asking for volunteers. Otherwise, she doesn’t come. All she has to do is stop getting her weekly massages and manicures and she’d save up enough money to have someone come paint her house.
A lot of stuff like that happens and our pastor and his wife fall for it all the time. You can’t tell them anything either. The wife thinks we’re stingy jerks for testing people and getting to know them before we help them. You can tell her anything and she’ll believe it, she is so naive and driven by emotions.
I personally don’t think any seed is planted, or your testimony is being remembered when you help. The horrible pervert of a guy who came in and scammed my husband into helping him finish house (and then disappeared after he was done and didn’t pay him) isn’t thinking, “gee, that guy was a great Christian. I should mend my ways and be like him.” He’s sitting back wondering what church he’s going to target next when he needs some landscaping help cause we’re all gullible schmucks who can easily be guilt tripped into volunteering.
So...what are your thoughts on this? Have you seen this in your church? What, if anything does leadership do about it? Do you just leave it in God’s hands or do you warn people to be more vigilant and discerning? THe Apostle Paul commands us to be discerning and test everything. I think that should include people who aren’t who they say they are. I know God isn’t going to bless those people who are dishonest and steal from others, but I hate to see other members get their time and money stolen by scammers who don’t deserve it.
We’ve had a lot of them come through our little country church. They come, give a sob story, pretend to be in need and really aren’t...then they get volunteers to do their dirty jobs, (plowing snow, help move or paint...some kind of job they’re too cheap to pay for themselves) then, they disappear from the church. Some even stay to see how much undeserving help they CAN get. I’m not talking about that poor, grouchy widow who needs her lawn mowed. I’m talking about that rich, widow who has more money than Trump but comes in seeing who she can scam so she can save up for a trip to Hawaii.
I hate to say this, but most of them are stingy, well-off, elderly people too. They’re living on a budget but instead of living within their means and refraining from unnecessary spending, they’re looking for people to come and do services that they simply don’t want to pay for or do themselves. There is no distinguishing between needs and wants with these kind of people. They think that their quality of life is a need and not a want.
I’ve caught two couples in their scams. One lady was saying her husband was in the hospital and then went on and on about how she needed her living room painted and had no help. We drive by their house and he’s in his privately owned pond, pulling cat tails out. Looked mighty sick. *sarcasm*. Every time she needs something done, she’ll come to church and give a big lie of a sob story then start asking for volunteers. Otherwise, she doesn’t come. All she has to do is stop getting her weekly massages and manicures and she’d save up enough money to have someone come paint her house.
A lot of stuff like that happens and our pastor and his wife fall for it all the time. You can’t tell them anything either. The wife thinks we’re stingy jerks for testing people and getting to know them before we help them. You can tell her anything and she’ll believe it, she is so naive and driven by emotions.
I personally don’t think any seed is planted, or your testimony is being remembered when you help. The horrible pervert of a guy who came in and scammed my husband into helping him finish house (and then disappeared after he was done and didn’t pay him) isn’t thinking, “gee, that guy was a great Christian. I should mend my ways and be like him.” He’s sitting back wondering what church he’s going to target next when he needs some landscaping help cause we’re all gullible schmucks who can easily be guilt tripped into volunteering.
So...what are your thoughts on this? Have you seen this in your church? What, if anything does leadership do about it? Do you just leave it in God’s hands or do you warn people to be more vigilant and discerning? THe Apostle Paul commands us to be discerning and test everything. I think that should include people who aren’t who they say they are. I know God isn’t going to bless those people who are dishonest and steal from others, but I hate to see other members get their time and money stolen by scammers who don’t deserve it.