What does helping others look like in this situation?

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What does Christian service look in our current situation? Maybe it is obvious that keeping distance and staying home are the most needed forms of service we can offer, as things stand. But, in what other ways can we fulfill our calling to look after the needs of others? There is no doubt that the human need is growing just as exponentially as the virus is. How do we address that as Christians? Thoughts? Suggestions?
 

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Literally, everything we touch becomes potentially harmful. You go and collect food for the food bank. How long does the virus last on solid surfaces? But, the need for food at food banks is growing. How does one ensure the safety and health of those receiving the needed goods? Are there even people volunteering at food banks these days? Am I over thinking this? I don't know.
 
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Churches that have outreach ministries and community ministries in place. Is the funding stream still coming in to support those services? Are those services still active? As Christians sit home, as we should, how are we keeping afloat the vital ministries that some people were depending on? I wonder.
 
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SkyWriting

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What does Christian service look in our current situation? Maybe it is obvious that keeping distance and staying home are the most needed forms of service we can offer, as things stand. But, in what other ways can we fulfill our calling to look after the needs of others? There is no doubt that the human need is growing just as exponentially as the virus is. How do we address that as Christians? Thoughts? Suggestions?

By asking people what they need.
 
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By not having action plans before finding out what people need.
That is how.

I don't necessarily disagree with that. But, isn't some of the need obvious at this point? This is why I brought up food banks. A lot of churches support food banks by collecting non-perishable food on Sunday mornings. That supply is dropping off, for obvious reasons. We don't have to wait to know the demand at food banks is growing.

Food pantries struggle to provide during COVID-19 - Marketplace
 
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timewerx

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Prayer, reaching out to others with encouragement

We should also help people in need with resources we have.

It's in the Bible and that part is often ignored by many Christians because they love money and their stuff more than God.
 
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We should also help people in need with resources we have.

It's in the Bible and that part is often ignored by many Christians because they love money and their stuff more than God.
Preaching to the choir. The church of Macedonia gave out of intense poverty....Paul gave them a shoutout as the example. Not very Dave Ramsey to give money you don’t have
 
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2PhiloVoid

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What does Christian service look in our current situation? Maybe it is obvious that keeping distance and staying home are the most needed forms of service we can offer, as things stand. But, in what other ways can we fulfill our calling to look after the needs of others? There is no doubt that the human need is growing just as exponentially as the virus is. How do we address that as Christians? Thoughts? Suggestions?

Awesome thread idea, PH! I was going to make something similar in another week or so. But time is of the essence in many cases.

Very seriously, I'm wondering the same thing. And why am I wondering? Because in some ways, I'm seeing the development of this whole thing as a kind of "Perfect Storm," and I'm wondering if even any social lessons of beneficence that could have been learned from the onset of the Spanish Flu a hundred years ago will, or even can, apply in the way in which things are now socially and economically, and politically, shaping up. [That is, the way in which a world---our world---can ethically shape up when it doesn't hold Jesus Christ as it's Archimedian Point of reference; can it actually survive with rationality and compassion ... ?]

With that said, I guess some of us Christians need to find ways to contribute to our neighbors in need. But what happens if you have family members who tell someone like you and me, "Don't, because WE might be needing all of that ourselves very soon ... !"
 
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public hermit

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But what happens if you have family members who tell someone like you and me, "Don't, because WE might be needing all of that ourselves very soon ... !

I know. Are Christians going to turn inward, focused on self preservation, and neglect our calling in the process? I hope not. But, if not, how do we do it both responsibly and effectively. I really dont know. Good question, Philo.
 
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2PhiloVoid

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I know. Are Christians going to turn inward, focused on self preservation, and neglect our calling in the process? I hope not. But, if not, how do we do it both responsibly and effectively. I really dont know. Good question, Philo.

I guess I'll just have to 'break the news' to those other family members, however gingerly and nicely I can, and say "....the Lord might just want us to share anyway ... ", and end it with a petitionary style question mark "?" :dontcare:
 
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Junia

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Literally, everything we touch becomes potentially harmful. You go and collect food for the food bank. How long does the virus last on solid surfaces? But, the need for food at food banks is growing. How does one ensure the safety and health of those receiving the needed goods? Are there even people volunteering at food banks these days? Am I over thinking this? I don't know.

virus can last for 3 days on plastic, 24 hours on cardboard. plastic is easily wiped down though with antibac wipes. hunger kills too. i definitely think services to the lonely hungry and poor should not shut down as long as staff and clients are encouraged to be good with sterilising and hand washing and distancing.

of course, social distancing is difficult when what many people need is a hug. mental health issues and their coping mechanisms linked to alcoholism , suicide, drug use and eating disorders are predicted to be on increase due to lockdown. fear of the virus, yes, uncertianty , but also lonliness and isolation are huge factors in this.
 
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Junia

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Literally, everything we touch becomes potentially harmful. You go and collect food for the food bank. How long does the virus last on solid surfaces? But, the need for food at food banks is growing. How does one ensure the safety and health of those receiving the needed goods? Are there even people volunteering at food banks these days? Am I over thinking this? I don't know.

and so many people who would normally not be vulnerable are losing their money due to job insecurity caused by Covid. increasing need for food and money help. of course charities can take online donations but many of them operate by providing a face to face support so staff and open venues are needed too.

many staff workers will be self isolating if they have conditions that make them vulnerable to effects of covid, but even a small skeleton staff of non-vuknerable workers would be much better than closing these services down completely.... of course with so much of the population worldwide losing money due to this virus, there will be fewer donations of money, clothes, food, hitting the poorest the hardest.

covid sucks. i know that is not a nice word to use, but it the mildest word i could think of that is even close to strong enough
 
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Junia

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We should also help people in need with resources we have.

It's in the Bible and that part is often ignored by many Christians because they love money and their stuff more than God.

sadly, yes. either greed or laziness or fear. a lot of people are fearing giving. i am on a low income so i get that. i am trying to increase my generosity though nit by bit. anything is better than nothing and Jesus hoboured the widow who gave her mite. i think it is imprtant to give what we can. money but also time as well. time is something i find even harder to be genrous with, God is working on me regarding that! He is so patient and good to me
 
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Junia

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I know. Are Christians going to turn inward, focused on self preservation, and neglect our calling in the process? I hope not. But, if not, how do we do it both responsibly and effectively. I really dont know. Good question, Philo.

i dont know if anyone finds this helpful, but as someone on a low income due to disabilities needing expensive care and not stable enough to work at moment, i find it a struggle to be really as generous as i want to be or as God wants me to be. so i try and give what i can, when i can. but i have a little rule- i only give out of what i have after bills and neccessities. no getting into debt, because i have been declared insolvent twice before and it is devastating especially if you have MH issues like me. so i give but i stick to the rules:

no debt. no giving to my detriment. i still make sure my basic needs are met. the Bible emphasis is on sharing out of what you have eg if you have two coats, give one to a needy person etc
 
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public hermit

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i dont know if anyone finds this helpful, but as someone on a low income due to disabilities needing expensive care and not stable enough to work at moment, i find it a struggle to be really as generous as i want to be or as God wants me to be. so i try and give what i can, when i can. but i have a little rule- i only give out of what i have after bills and neccessities. no getting into debt, because i have been declared insolvent twice before and it is devastating especially if you have MH issues like me. so i give but i stick to the rules:

no debt. no giving to my detriment. i still make sure my basic needs are met. the Bible emphasis is on sharing out of what you have eg if you have two coats, give one to a needy person etc

That seems like a reasonable approach. I don't think we need to put ourselves in debt helping others. That would only make one more person in need of help. I hope you have what you need, though.

I have this dream where Christians, across the board, get super organized and become a unified force for meeting need. As a whole, we have so many resources, so much talent, but also ingrained divisions that hinder our full potential as a body.
 
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What does Christian service look in our current situation? Maybe it is obvious that keeping distance and staying home are the most needed forms of service we can offer, as things stand. But, in what other ways can we fulfill our calling to look after the needs of others? There is no doubt that the human need is growing just as exponentially as the virus is. How do we address that as Christians? Thoughts? Suggestions?

If we are looking for ways to fulfill our calling to look after the needs of others, it is actually more easy to understand than most people think !

Just look at Jesus !
When you look at Jesus,
You find that His ways, like the Heavenly Father, that is, merciful, compassionate, slow to anger, rich in grace and truth.

When you keep His ways, you find out that you need His wisdom and strength to forgive others so that you can be merciful.

You can start doing by forgiving your wife, husband, children, parents, sisters, brothers, in law’s, relatives, friends, acquaintances, race, and even other nations.

When you start to do that, you come to find yourself that you need God’s knowledge on how to pray.

When you start to follow His ways to be compassionate to others, that is, to recognize the sufferings of others and take action to help.
You find yourself that you need His strength to suffer with Christ and for Christ !
Then you know that You need to be in union with Christ in His suffering.

Holy Spirit will help us to be immersed in His word to understand how to bear with those who make our life difficult and give His strength to comprehend on Christ’s love to speak kind words to those who make our life difficult; to accept our weaknesses and failures that He can give us power of His love to endure all things with Him and hope all things with Him ; then the Holy Spirit can move us to be compassionate towards others

Eventually, when Holy Spirit has guide us to the paths of peace, we can have that strength to be slow to anger.

In union with Christ, God gives us strength to run in His commandments, because He has broadened our understanding. Then when we speak and do things,we do in the manner of Christ, who is rich in grace and truth because we hold fast to His word daily.
Treasure His word in your hearts!

Follow Christ’s way. Holy Spirit shall lead you in righteousness to do what pleases our Heavenly Father. Then when we serve others, we serve in the manner that we live for Christ’s glory.

GBU
 
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