homeless people

[vibrant]

and people that just beg on the street... what should christians do for them?

we should help our neighbours in need, this i know, but it seems that dutifully following that "law" can make us focus on that order and the action, instead of the heart and "love", instead of vice versa.

 

[rainbowprism]

I think it would be a great oppurtunity to practice Jesus' compassion and to minister/be a witness! Matthew 25:31-46 shows how personally God values mercy ministry. "...The King will reply, I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the lease of these brothers of mine you did for me"

True, some homeless people might want money rather than food. But what harm is there is perhaps having a peanut butter sandwich or something in your car and if you see someone who is homeless to hand it to them and say, "Have a nice day. God bless you."? It isn't about charity, it's about Jesus and His kingdom. Build a bridge and let Jesus walk over it, God will never ask you for what you don't have! Remember Psalm 103 in verse 4 : "The Lord redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion" Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. The compassionate life is God's life.

 

[Motor City Christian]

I think it would be a great oppurtunity to practice Jesus' compassion and to minister/be a witness! Matthew 25:31-46 shows how personally God values mercy ministry. "...The King will reply, I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the lease of these brothers of mine you did for me"

True, some homeless people might want money rather than food. But what harm is there is perhaps having a peanut butter sandwich or something in your car and if you see someone who is homeless to hand it to them and say, "Have a nice day. God bless you."? It isn't about charity, it's about Jesus and His kingdom. Build a bridge and let Jesus walk over it, God will never ask you for what you don't have! Remember Psalm 103 in verse 4 : "The Lord redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion" Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. The compassionate life is God's life.

Good word sister, good word! That really preached to me.

 

[GodSaves]

Let me share something here that is very close to home, matter of fact it was home. I was homeless for a period of my life when I was young. I hated to beg or ask for money because I was hungry. The times I did beg there were some really nice people who did give. I remember one guy who said to me, are you really hungry? I said yes sir I am. So he gave me five dollars, enough for a serious meal at a fast food joint. I will never forget the people who kindly gave to me so that I could eat. There are so many people out there that look down on homeless people, but these people made an impression on me. This really did show me that there was a God, because I never starved, I always was taken care of.

Since then I have vowed that if I had money in my pocket, food with me, I will give whatever I can if someone asks. I try to always to make sure I say something about God when giving, even if it is a God Bless.

I think this ties into what Jesus said, whatever you did for one His lesser brothers you did for Him. (as stated in an above post) These are exactly some of the things Jesus talked about.

 

[HoT-MetaL]

As my signature says...

Live Simply, so that others may Simply Live.

God Bless, metal.

 

[Sharky]

Just go up to them and ask if they're hungry. Then go and join them, have a chat and ask them about God. Do they know Him etc.

If they go, "If God exists, I wouldn't be like this."

Then reply "If God didn't exist, you wouldn't have gotten that hamburger."

 

[Salsa_1960]

There are many homeless shelters. Great places to donate your money, time, food, and (good) clothing to. My fear to giving money to any person I don't know (homeless or not) is how that money will be spent. I'd feel much more secure giving my money to a shelter.

 

[honeybee2]

Let me share something here that is very close to home, matter of fact it was home. I was homeless for a period of my life when I was young. I hated to beg or ask for money because I was hungry. The times I did beg there were some really nice people who did give. I remember one guy who said to me, are you really hungry? I said yes sir I am. So he gave me five dollars, enough for a serious meal at a fast food joint. I will never forget the people who kindly gave to me so that I could eat. There are so many people out there that look down on homeless people, but these people made an impression on me. This really did show me that there was a God, because I never starved, I always was taken care of.

Since then I have vowed that if I had money in my pocket, food with me, I will give whatever I can if someone asks. I try to always to make sure I say something about God when giving, even if it is a God Bless.

I think this ties into what Jesus said, whatever you did for one His lesser brothers you did for Him. (as stated in an above post) These are exactly some of the things Jesus talked about.

Thank you so much for sharing that. It helps us to have perspective from the other side of the coin, doesn't it?
When my husband was injured in a logging accident a year and a half ago, i spent a lot of time walking on the streets of Vancouver, and met many homeless people. I always made sure i had change in my pocket (loonies and twoonies, as we call them here) and always gave what i could to them. I don't know how it blessed them, but i know that whenever i gave, i felt the love of God flowing out of me to them, and i couldn't constrain myself from giving.

 

[Xx undignified xX]

you have to be very careful with the homeless, because very many of them are sick, which is why they're out on the streets, be it from alcoholism to skitzaphrenia (sp). it's not safe to trust them with money, but like someone suggested, food, clean water, maybe clothing and a blanket followed by a "God bless you" or what not. depending on their reaction, i would go from there. if they react relatively sane you can talk to them.
remember to be safe and be smart.

 

[GodSaves]

I understand many peoples weariness on giving money to the homeless. You are afraid they may use it for alcohol or drugs. But what about those who don't? What about the people out there that are homeless because they lost their job and couldn't get another one in time to pay rent or a mortgage and then ended up homeless? When I was homeless I worked two jobs, it was never enough to be able to get back on my feet and I lost hope and quite.

The point is that unless you can truly judge why a person is homeless then why judge how they are going to user your generosity. God didn't say help our brothers and sisters on conditions. He said just help them. Look at I John 3:17
"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be him?"
God gave no conditions, He said just give. Whether you choose to give to the shelter, or give a homeless person food, blankets, or you just give them money doesn't matter. It matters that you help. There is no such thing that it isnt a good idea to give them money. If they choose to use the money you gave them for something bad, then that is on them. You did what God commanded you to do, help your brother.

It's great that you all help, that is very commendable.

God Bless you all!

 

[desi]

I John 4:20
"But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?"
God gave no conditions, He said just give. Whether you choose to give to the shelter, or give a homeless person food, blankets, or you just give them money doesn't matter. It matters that you help. There is no such thing that it isnt a good idea to give them money. If they choose to use the money you gave them for something bad, then that is on them. You did what God commanded you to do, help your brother.

I disagree with you here. Doing what might amount to giving a crack addict the money to OD themselves is not in the spirit of scripture. Giving money to the homeless is often a bad idea. There is usually a reason such people are indigent. Feeding a habit when we could easily give them food and a kind word seems a simple choice.

 

[GodSaves]

But can you make that judement that they are a crack addict? I don't think you or anyone can honestly say all homeless people are addicts. Now if you know for a fact that a particular homeless person is a drug addict then by all means don't give them money but get them something to eat. The point is that you help as God has commanded us to do.
I edited my last post, I mis-quoted the verse, my apologies. I John 3:17

 

[Beauty4Ashes]

I am a leader at an organization called the urban bridge. We build bridges (as in relationships) with the homeless on the downtown east side. We don't just show up once and give them a sandwich and hit them over the head with a bible and never come again. We don't hit them over the head with anything in fact. We make lovely meals and walk through the alleyways with wagons of food and clothing and sanitary items. We pray before, during and after and we get to know the people by name and situation and pray into their lives. Sometimes the homeless people witness to us. Soemtimes they even join are walk through the alleys or our prayer circle as we are praying. We don't give out money. Just neccesities such such as food, clothing and prayer and if someone is serious about wanting to get off the street and into rehab, then we will work together with them to provide help for that. The most important thing I've learned is to build relationships with the people and treat them like you would any other human being no matter how drugged out or psychotic they may appear to be. Because we were ALL created in God's image. Once a connection is established and the people on the street realize we really care and desire to build lasting friendships with them, they open up more and more and we don't preach at them because most of them surprisingly have heard the gospel backwards, forwards, inside out. What they really need is love shown to them in practical means and relationships built. Most people just want someone to listen to them not so much to talk at them.

God bless.

 

[honeybee2]

Beauty~what a wonderful testimony. It is so wonderful to hear of people sharing the love of God in a practical way.
I would still give money to those in need, and especially at that time, i had no access to a kitchen to make food, or a vehicle to transport clothing. Money was the most portable item i had, so i used it. I don't think the majority of the people that are homeless are drug addicts. Many, many of them are mentally challenged who have no ability to live independently, so they end up on the streets. Since many Canadian mental institutions have shut down, there is no where safe for these people to live, so they are forced out on their own, to live as they can. Many are not able to keep their prescriptions current, or pick up their disability checks, so they live on the streets, dependent on people like Beauty for help, or people who will buy them a sandwich, or give them some money. Godsaves is right, Jesus never told us how to give our money, or to find out why the person is poor, but he said "when you did it to the least of these, you did it to me."

 

[desi]

But can you make that judement that they are a crack addict? I don't think you or anyone can honestly say all homeless people are addicts. Now if you know for a fact that a particular homeless person is a drug addict then by all means don't give them money but get them something to eat. The point is that you help as God has commanded us to do.
I edited my last post, I mis-quoted the verse, my apologies. I John 3:17

Its a judgement call. God gave us such capacity to use judiciously in just such situations.

 

[GodSaves]

True it is a judgement call. But I would be weary when judging a person especially one you don't know. It specifically says in the Bible to not judge our own.

I would just like to see more people help the homeless. Some people can help in many ways such as Beauty and that is wonderful. Then there are others who may be in a rush to get to work to feed their children or whatever and all they have time for is to give a few dollars. Should we be telling these people that it is better that they don't help in that way which would then mean no help? I just think personally that each of us needs to help in the way that we can, and not promote "good and bad" ways to help, which could in turn promote no help.

Let me tell you a quick story. There is a gentlemen that I see often and talk with who is homeless. His age is somewhere near the 60's. I gave him some money because he was saving up to go to the thrift store to buy a bicycle. You see his "camp" is about 15-20 miles from the nearest church that offers food and clothing for the homeless. He wanted to be able to ride there and be able to eat. I cannot guarentee that I can be there everytime that he is hungry or cold. I cannot guarentee that I can be there or someone else can be there to take him to the church. So I gave him the money to be able to buy the bicycle.

If I were to take the attitude that he was just a crack addict or a drug user, then I wouldn't have given him the money. Then he wouldn't have a bicycle to ride to the church to eat and get warm clothing. The point is to give freely and not judge the person.

This isn't about what "we do" for these people. It's about showing God's love to these people through our actions. John talked about this saying lets show God's love through our actions. We are here as christians to reflect God and His Son Jesus Christ.

God Bless

 

[desi]

True it is a judgement call. But I would be weary when judging a person especially one you don't know. It specifically says in the Bible to not judge our own.

I would just like to see more people help the homeless. Some people can help in many ways such as Beauty and that is wonderful. Then there are others who may be in a rush to get to work to feed their children or whatever and all they have time for is to give a few dollars. Should we be telling these people that it is better that they don't help in that way which would then mean no help? I just think personally that each of us needs to help in the way that we can, and not promote "good and bad" ways to help, which could in turn promote no help.

Let me tell you a quick story. There is a gentlemen that I see often and talk with who is homeless. His age is somewhere near the 60's. I gave him some money because he was saving up to go to the thrift store to buy a bicycle. You see his "camp" is about 15-20 miles from the nearest church that offers food and clothing for the homeless. He wanted to be able to ride there and be able to eat. I cannot guarentee that I can be there everytime that he is hungry or cold. I cannot guarentee that I can be there or someone else can be there to take him to the church. So I gave him the money to be able to buy the bicycle.

If I were to take the attitude that he was just a crack addict or a drug user, then I wouldn't have given him the money. Then he wouldn't have a bicycle to ride to the church to eat and get warm clothing. The point is to give freely and not judge the person.

This isn't about what "we do" for these people. It's about showing God's love to these people through our actions. John talked about this saying lets show God's love through our actions. We are here as christians to reflect God and His Son Jesus Christ.

God Bless

Your story is valid and so is the following one. Several years ago my sister dated a handsome fellow who was enrolled in college to study communications as he wanted to be a news anchorman. My sister and him were into recreational drugs so when he received his student loan check he promptly cashed it and bought and eight-ball of crank he planned on selling to make more money. He used the crank himself, dropped out of school, had a kid with my sister before they split, then he spent five years doing drugs, now is is back in school at a two year college. Giving money to people of questionable judgement makes us partially responsible for how such money is spent, like giving a daughter $300 no questions asked, to buy an abortion. Blind trust in people is usually a bad choice while blind trust in God is a necessity.