Question
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Lifestyle Choices
As a Christian we are called to help the poor. Jesus preached and lived that lifestyle. Is giving money to a homeless beggar the answer? Or do we donate to charities?
Especially as more families are left homeless in the foreclosure crisis, what are we called to do?
2 Thessalonians 3:10, “For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.”
Matthew 5:42 “Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”
Especially as more families are left homeless in the foreclosure crisis, what are we called to do?
2 Thessalonians 3:10, “For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.”
Matthew 5:42 “Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”
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Answered This is how God calls us to help the poor...
I give money when I can, but simple human recognition is important, too. Look homeless people in the eye and say hello!
But for me, the bottom line is not about our response in the street--it is about recognizing that our ideology and lifestyles create the conditions of possibility for homelessness in the first place. Out votes, our attitudes toward economics, our desires for ever increasing wealth. It is important to do a little research and find out what makes people homeless. Many are there through some choice, but many are mentally ill, veterans, so many reasons.
Didn't Christ say something like "whatever you do to the least of these, you do to me also"? Check out Jim Wallis' books! -
Answered This is how God calls us to help the poor...
...by not condemning them if they do not believe what we believe. By not telling them we're going to "pray" for them when we have the answer in our pocket. By doing whatever our heart tells us to do. -
Answered This is how God calls us to help the poor...
"anything you have done for him, you have done also for me"
We should be helping in the best way possible. And we should not only be doing it because the bible tells us to, we should be doing it to share the spirit of brotherhood and love.
"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you"
Think about what you would most like to happen if you were in their position. If you were an amputee on the street who needed new clothes and food would you really want that second hand prosthetic leg?
God has called us to help the poor by spreading his gospel as well as easing the troubles of their lives. We should do all we can to help sparing nothing to help others. Poor people suffer far more than rich people do. Missing your bus and having to walk because you gave your change to a homeless man isnt that bad. Missing one meal a month to pay for an african child to eat for all that month is fine. What we do for others, we do for God. -
Answered This is how God calls us to help the poor...
Taken literally, the Beatitudes found in Matthew are a suicide pact, and they make no exception when it comes to giving all that one has to the poor. It was only after early Christian churches started to depart from the literal Word found in the gospels that they began to accumulate wealth, power, and influence. On this note, Paul is purported to have authored the Second Epistle to the Thessalonians quite some time after the original gospels were written. But for Paul's charismatic and more pragmatic leadership, Christianity in its present form might not have ever come into existence.
In its essential form, Christianity is about forgiveness and vicarious atonement. And while charity to those in need is often a natural outspring of a Christian conscience, withholding charity will not thwart one's ability to find salvation. On this note, when a total stranger asks me for money, I have no problem saying, "I'm sorry, but I can't help you." -
Answered This is how God calls us to help the poor...
If someone is hungry, supply a meal. If someone needs shelter, find it for them. If someone needs a coat, give him one. We are to do whatever is in our power to do to help. No.......not give money, imo. With charitable organizations ........you have to be really careful. -
Answered This is how God calls us to help the poor...
We are supposed to get those in need out of any immediate crisis, then we are to teach them how to take care of their problems and help them get on their own two feet. But we are not compelled to help those beggars who choose to take free hand-outs. Paul said, in II Thessalonians 3:10 that those who do not work do not eat. So beating ourselves up to help every beggar on the street is not required of us. -
Answered This is how God calls us to help the poor...
jesus told his followers to give up all they had, take up their crosses, and follow him.
now, i am hesitant to call myself christian anymore, but here is one very clear passage:
Matthew 19:20-24 (NIV)
20 "All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?"
21 Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.
23 Then Jesus said to his desciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
24 "Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
now i take this as being a statement against accumulating material wealth in favour of focussing on christ and service to those less fortunate. don't buy the iphone, give to charity- that kind of thing. i suppose the best thing to do would be to do as christ did- forget about preconceived notions, go to the poor, offer a hand, share love by being the person who talks to the homeless and serves at shelters and kitchens, and forget about prosletysing, etc., DO, rather than just donate, and it will go a long way.
it's all about love. -
I agree with your comment about not prosteletyzing. If we share the love of Christ, and show his love, we let our actions be the gospel. Most people, especially nowadays, run at the mere mention of Jesus, because they have been brow beaten by those who claim to be Christian but don't walk the walk, and have no desire to be like those people. But if we let our actions do the preaching, they will ask what makes us different. If they ask, then they are more open to listening and that's when you share the Word.
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i've always been fond of st francis' take on the whole thing:
'preach the gospel to all the world, and if necessary, use words.'
to him there was no need to speak...just to love and serve.
i've been one of the people brow-beaten by the so-called-christians and i get nervous even going into churches these days. oddly enough, however, visiting various churches was a favourite past-time of mine while in london- they just 'felt' different. -
Answered We are called to give a meal, but not cash. Handouts can be abused.
I feel the Holy Spirit move me to give food or coffee to those that beg. In oher cases, I do feel that helping a food bank is more productive as it serves many more folks.
I find it difficult to support habits, even in the depths of addiction. Perhaps, I've become judgmental. I don't know how to simply give cash, without controlling its purpose. Is that what Jesus would want? -
No, I don't believe you should give cash to the alcoholic or the drug addict. They have no will power and will take care of their addiction before buying food. That's what the addiction is, of course. Buy them a meal, get them a place to stay for the night, but do not give them money. That's what I believe, anyway.
Answered This is how God calls us to help the poor...
jesus told his followers to give up all they had, take up their crosses, and follow him.now, i am hesitant to call myself christian anymore, but here is one very clear passage:
Matthew 19:20-24 (NIV)
20 "All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?"
21 Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.
23 Then Jesus said to his desciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
24 "Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
now i take this as being a statement against accumulating material wealth in favour of focussing on christ and service to those less fortunate. don't buy the iphone, give to charity- that kind of thing. i suppose the best thing to do would be to do as christ did- forget about preconceived notions, go to the poor, offer a hand, share love by being the person who talks to the homeless and serves at shelters and kitchens, and forget about prosletysing, etc., DO, rather than just donate, and it will go a long way.
it's all about love.