Author Topic: A challenge to Christians! (Read 3114 times)

cookie monster · « **on:** November 08, 2012, 09:55:53 PM »

This is a challenge to Give to the needy, to Sacrifice your time, and to Go to the world and stop just writing checks to poor countries while we just sit in our comfortable little bubble. Lets not just be Christians, look out for "Christians", there just talk. Be a servant of Christ, a messenger of the gospel. be a true christian!!!
Kyle

God Bless!

PS: This thread is also in the testimonies thread, but I copied it here because I thought it would fit better.

michaeljl · « **Reply #1 on:** November 13, 2012, 01:14:16 AM »

I've decided to give to the homeless and my friends whenever asked regardless of circumstances after I read the Bible verse where Jesus told us to always give when asked.

Prof Underwood · « **Reply #2 on:** November 13, 2012, 03:08:48 AM »

Quote from: michaeljl on November 13, 2012, 01:14:16 AM

I've decided to give to the homeless and my friends whenever asked regardless of circumstances after I read the Bible verse where Jesus told us to always give when asked.

When homeless people ask me for money, I either give them some McDonald's bucks if I have them, or offer to take them to the nearest McD's. I want to be generous, and help meet their needs. But I also don't want to contribute to any problems that they might suffer from. Be wise as serpents and gentle as doves.

Chris · « **Reply #3 on:** November 13, 2012, 03:22:08 AM »

Quote from: Prof Underwood on November 13, 2012, 03:08:48 AM

Quote from: michaeljl on November 13, 2012, 01:14:16 AM
I've decided to give to the homeless and my friends whenever asked regardless of circumstances after I read the Bible verse where Jesus told us to always give when asked.
When homeless people ask me for money, I either give them some McDonald's bucks if I have them, or offer to take them to the nearest McD's. I want to be generous, and help meet their needs. But I also don't want to contribute to any problems that they might suffer from. Be wise as serpents and gentle as doves.

Let's say you run into a homeless person and you don't have time to give them anything but cash. What do you do in that situation? I'm not playing devil's advocate when I ask this, I'm genuinely curious.

Josh · « **Reply #4 on:** November 13, 2012, 08:07:32 AM »

Quote from: Chris on November 13, 2012, 03:22:08 AM

Let's say you run into a homeless person and you don't have time to give them anything but cash. What do you do in that situation? I'm not playing devil's advocate when I ask this, I'm genuinely curious.

You don't give them cash. In the book Under the Overpass, two young Christian men become intentionally homeless and live that way in multiple big cities in the US. At the end, when they are giving their advice from what they have learned, he says to not give money and give food instead, as often a homeless person will ask for money for food and then use the money for drugs.

Warrior_Monk · « **Reply #5 on:** November 13, 2012, 08:53:30 AM »

Quote from: jmhartz on November 13, 2012, 08:07:32 AM

as often a homeless person will ask for money for food and then use the money for drugs.

I've heard that said a lot, but never seen any evidence for it. Recently, I've heard about several stories of homeless people or groups who aren't on drugs. One guy gave a homeless guy $500, and he used it to buy a trailer (or at least get a downpayment...I don't remember exactly how it went) so he can have a home address, get his kids back, and start working again.

I've also heard homeless people make $60 an hour and live in hotels. It just seems to me to be rumors among those who aren't homeless though, not from the source themselves.

Alex_Olijar · « **Reply #6 on:** November 13, 2012, 10:05:35 AM »

I don't think that Jesus would have given nothing if he didn't have gift cards. I'm not saying that Mark's idea is bad (it's pretty good for the most part) but if you don't have any gifts cards, you should be contributing cash (if you want to contribute to homeless people in such a way). I don't think Jesus only called us to help the good homeless people. Honestly, the issue is less what you give them and more that you just give it to them without any conversation most of the time. There is no "Go and sin no more" if necessary.

Ironica · « **Reply #7 on:** November 13, 2012, 10:31:37 AM »

One thing I do every now and then (need to do it more often) is to keep some extra food in my car. That way, I can always give it to them when I stop next to some one homeless.

KingLeo · « **Reply #8 on:** November 13, 2012, 11:18:46 AM »

Quote from: Westy on November 13, 2012, 08:53:30 AM

Quote from: jmhartz on November 13, 2012, 08:07:32 AM
as often a homeless person will ask for money for food and then use the money for drugs.
I've heard that said a lot, but never seen any evidence for it. Recently, I've heard about several stories of homeless people or groups who aren't on drugs. One guy gave a homeless guy $500, and he used it to buy a trailer (or at least get a downpayment...I don't remember exactly how it went) so he can have a home address, get his kids back, and start working again.

I've also heard homeless people make $60 an hour and live in hotels. It just seems to me to be rumors among those who aren't homeless though, not from the source themselves.

I have a true story from my dad that one day he gave this homeless guy a lift and he lead him to a hotel and he said that his family was in there. My dad did see him walk in......

I agree to buy them food instead of just cash

Prof Underwood · « **Reply #9 on:** November 13, 2012, 04:29:07 PM »

Quote from: Chris on November 13, 2012, 03:22:08 AM

Let's say you run into a homeless person and you don't have time to give them anything but cash. What do you do in that situation?

I actually don't run into homeless people on a regular basis since I live at a Christian school in a small town. However I have often visited larger cities, and in those cases one of 3 things has always happened:

1 - I have McD's gift certificates to give people
2 - I have seen a McD's close enough to walk to, and time to offer to take them
3 - No one has asked me for money/food

Quote from: Alex_Olijar on November 13, 2012, 10:05:35 AM

I don't think Jesus only called us to help the good homeless people.

Actually the Bible does seem to distinguish between the "deserving poor" and the "undeserving poor" (shout out to any "My Fair Lady" fans). For instance it talks about widows and says that if they have grown children that they should take care of the widow. If the widow is young, they should get remarried and their new husband should take care of them. Only if the widow is old, and without relatives to take care of them, should the broader community of faith take responsibility for them. This and other passages indicates that there are some poor who we should take care of and other poor people who need to take advantage themselves of the opportunities already available to them.

Warrior_Monk · « **Reply #10 on:** November 13, 2012, 05:47:53 PM »

But is giving the homeless a McDonald's gift card really loving them?

lp670sv · « **Reply #11 on:** November 13, 2012, 06:18:07 PM »

I still give homeless people money, I know that half of them spend it on booze but if ever there was a reason to drink it'd be the lives that have befallen them.

soul seeker · « **Reply #12 on:** November 14, 2012, 09:54:42 AM »

I have split off the controversial part of this thread (how Jesus would interact with today's homeless) and left it in a section where young eyes can't see it. As you can tell, I brought the original topic back here.

Everyone, please remember that this Off-topic board can be accessed by everyone of all ages. If you want a rabbit trail of a more controversial conversation or theological argument, then start it in the more appropriate board. Thanks.

cookie monster · « **Reply #13 on:** November 16, 2012, 04:48:20 PM »

Quote from: Westy on November 13, 2012, 05:47:53 PM

But is giving the homeless a McDonald's gift card really loving them?

This is a good point, are we giving to the poor out of pity or out of true love. is there another way we can show them love.

Warrior_Monk · « **Reply #14 on:** November 16, 2012, 04:53:02 PM »

Quote from: cookie monster on November 16, 2012, 04:48:20 PM

Quote from: Westy on November 13, 2012, 05:47:53 PM
But is giving the homeless a McDonald's gift card really loving them?

This is a good point, are we giving to the poor out of pity or out of true love. is there another way we can show them love.

...Did you click the link?

cookie monster · « **Reply #15 on:** November 19, 2012, 11:42:30 AM »

Quote from: Westy on November 16, 2012, 04:53:02 PM

Quote from: cookie monster on November 16, 2012, 04:48:20 PM
Quote from: Westy on November 13, 2012, 05:47:53 PM
But is giving the homeless a McDonald's gift card really loving them?

This is a good point, are we giving to the poor out of pity or out of true love. is there another way we can show them love.
...Did you click the link?

yes, which brings me to my next point; take them to subway instead

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Author Topic: A challenge to Christians! (Read 3114 times)

cookie monster

A challenge to Christians!

michaeljl

Re: A challenge to Christians!

Prof Underwood

Re: A challenge to Christians!

Chris

Re: A challenge to Christians!

Josh

Re: A challenge to Christians!

Warrior_Monk

Re: A challenge to Christians!

Alex_Olijar

Re: A challenge to Christians!

Ironica

Re: A challenge to Christians!

KingLeo

Re: A challenge to Christians!

Prof Underwood

Re: A challenge to Christians!

Warrior_Monk

Re: A challenge to Christians!

lp670sv

Re: A challenge to Christians!

soul seeker

Re: A challenge to Christians!

cookie monster

Re: A challenge to Christians!

Warrior_Monk

Re: A challenge to Christians!

cookie monster

Re: A challenge to Christians!