Homelessness - An aspect I struggle with

[JEDIYoda]

:thumbsup::thumbsup:

I agree. The thing is that in our society there are professional victims. If I think someone needs immediate assistance I'll give it. Otherwise the Salvation Army provides more help power dollar than just about anyone else and they aren't a huge careless bureaucracy. They live and work with these people.

:thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

[RearAdmiral]

Did Jesus stop doing Jesus type things because he was afraid of being crucified? There is your answer. I think it is pretty clear that there should be zero "self" in Christianity.

Yes and that is a pretty hard thing to wrestle with.

 

[Charles Kozierok]

The answer is no, he didn't stop. But I'm pretty sure he explained that he needed to go through with the crucifixion to fulfill prophecy etc.

This is what I was going to say. We're not Jesus in that respect.

 

[WoodButcher]

RA, You do more than most of us on this rock. Having a care for the people you're with atm, your girl or children should not give you any reason to feel you haven't done something you should.
You give of yourself when you can. Your faith would include the idea that God knows what is in your heart and mind, no? God knows you didn't stop to help Joe Wino today because you chose not to upset or cause your girl distress but you fed him yesterday didn't you? You'll stop tomorrow?

 

[RearAdmiral]

RA, You do more than most of us on this rock. Having a care for the people you're with atm, your girl or children should not give you any reason to feel you haven't done something you should.
You give of yourself when you can. Your faith would include the idea that God knows what is in your heart and mind, no? God knows you didn't stop to help Joe Wino today because you chose not to upset or cause your girl distress but you fed him yesterday didn't you? You'll stop tomorrow?

Well God does know what is in my heart, but he also says that faith without actions is dead.

You know I am glad that I don't live in a city environment. Seeing this kind of stuff regularly would be pretty heart breaking. I try to help out in my country area where I can and that can be very sad by itself.

 

[Sonikku]

I would sooner donate money to an actual charity than give to a church. When you give to them, a portion of your donation may go to charity. But another portion goes towards making highly elaborate and decadent chapels. Another portion goes towards covering up the crimes of pedophiles within the church abusing the weakest of their flock or providing the elite within the church with penthouse apartments or esquisite living accommodations. I would prefer to see as close to 100% of my donation actually going towards helping the most defenseless. Not subsidizing a big profit machine that opts to take a lot in and gives a little back.

 

[Fern]

I would sooner donate money to an actual charity than give to a church. When you give to them, a portion of your donation may go to charity. But another portion goes towards making highly elaborate and decadent chapels. Another portion goes towards covering up the crimes of pedophiles within the church abusing the weakest of their flock or providing the elite within the church with penthouse apartments or esquisite living accommodations. I would prefer to see as close to 100% of my donation actually going towards helping the most defenseless. Not subsidizing a big profit machine that opts to take a lot in and gives a little back.

You've got a pretty strange impression/view of the average church in the USA.

I can assure you damned few have "highly elaborate and decadent chapels". Nor do the vast majority "provid[e] the elite within the church with penthouse apartments or esquisite living accommodations." Nor does a "portion (of their money) goes towards covering up the crimes of pedophiles within the church". Some of these things can be said of the Catholic Church but there are far protestant churches here than Catholic. The number of protestant churches that have large budgets and "esquisite living accommodations" are miniscule.

Also, many churches allow a donor to specify what they want their donation to go towards. Churches often have different 'funds', a fund for general expenses or a building fund if a new building is planned and many have special funds for various out-reach programs whether it be a missionary they are sponsoring or whatever.

Fern

 

[werepossum]

This, for the most part. They have a better idea/understanding/experience/discernment than I do.

They can also provide other services, such as counseling. Nonetheless, if I see someone I think is sincerely down on his/her luck and not a professional panhandler, I'm going to give them some money if I have it to spare. If I'm wrong, I'm not going to miss $10 or $20 and frankly I don't otherwise give all that much to charity. Being scammed to that extent doesn't really hurt me; it's more like I bought a bit of happiness for myself from a peddler of self-satisfaction. 😀

 

[dank69]

I agree. The thing is that in our society there are professional victims. If I think someone needs immediate assistance I'll give it. Otherwise the Salvation Army provides more help power dollar than just about anyone else and they aren't a huge careless bureaucracy. They live and work with these people.

I wonder if Jesus refused to help professional victims. I have a hunch he didn't care and would help them anyway. I don't remember anything in the Bible about him denying bread and fish to anyone.

 

[RearAdmiral]

I would sooner donate money to an actual charity than give to a church. When you give to them, a portion of your donation may go to charity. But another portion goes towards making highly elaborate and decadent chapels. Another portion goes towards covering up the crimes of pedophiles within the church abusing the weakest of their flock or providing the elite within the church with penthouse apartments or esquisite living accommodations. I would prefer to see as close to 100% of my donation actually going towards helping the most defenseless. Not subsidizing a big profit machine that opts to take a lot in and gives a little back.

This is absolutely the minority if this is your experience, or you are just making some silly generalizations based on some crap the Catholics have/been done/doing. When I donate to my church I support the following groups/charities:

Keeping the church maintained/standing to support the below
Local boy/girl scout troops
Local lions club
Bridge ministry(feeding homeless)
Quilting ministry for the homeless
Food pantry
Occasional foreign ministry(I spent 2 weeks in Ghana personally)
In-church fundraising meals that in turn raise more money to fund the above

Even coming from someone who may not have faith(I assume?) that is a pretty disappointing view you have of churches. Besides disagreements you might have with content, their "net good" for local communities is tough to argue against.

 

[werepossum]

This is absolutely the minority if this is your experience, or you are just making some silly generalizations based on some crap the Catholics have/been done/doing. When I donate to my church I support the following groups/charities:

Keeping the church maintained/standing to support the below
Local boy/girl scout troops
Local lions club
Bridge ministry(feeding homeless)
Quilting ministry for the homeless
Food pantry
Occasional foreign ministry(I spent 2 weeks in Ghana personally)
In-church fundraising meals that in turn raise more money to fund the above

Even coming from someone who may not have faith(I assume?) that is a pretty disappointing view you have of churches. Besides disagreements you might have with content, their "net good" for local communities is tough to argue against.

Well said. Churches can also help with other, underlying problems. And unlike government agencies which have a vested interest in building their constituencies, churches have a vested interest in getting people back on their feet.