The poor in America

[onefaith2]

Originally Posted by Socialite

And we should be attentive to that. I've known I was getting a story before, and asked the guy "look, I don't believe your story, but I don't you have a need. What's going on?" Other times, I've said "no." Churches can't indiscriminately dole out money. For those in desperate need that are part of the family, we should find ways to meet their needs. But otherwise, using wisdom, seeing them the way Jesus does and earnestly wanting to do the right thing will go a long way.

As an old pastor of mine used to say with money -- "never give it out expecting anything in return." We usually want to see a responsible ROI.

Typcially in America people charade as poor people to get money. I've heard of them drop off their girlfriends or wife on the streets for "escorting" while they panhandle. Its a sad world we live in that don't want to work.

We must all agree that does hurt support to the true poor people.

[Socialite]

Originally Posted by onefaith2

Homelessness is true poverty, the basest of all. Many of them have not even the basic needs met. At least with a home and a church to go to, people have support; the homeless they have them and thats it, no shelter of their own, typically no food stamps without an address, nothing but the clothes on their back.

Well see, I'd call the kid living in the ghetto, wrapped up in gangs, ditching school to deal drugs as much oppressed by poverty as the homeless old man.

I'm not sure what you mean by true poverty, as if the other is a phony one.

[Socialite]

Originally Posted by onefaith2

Typcially in America people charade as poor people to get money. I've heard of them drop off their girlfriends or wife on the streets for "escorting" while they panhandle. Its a sad world we live in that don't want to work.

We must all agree that does hurt support to the true poor people.

I find many Christians use these stories as excuses not to do anything.

Yes, we've interacted with our share of prostitutes. Broken... very broken. We've also fought against some serious cases of human trafficking we've seen happening in our city.

[onefaith2]

Originally Posted by Socialite

I'm not an advocate of bait and switch. I'm not meeting their need to preach to them. I'm loving on them because I was loved so much. In that way, I AM presenting the Gospel. When we've gone out with the homeless, we always will offer prayer, we listen, we encourage when we can... we build relationships, even knowing many of their names. We most definitely are willing to share with them the Story of what Christ has done, but they don't have to consent to hearing the Gospel to having a need that we want to meet. They are broken, just like we were... and really, in many ways, still are until our final redemption.

Serving is what we do as a result of the Gospel. We were served, and we serve.

But again, in context of the post, this is only one aspect of poverty.

Honestly the bait and switch in the only kind of homeless ministry I've seen from churches. Even in homes, they have tracts laying places. I think its a great opportunity to share with them the gospel, thats why most do it in my opinion. What greater love can someone give them but the message of salvation?

There are other faiths that give love without preaching or telling them about their faith. Celebrities do it all the time for humanitarian reasons. Is that the way the church should be?

[onefaith2]

Originally Posted by Socialite

I find many Christians use these stories as excuses not to do anything.
Yes, we've interacted with our share of prostitutes. Broken... very broken. We've also fought against some serious cases of human trafficking we've seen happening in our city.

Oh no doubt, if you have ever heard the song "excuses, excuses, you hear them every day...the Devil will supply them.."

But think for a moment if a saint helps their grandchild and buys them food or their friend's kids, but then doesn't have the money to give to someone begging on the side of the road.. did they miss it? Or was it just that they had done all they could do at the moment? and Is that enough?

[onefaith2]

Originally Posted by Socialite

Well see, I'd call the kid living in the ghetto, wrapped up in gangs, ditching school to deal drugs as much oppressed by poverty as the homeless old man.

I'm not sure what you mean by true poverty, as if the other is a phony one.

Those are the kids that we bus in for service on Sunday. Yes that is a social poverty indeed. Those kids love the attention you give them. No by true poverty I mean not even the basest needs met.

[Socialite]

Originally Posted by onefaith2

Those are the kids that we bus in for service on Sunday. Yes that is a social poverty indeed. Those kids love the attention you give them. No by true poverty I mean not even the basest needs met.

The other poverty is not true?

Do you agree poverty is deeper than material/economic needs?

[Jermyn Davidson]

Originally Posted by Socialite

The other poverty is not true?

Do you agree poverty is deeper than material/economic needs?

Many politicians are morally impoverished.

[Socialite]

Originally Posted by Jermyn Davidson

Many politicians are morally impoverished.

*clap clap clap*

*snap snap snap*

Not the point of anything that has been said related to poverty, and it's a statement that is most likely true. So, no argument there.

[coadie]

Originally Posted by Socialite

And our primary intent should not be to get them to church. .

I learned that is not true the hard way. I made a serious mistake recently with that bad advice.

I had seen a poor woman in church a couple of times. Extremely poor. I was witnessing to 2 poor students that are immmingrants and recognized her face. I had never brought the 2 students to church.
I started conversation with her. I find out one of the reasons she was visiting our church, was her mom was dying and they knew it. It was for asking our church to do the funeral for the mother. Some time later after she had excuses I didn't follow up. The Holy Ghost convicted me to follow up but I said no, she is still grieving. Then she died. There are not good reasons to postpone witnessing. From Jonah on, we have seen people procrastinate on witnessing.