Comments on: Helping the Homeless? http://thekingdomnow.blogsome.com/2007/02/04/helping-the-homeless/ Collecting my thoughts on what it means to be the church, among other things. Thu, 03 Dec 2009 09:07:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.1-alpha by: James http://thekingdomnow.blogsome.com/2007/02/04/helping-the-homeless/#comment-89 Thu, 22 Feb 2007 23:06:21 +0000 http://thekingdomnow.blogsome.com/2007/02/04/helping-the-homeless/#comment-89 Erika - Thanks for your thoughts. I still feel uncomfortable every time I leave an encounter where someone asks me for money - when I give them money I feel as if I am not giving them what they really need to be released from poverty, and when I do not give money I feel I am being selfish and uncaring. As I sit and think about that, I realize that is perfeclty OK. Is the most important thing finding a way to smooth out my interactions with homeless persons so I can be comfortable? Certainly not. I imagine the feeling of discomfort, or even outrage that this kind of thing is so common in such a wealthy country, is what I need to experience, not "comfort". Erika -
Thanks for your thoughts. I still feel uncomfortable every time I leave an encounter where someone asks me for money - when I give them money I feel as if I am not giving them what they really need to be released from poverty, and when I do not give money I feel I am being selfish and uncaring. As I sit and think about that, I realize that is perfeclty OK. Is the most important thing finding a way to smooth out my interactions with homeless persons so I can be comfortable? Certainly not. I imagine the feeling of discomfort, or even outrage that this kind of thing is so common in such a wealthy country, is what I need to experience, not “comfort”.

]]> by: Erika Haub http://thekingdomnow.blogsome.com/2007/02/04/helping-the-homeless/#comment-86 Sun, 18 Feb 2007 20:30:51 +0000 http://thekingdomnow.blogsome.com/2007/02/04/helping-the-homeless/#comment-86 Well, I'll speak the minority voice here: I do give money to folks in my neighborhood. Not all the time, and not lots of cash, but often enough. There is one friend in particular who I always help out, either with cash or food (depending on where I see him--Jack in the Box vs. Ralph's, going in to the store vs. going out). I certainly understand the concern for wise stewardship, and issues of reinforcement, and a desire to support local ministries better equipped to deal with certain issues. But honestly, as little cash as Doug and I have, I am always struck by how much we have in comparison to so many around us. And I am compelled to show mercy even (and especially to?) the very undeserving. Bob Lupton wrote so powerfully about our desire to help the "truly worthy poor" as he called them, and he painted a picture of poverty idealized: families in need where no money is being wasted on cigarettes or candy or DVDs, etc. He commented that maybe he had met a "truly worthy" poor person sometime in the 70's, but he wasn't sure. I know this issue is so complex, for individuals and for the church. We have had situations in our own church where people hove disagreed with other folks' decision to help with money people whose decisions don't "measure up". I guess I just can't shake the need to be present and merciful to the very desperate, regardless of how they measure up in terms of their lifestyle and decisions. Well, I’ll speak the minority voice here: I do give money to folks in my neighborhood. Not all the time, and not lots of cash, but often enough. There is one friend in particular who I always help out, either with cash or food (depending on where I see him–Jack in the Box vs. Ralph’s, going in to the store vs. going out).

I certainly understand the concern for wise stewardship, and issues of reinforcement, and a desire to support local ministries better equipped to deal with certain issues. But honestly, as little cash as Doug and I have, I am always struck by how much we have in comparison to so many around us. And I am compelled to show mercy even (and especially to?) the very undeserving.

Bob Lupton wrote so powerfully about our desire to help the “truly worthy poor” as he called them, and he painted a picture of poverty idealized: families in need where no money is being wasted on cigarettes or candy or DVDs, etc. He commented that maybe he had met a “truly worthy” poor person sometime in the 70’s, but he wasn’t sure.

I know this issue is so complex, for individuals and for the church. We have had situations in our own church where people hove disagreed with other folks’ decision to help with money people whose decisions don’t “measure up”. I guess I just can’t shake the need to be present and merciful to the very desperate, regardless of how they measure up in terms of their lifestyle and decisions.

]]> by: James http://thekingdomnow.blogsome.com/2007/02/04/helping-the-homeless/#comment-78 Tue, 06 Feb 2007 16:17:04 +0000 http://thekingdomnow.blogsome.com/2007/02/04/helping-the-homeless/#comment-78 Brittany - that's cool about the drummer in Berkeley. Unfortunately, the homeless people I know by name who hang around the church are the "troublemakers". I know their name because of the problems they have caused, not because I have a positive relationship with them. Bummer. Brittany - that’s cool about the drummer in Berkeley. Unfortunately, the homeless people I know by name who hang around the church are the “troublemakers”. I know their name because of the problems they have caused, not because I have a positive relationship with them. Bummer.

]]> by: James http://thekingdomnow.blogsome.com/2007/02/04/helping-the-homeless/#comment-77 Tue, 06 Feb 2007 16:14:04 +0000 http://thekingdomnow.blogsome.com/2007/02/04/helping-the-homeless/#comment-77 Tyler - I gave away some McDonald's gift certificates I got as a White Elephant gift - now I wish I had kept them to hand out. Of course, according to folks like Eric Schlosser (the guy who wrote Fast Food Nation), a Big Mac might be just as bad for you as a bottle of Wild Turkey. Tyler - I gave away some McDonald’s gift certificates I got as a White Elephant gift - now I wish I had kept them to hand out. Of course, according to folks like Eric Schlosser (the guy who wrote Fast Food Nation), a Big Mac might be just as bad for you as a bottle of Wild Turkey.

]]> by: Brittany http://thekingdomnow.blogsome.com/2007/02/04/helping-the-homeless/#comment-76 Mon, 05 Feb 2007 13:02:38 +0000 http://thekingdomnow.blogsome.com/2007/02/04/helping-the-homeless/#comment-76 When I lived in Berkeley I worked at a church on Telegraph with a bustling homeless culture. (The drummer on our worship team was homeless.) I was solicited multiple times a day and never gave away any money. One day I went to lunch with a friend and we walked by the same homeless people that I had seen every day for over a year. She casually said, "Hi Ron." "How're you doing Jean?" "Hey Paul." They greeted her by name, too. When I lived in Berkeley I worked at a church on Telegraph with a bustling homeless culture. (The drummer on our worship team was homeless.) I was solicited multiple times a day and never gave away any money. One day I went to lunch with a friend and we walked by the same homeless people that I had seen every day for over a year. She casually said, “Hi Ron.” “How’re you doing Jean?” “Hey Paul.” They greeted her by name, too.

]]> by: Tyler Watson http://thekingdomnow.blogsome.com/2007/02/04/helping-the-homeless/#comment-75 Mon, 05 Feb 2007 08:14:17 +0000 http://thekingdomnow.blogsome.com/2007/02/04/helping-the-homeless/#comment-75 I'm beginning to think along the same lines as you. I heard a woman who works with the homeless in Pasadena give a very persuasive talk that giving out money is positive reinforcement and may keep people from feeling a need to seek out better and more thorough services. My wife and I used to carry around gift certificates to places like McDonalds that we would give instead of cash. I know those could be traded for cash or alcohol or drugs, but it seemed better than simply handing out dollars or cents. It's such a brief interaction there seems that so little can be done, but I also have a voice in my head that says just because it's a brief interaction, that shouldn't stop us from doing something. I guess a theological question would be what does it mean to give alms in our society? Jesus was pretty clear that alms giving was an important act of faith. How does the practice of alms giving change when we have many different private, non-profit, and governmental social services? I’m beginning to think along the same lines as you. I heard a woman who works with the homeless in Pasadena give a very persuasive talk that giving out money is positive reinforcement and may keep people from feeling a need to seek out better and more thorough services. My wife and I used to carry around gift certificates to places like McDonalds that we would give instead of cash. I know those could be traded for cash or alcohol or drugs, but it seemed better than simply handing out dollars or cents. It’s such a brief interaction there seems that so little can be done, but I also have a voice in my head that says just because it’s a brief interaction, that shouldn’t stop us from doing something.

I guess a theological question would be what does it mean to give alms in our society? Jesus was pretty clear that alms giving was an important act of faith. How does the practice of alms giving change when we have many different private, non-profit, and governmental social services?

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