Comments on: Confrontation with a beggar http://shepherdtheflock.com/2008/03/17/confrontation-with-a-beggar/ "Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you...” Sat, 11 Oct 2008 19:07:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.2 By: tiffany http://shepherdtheflock.com/2008/03/17/confrontation-with-a-beggar/#comment-1645 tiffany Tue, 18 Mar 2008 15:09:14 +0000 http://shepherdtheflock.com/2008/03/17/confrontation-with-a-beggar/#comment-1645 Wow Nate, I do not know what to say (shocking, I know). I am curious as to the responses... Perhaps if you had more time you could have got him the gas he "needed" instead of cash...???? I have always heard that when someone asks for $$$ for food you should just buy them the food...and I also have heard that when you meet the immediate need THEN they will have time to listen to the Gospel...true? I do not know. Wow Nate, I do not know what to say (shocking, I know). I am curious as to the responses…
Perhaps if you had more time you could have got him the gas he “needed” instead of cash…???? I have always heard that when someone asks for $$$ for food you should just buy them the food…and I also have heard that when you meet the immediate need THEN they will have time to listen to the Gospel…true? I do not know.

]]> By: Nathan White http://shepherdtheflock.com/2008/03/17/confrontation-with-a-beggar/#comment-1648 Nathan White Wed, 19 Mar 2008 12:05:01 +0000 http://shepherdtheflock.com/2008/03/17/confrontation-with-a-beggar/#comment-1648 Tiff-- One of the first responses out of my mouth was 'I have no cash', which I said while I was pushing my credit card into the pay-at-the-pump. When he didn't offer to pull his truck up, instead asking me to go to the ATM (yeah, right), I knew that he really didn't want gas. Nevertheless, it was a tough situation. Normally, when I have witnessed to homeless people/beggars before, they are all Christians already :) Tiff–
One of the first responses out of my mouth was ‘I have no cash’, which I said while I was pushing my credit card into the pay-at-the-pump. When he didn’t offer to pull his truck up, instead asking me to go to the ATM (yeah, right), I knew that he really didn’t want gas.

Nevertheless, it was a tough situation. Normally, when I have witnessed to homeless people/beggars before, they are all Christians already :)

]]> By: Thomas Twitchell http://shepherdtheflock.com/2008/03/17/confrontation-with-a-beggar/#comment-1650 Thomas Twitchell Thu, 20 Mar 2008 01:54:47 +0000 http://shepherdtheflock.com/2008/03/17/confrontation-with-a-beggar/#comment-1650 I think your assessment was correct. Been there done that. What do we have a sign on our backs saying "Tap here for cash"? I've done as tiffany suggests. It does give time to share the Gospel. Often with alcoholics though you will just be spinning your wheels while the eat. Because their not interest in words, and their more than happy to fill their bellies if they can't get a drink out of you. There are some that will listen and even ask questions. Anyway we are to be wise as serpents, no? I also agree, that the question asked when we are always to give is according to: Be instant in and out of season, ready to give everyman who ask for the answer to the hope that is in you...Freely you have been given, freely give. I think your assessment was correct. Been there done that. What do we have a sign on our backs saying “Tap here for cash”?

I’ve done as tiffany suggests. It does give time to share the Gospel. Often with alcoholics though you will just be spinning your wheels while the eat. Because their not interest in words, and their more than happy to fill their bellies if they can’t get a drink out of you. There are some that will listen and even ask questions.

Anyway we are to be wise as serpents, no?

I also agree, that the question asked when we are always to give is according to: Be instant in and out of season, ready to give everyman who ask for the answer to the hope that is in you…Freely you have been given, freely give.

]]> By: Phil McCheddar http://shepherdtheflock.com/2008/03/17/confrontation-with-a-beggar/#comment-1652 Phil McCheddar Thu, 20 Mar 2008 17:11:56 +0000 http://shepherdtheflock.com/2008/03/17/confrontation-with-a-beggar/#comment-1652 Nathan You asked: "When Jesus says to give to those who ask, does he mean even to those who are begging money for drugs? ...." I think Jesus' command to give to those who ask us is not a universal and absolute command that always takes priority over all other commands. Giving beggars money that they wil probably use to buy drugs is not obeying the command to love thy neighbour. A particular course of action that complies with one command may simultaneously and unavoidably be flouting another command. When weighing up our various options in a situation, there will be pros and cons for each course of action and I guess we need to carefully choose the one that conforms to the highest, greatest commands (which the Lord Jesus said are to love God with all one's heart, mind, soul, & strength and to love one's neighbor as oneself.) I think there is a hierarchy of commands - some take priority over others in a situation where we are forced to choose between two mutually exclusive alternatives. Also, perhaps Jesus' words about giving to those who ask is not just a command about how we act in certain situations but also about the general attitude of our heart - to be willing to give ourselves and our possessions to others far more generously than anyone might expect - just like the magnanimous and gracious heart of our heavenly Father. Nathan
You asked: “When Jesus says to give to those who ask, does he mean even to those who are begging money for drugs? ….”
I think Jesus’ command to give to those who ask us is not a universal and absolute command that always takes priority over all other commands. Giving beggars money that they wil probably use to buy drugs is not obeying the command to love thy neighbour. A particular course of action that complies with one command may simultaneously and unavoidably be flouting another command. When weighing up our various options in a situation, there will be pros and cons for each course of action and I guess we need to carefully choose the one that conforms to the highest, greatest commands (which the Lord Jesus said are to love God with all one’s heart, mind, soul, & strength and to love one’s neighbor as oneself.) I think there is a hierarchy of commands - some take priority over others in a situation where we are forced to choose between two mutually exclusive alternatives.
Also, perhaps Jesus’ words about giving to those who ask is not just a command about how we act in certain situations but also about the general attitude of our heart - to be willing to give ourselves and our possessions to others far more generously than anyone might expect - just like the magnanimous and gracious heart of our heavenly Father.

]]> By: Nathan White http://shepherdtheflock.com/2008/03/17/confrontation-with-a-beggar/#comment-1653 Nathan White Fri, 21 Mar 2008 19:44:01 +0000 http://shepherdtheflock.com/2008/03/17/confrontation-with-a-beggar/#comment-1653 Phil-- Thank you for the advice. I must say, I completely agree with your words. "but also about the general attitude of our heart" was particularly spot-on, in my opinion. Certainly we are to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves... Blessings-- Phil–
Thank you for the advice. I must say, I completely agree with your words. “but also about the general attitude of our heart” was particularly spot-on, in my opinion. Certainly we are to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves…

Blessings–

]]> By: Rick Potter http://shepherdtheflock.com/2008/03/17/confrontation-with-a-beggar/#comment-1655 Rick Potter Mon, 24 Mar 2008 04:59:12 +0000 http://shepherdtheflock.com/2008/03/17/confrontation-with-a-beggar/#comment-1655 ISn't there a quote somewhere that says something like: Let your alms sweat into your hands until you know who to give them too. Rick ISn’t there a quote somewhere that says something like:
Let your alms sweat into your hands until you know who to give them too.

Rick

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