Yesterday I got an email from a church friend. She wants a group of people to serve bag lunches to homeless folk after church in two weeks. She suggested putting postcards with church info into the bags. This was my email in response:
Speaking as the person who seems to be the designated, “Go talk to that homeless person and see what we should do” representative: let’s not put the postcards in the bags. I totally love the idea of getting more of us out there. I love that we have homeless people coming to church. I suspect the word is getting out that we're a warm place for a Sunday nap and we're full of do-gooders who give out money and food. I don’t think we need to advertise any more than we are already! (I may sound cynical, but I suspect that’s the word on the street)
Growing up in an inner-city church I’ve seen scenarios I can’t envision us handling at this point:
-My pastor and an elder having to forcibly escort someone out of a service (not just one incident).
-Having slightly mental folk stand up in the middle of the sermon and announce they have new shoes, shirt, whatever
-The pastor having to figure out non-confrontational (or confrontational) ways of dealing with disruptive people.
-Parents having to keep an eye on their kids so that Arthur isn’t alone with them.
-People having to keep an eye on Arthur so that no parent kills him.
I hate the idea of a homogenous church and I do like the fact that we’re starting to draw in people who live near the church, don’t get me wrong about that. I like Tracy and I would like to get to know some of the other people in the ‘hood, so to speak. We just need wisdom, maturity, and backup as we move ahead. So, yeah, let’s do the lunches, but let’s not do the postcards.
I get pissed off when I know I’m getting scammed. Give me a genuine need, I’ll do whatever I have to do. Scam me and we’ve got an issue. I prayed with the first homeless woman who came into the church, Tracy. I really connected with her and felt the depth of God’s love for her. However, watching her making the rounds the last two weeks after church, I get mad. I’m mad that she’s learned to manipulate. I’m mad it works on all these sweet young things. I’m mad that we aren’t equipped as a group of college kids and young adults to do the long-term stuff required to help her make different life choices. I can’t stand the fact that a debate about compassion vs. enabling becomes such an intrinsic part of inner-city ministry in this country. How did Mother Theresa do it?
1 comment:
That's really cool of your Dad. I've had a policy for years of not giving money, but always acknowledging the person's humanity.
I've had some fun conversations doing that! One guy in Boston during an Olympic year responded to my no cash comment, "I take credit cards! I gotta get to Barcelona, the team needs me."
I laughed, "That's a great line!"
He grinned, "You like it?"
If I can give food, time, or goods instead I do that, too.
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