Posted on 02/22/2012 1:07:59 PM PST by SmithL
Panhandling has always been an important part of human existence, ever since people were put in poverty by a society that sometimes lacks mercy. It is not fair or accurate to say that you should never give money to a panhandler. There are people who would perish without the generosity of strangers. We can not presume to know that they created their own problems and should reap the results. There are plenty of people who became poor largely due to circumstances that weren't under their control.
I have given coins out of my pocket to panhandlers under certain circumstances, and sometimes not, when I felt that it would jeopardize me or someone to do so. I have compiled a guide that works for me concerning when I give a few coins in my pocket or not. Since I rarely carry cash except for these few coins which serve as meter money or candy bar money, I am not in a situation of getting my wallet out.
To begin with, since I am a smoker I get asked for cigarettes a lot. However, many of those who ask me for one look like they could possibly be underage. In these instances, I always refuse. (I do not have to give a reason.) On the other hand, if someone appears close to my age and also does not appear to be an undercover cop, I will often give someone a smoke when asked. For those who believe that smoking is a horrendous evil, just ignore this part of the manuscript.
When someone is holding a sign at a freeway off ramp, I drive by without helping that person. I send that person good thoughts. However, I do not want to create a hazardous situation that could cause a car accident. You are not doing anyone a favor when you block traffic to give to a panhandler, especially when this causes a car accident that could entail someone getting injured.
Is someone appears threatening to me, I do not give help. This is entirely by my perception and does not rely on an attempt at objectivity. If I feel threatened, it is bad for me to help the person who is associated with that feeling, even if it is only in my own mind. I will remain polite to that person and will speak respectfully, but will not give money in return for intimidation. (Of course this idea does not include the IRS.) How do you know if someone is truly threatening you? Often you don't know and must operate by what feels real from your own limited perspective. If someone is exchanging threat for cash, it is not a gift, it is extortion. This is a bully-ism and is a different idea than the threat of a crime being perpetrated, which I cover next.
If it is late at night, if the situation seems scary, or if you think you could be a victim of robbery or violence, then you must do whatever works in that situation. Usually that entails getting some distance as quickly as possible, and doing so without increasing your vulnerability-which getting out your wallet or getting close to a person would do. I was in front of a Macy's at a mall when three gentlemen who appeared to be sporting a tough guy fashion, (you know, the goatees and scarves over the heads) approached me and one of them said, "Give it up." Rather than standing there waiting for them to get closer, I quickly stood from the bench (where I had been reading) and ran into the Macy's so that anything that would happen would be recorded by their security cameras. The three followed me in but then realized they were among Macy's shoppers, and they proceeded to look like idiots, and then they left.
A few years ago, I was in front of a McDonald's and had just bought a couple of hamburgers, when a man begged for help and said that he was starving to death and had problems with his blood sugar. I handed my hamburger to that man. He was quite grateful.
When I am on foot, and in public where everything feels safe, and someone asks for spare change in a respectful way (they do not need to humiliate themselves or beg, they just need to be polite) I will give that person whatever change is in my pocket, which might total less than a dollar, or which could be a couple dollars. If I had more income and if I carried cash more often, I would give more. In addition to the change I am offering, I am giving the message of unconditional love. This does something to better the human condition.
Chances are they will buy drugs,alcohol,cigarettes or all three.
I knew a guy once, long time ago now. Nice guy - people remember he could sing the Lord's Prayer so sweetly. Went off to World War II as a 19-year-old kid. Had the back luck to be wet and freezing in a foxhole during the Nazi Ardenne offensive. Saw his buddies blown apart; his best friend died in his arms. Came back and was never the same. One of those guys who jumped whenever a car backfired; woke up in the night screaming. Started drinking to numb the memories. Over the years things went from bad to worse. He bought a six-pack every night after his janitor job and drank himself to sleep in front of the TV; his cigarettes fell from his hands, leaving burning trails in the floor. He lost his family and ended up on the street, still fighting the Battle of the Bulge during feverish dreams under cardboard on the mean streets... And every day as I pass by, I thank God I am not like that that sinner.
i give to folks whenever the mood hits me....hungry..dope..bottle...it depends....helps if they are polite
and yes ...in the third world where i where spent 20 years....Colombia...Haiti....Sierra Leone...etc
i gave too....limbless folks....kids with open sores and swollen bellies and rickets
yep gave to them too....
never knew they did all that to themselves on purpose so they could beg better
silly me
but you know the biggest jerkoffs I’ve given to have neen some on this very forum
either downright ungrateful or just shameless
i prefer to give to bums and blind kids
and no...i do not mean freepathons
JR and company are actually undercompensated considering the drama they have to endure
Kudos to you wardaddy! Finally someone on this thread with a heart - and more than a little wisdom, instead of all this arrogant, self-righteous dismissal of those on the lowest rungs of society (yeah, I know - they all "deserve it").
Even though I don't drink beer, I'll sit down with a brew with you ANY DAY rather than all those ridiculous phonies (who pretend they got where they did without God's help and a whole lot of luck).
And for people who don't catch your reference:
My thoughts on panhandlers:
They'll probably just buy alcohol.
Jesus' thoughts on panhandlers:
Give to everyone who asks.
My thoughts on Jesus' thoughts on panhandlers:
Yes, sir! How high, sir!
Typical liberal air head.
Vignettes: Macon, GA, ca 1990. Middle Class guy comes up and asks for a few bucks to feed his family and points to a woman and two kids standing in a lot across the street. Wife and I buy four hamburger/fries meals and bring them to her. Woman almost cries in gratefulness. I felt bad as I was trying to put the guy on the spot, thinking it was a scam.
Read of a guy who used to give a business card to those “Will work for food” guys, with the advice to see him for a job. Never was contacted.
Old joke (I think - nowadays I wouldn’t doubt it): Guy selling pencils at 25c each near the entrance of an office building. Guy going to work always drops a quarter in the cup but never takes the pencil. A month or so later, the guy drops his usual quarter, only to be told that “pencils are now 35c each.”
Reading about the Depression, there was a raggedy old black guy who came to the back door of a farmhouse and asked for either a meal or some clothes. The farmer jokingly said that he had both, and for the guy to make a choice. The black guy said, “Well people can see how shabby I am, but they can’t see how hungry I am, so I guess I’ll take the clothes.” He got both.
Last year a well-dressed man approached us for a handout as we parked at MacDonalds. Blew him off and later felt bad. I used to routinely blow people off with the idea that there were plenty of safety nets available. Now, it reminds me of stories people told me of the Depression Days when well-dressed men, looking embarrassed, would ask for a handout - and things are pretty much at that level now in my area.
(Let’s try this again...) Right on guys! I’m no liberal commie b%#^%^#t who needs to feel any responsibility towards those who have fallen on hard times.
I knew a guy once, long time ago now. Nice guy - people remember he could sing the Lord’s Prayer so sweetly. Went off to World War II as a 19-year-old kid. Had the back luck to be wet and freezing in a foxhole during the Nazi Ardenne offensive. Saw his buddies blown apart; his best friend died in his arms. Came back and was never the same. One of those guys who jumped whenever a car backfired; woke up in the night screaming. Started drinking to numb the memories. Over the years things went from bad to worse. He bought a six-pack every night after his janitor job and drank himself to sleep in front of the TV; his cigarettes fell from his hands, leaving burning trails in the floor. He lost his family and ended up on the street, still fighting the Battle of the Bulge during feverish dreams under cardboard on the mean streets. And every day as I pass by, I thank God I am not like that that sinner...
Agreed on giving to a charity. A couple of ours include the local Union Gospel Mission, and another is specifically for street kids. The one for the kids is Christian, but also a lot of hands-on stuff. They offer job training, etc. They even opened up their own latte place (it is Seattle!) where the kids can get training, work, etc. Our church also helps with the homeless.
A smile and a nod and a quick prayer is all that the folks on the street get from me. Sometimes a bottle of water if out on the street on a hot day.
Jesus' thoughts on panhandlers: Give to everyone who asks.
My thoughts on Jesus' thoughts on panhandlers: Yes, sir! How high, sir!
Well put. Jesus must have been a liberal softy - how naive of Him!
(I'm with Jesus)
God bless you, tjd1454.
And giving him spare change keeps him on the street drunk. Good job!
"Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you." Matthew 5:42
Yeah, that Jesus guy was Ok on the "love God" and the spiritual stuff, but he really stepped in it talking about helping those in need. Didn't he know they would only spend it on drink?
(I'm with Jesus)
Right. On.
If you are convinced of nothing beyond a cartesian world, then none of this matters anyway, and if Jesus is your personal Savior, you will know exactly what I'm talking about. You know right away when you fail in His eyes.
Just pray for discernment, that's my advice.
Game. Set. Match.
At my old church, the preacher would give small amounts of money to folks that dropped by and figured it was their business on what they were going to spend it on. Later on the Deacons got a variety of gift cards for the local food joints and some bus passes as a way to help out. He would still give out small amounts of cash though.
However, for larger amounts it went through the Deacons. Often a call was for $200 to help pay the utilities. The Deacons would request the utility billing information so they could pay the $200 directly. (Never heard back from). Same with rent, etc. There is now a system in place between the various churches to check on the scammers that make the rounds, often using aliases, calling the various churches.
Of course this does go against the verse you quoted. However, it also helps to keep the limited funds of the church going to folks who need help and that aren’t scammers.
Some of us have actually done quite a bit to really help people who are homeless, drug addicted, or otherwise in need of assistance, so your sarcasm is misplaced.
If you think giving money to people with serious substance abuse problems helps them think again. Talk to them, watch over them to ensure their safety, give them clothes or shelter on a rainy night, buy them food, help them get into treatment, or just walk right by, but giving them cash is the same as buying their favorite drink or drug for them. You wouldn't do that would you?
Thank you for your excellent spiritual perspective!
If you want to do this guy some real good, steer him to the local VA hospital or VFW or other veteran's organization of your choice or AA or Salvation Army or like-minded church group of your choice. They will do a lot more for him than throw him spare change to buy his next bottle. Sometimes, they even turn lives like this around.
Ah, but it allows the giver to feel all warm and smug and self-righteous, far superior to us curmudgeons and flinthearts who would bar the door to the poor and downtrodden.
Of course this does go against the verse you quoted. However, it also helps to keep the limited funds of the church going to folks who need help and that aren’t scammers.
Good points. IMHO the practice of your church is NOT going against Jesus' command. Our Lord did not ask us to give EVERYTHING to ANYBODY. We are to use wisdom and good judgment - as your church did in paying utility bills directly. But no one is excused from the command to help those in need.
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