exerpt:
"Speaking of the “homeless”, it struck me one day. That my city has more than 5000 homeless people and is woefully lacking shelter for them. But the city also has about 80,000 residences. So I did the math and realized that if 5000 home owners took in only One homeless person, there wouldn’t really be a homeless problem in our city. :) In fact, we would still have 75,000 more residences than the number of homeless people. Yet, in a city of over 1,000,000 people, we seldom even hear of residents taking in a homeless person. Probably the same for your Hometown and doesn’t that pretty much sum up the state of contemporary Christianity?

Even worse though, we have hundreds of church buildings in the city too and I also realized that not even One local Christian church offers a bed for a homeless person. Most churches buildings sit empty 7 nights a week and are not offered to a homeless person as a place to sleep at night or have a meal. How is it even possible that we overlooked this? Isn’t this an integral part of what being a Christian is all about; Helping the Needy? In fact, if every Christian Religion in America offered their church buildings for homeless people to sleep in, this might all but completely solve the homeless problem wouldn’t it? Doesn’t require genius to figure that out and I even wrote to the Headquarters of one of the Baptist Church denominations suggesting this and guess what they said? Nothing! They wouldn’t even reply. So why aren’t Churches doing this? Why isn’t Your church doing it? Church buildings sit empty anyway so, for the love of God, how can we possibly call ourselves “Christians” and not open our minds to this solution?

Yes, there are some people who take in the homeless and needy but it’s usually for monetary compensation and you don’t have to be a Christian to do that. But the fact is, most Christians are not only too selfish to offer their own Home to a homeless person but they’re also too selfish to allow them to sleep in their empty church building. The very Place where they worship a loving God and it sits empty and useless every night. Bravo God’s Warriors! Something is extremely disturbing about that behaviour perhaps? In fact, churches won’t even take in one of their Own. If a parishioner falls upon tragedy and ends up homeless, even “they” are on their own. Indeed, I think it is sin and we need to stop wasting our church Space and start using it the way God intended?

Our priorities are wrong aren’t they? People are suffering in our hometowns and we can and should be doing something about it. Period! We treat the Homeless like pets in an animal shelter and like disaster victims filled with fear and hopelessness; they are made to lie on a floor beside each other in their soiled clothing and many suffering from ailments like malnutrition, mental illness, rotting teeth, diseases and addictions of all kinds but we won’t make room in our Churches and allow them some dignity? So what is preventing Your church from renovating part of it for a couple of beds, a bath and a shower and maybe a TV? And even if there are zoning By-laws which prohibit renovation of certain buildings, it is likely they would make an exception for “churches”? You could also make arrangements to take turns picking up a homeless person if they need a ride and bring them to the church each night where they may eat and sleep or buy them a Bus pass and have a meal ready for them before they have to wake up to the same plight the very next day.

Shouldn’t we stop locking our Church doors at night and open them 24/7 in the spirit of love and show God that you’re not hypocrites. Instead of just praying for the homeless, start doing for them. Invite them into your church family and teach them of repentance and baptism if need be, like we’re supposed to and if you’re worried they might damage the church, then take turns keeping an eye on the building or hire a Security Guard. What’s more important at your Church? Boy Scouts or feeding the hungry? What’s more important; BBQs or giving a homeless person a place to sleep and making them feel a little better? What’s more important; wedding rehearsals or money for Security to protect both your church and the homeless who would find sanctuary there?

Mercy; we should be receiving a homeless person just like any other newcomer and comfort them as best we can in His name and who knows; someone in your Congregation might even find a job for them one day? Dentists and Doctors in your Congregation could donate their services too. This is such a blatant oversight by Churches in America that I’m embarrassed just having to point it out. Our Churches have sat empty long enough and perhaps it’s time they start behaving more like Holy Sanctuaries instead of Businesses? So I pray that if this missive serves no other purpose than to encourage believers to utilize their Church facilities to house the homeless, then it was worth the effort. Because maybe one of the questions the Lord might ask Churchgoers is; why did your Church Building sit empty while there were Homeless, Helpless and Hungry people in your Community? Ouch! Starting to sink in yet?"

Originally Posted by Face His Truth

exerpt:
"Speaking of the “homeless”, it struck me one day. That my city has more than 5000 homeless people and is woefully lacking shelter for them. But the city also has about 80,000 residences. So I did the math and realized that if 5000 home owners took in only One homeless person, there wouldn’t really be a homeless problem in our city. :) In fact, we would still have 75,000 more residences than the number of homeless people. Yet, in a city of over 1,000,000 people, we seldom even hear of residents taking in a homeless person. Probably the same for your Hometown and doesn’t that pretty much sum up the state of contemporary Christianity?

Even worse though, we have hundreds of church buildings in the city too and I also realized that not even One local Christian church offers a bed for a homeless person. Most churches buildings sit empty 7 nights a week and are not offered to a homeless person as a place to sleep at night or have a meal. How is it even possible that we overlooked this? Isn’t this an integral part of what being a Christian is all about; Helping the Needy? In fact, if every Christian Religion in America offered their church buildings for homeless people to sleep in, this might all but completely solve the homeless problem wouldn’t it? Doesn’t require genius to figure that out and I even wrote to the Headquarters of one of the Baptist Church denominations suggesting this and guess what they said? Nothing! They wouldn’t even reply. So why aren’t Churches doing this? Why isn’t Your church doing it? Church buildings sit empty anyway so, for the love of God, how can we possibly call ourselves “Christians” and not open our minds to this solution?

Yes, there are some people who take in the homeless and needy but it’s usually for monetary compensation and you don’t have to be a Christian to do that. But the fact is, most Christians are not only too selfish to offer their own Home to a homeless person but they’re also too selfish to allow them to sleep in their empty church building. The very Place where they worship a loving God and it sits empty and useless every night. Bravo God’s Warriors! Something is extremely disturbing about that behaviour perhaps? In fact, churches won’t even take in one of their Own. If a parishioner falls upon tragedy and ends up homeless, even “they” are on their own. Indeed, I think it is sin and we need to stop wasting our church Space and start using it the way God intended?

Our priorities are wrong aren’t they? People are suffering in our hometowns and we can and should be doing something about it. Period! We treat the Homeless like pets in an animal shelter and like disaster victims filled with fear and hopelessness; they are made to lie on a floor beside each other in their soiled clothing and many suffering from ailments like malnutrition, mental illness, rotting teeth, diseases and addictions of all kinds but we won’t make room in our Churches and allow them some dignity? So what is preventing Your church from renovating part of it for a couple of beds, a bath and a shower and maybe a TV? And even if there are zoning By-laws which prohibit renovation of certain buildings, it is likely they would make an exception for “churches”? You could also make arrangements to take turns picking up a homeless person if they need a ride and bring them to the church each night where they may eat and sleep or buy them a Bus pass and have a meal ready for them before they have to wake up to the same plight the very next day.

Shouldn’t we stop locking our Church doors at night and open them 24/7 in the spirit of love and show God that you’re not hypocrites. Instead of just praying for the homeless, start doing for them. Invite them into your church family and teach them of repentance and baptism if need be, like we’re supposed to and if you’re worried they might damage the church, then take turns keeping an eye on the building or hire a Security Guard. What’s more important at your Church? Boy Scouts or feeding the hungry? What’s more important; BBQs or giving a homeless person a place to sleep and making them feel a little better? What’s more important; wedding rehearsals or money for Security to protect both your church and the homeless who would find sanctuary there?

Mercy; we should be receiving a homeless person just like any other newcomer and comfort them as best we can in His name and who knows; someone in your Congregation might even find a job for them one day? Dentists and Doctors in your Congregation could donate their services too. This is such a blatant oversight by Churches in America that I’m embarrassed just having to point it out. Our Churches have sat empty long enough and perhaps it’s time they start behaving more like Holy Sanctuaries instead of Businesses? So I pray that if this missive serves no other purpose than to encourage believers to utilize their Church facilities to house the homeless, then it was worth the effort. Because maybe one of the questions the Lord might ask Churchgoers is; why did your Church Building sit empty while there were Homeless, Helpless and Hungry people in your Community? Ouch! Starting to sink in yet?"

Some points to ponder for sure.

However, like you mentioned, there are zoning laws (and I don't think they'd be changed), and there are also city-run shelters as well. Another thing, we are dealing with homeless people, among whom there may be some very angry, mentally ill, hard and calloused individuals. Some of which may cause problems and not just be meek, thankful little people resting in their bunk.

And your scenario about having a security guard opens a can of worms. Firstly, I don't think the homeless would appreciate being watched like they're criminals. Secondly, what if one of them does cause some major problem and the guard has to physically remove the person? The guard and anyone else there would have to be willing to do that.
Just wondering, do you let homeless people into your home 24/7? And it's not like the church does nothing for these people. Soup lines, passing out warm clothes, funding shelters, etc.

Originally Posted by Peace Seeker

Some points to ponder for sure.

However, like you mentioned, there are zoning laws (and I don't think they'd be changed), and there are also city-run shelters as well. Another thing, we are dealing with homeless people, among whom there may be some very angry, mentally ill, hard and calloused individuals. Some of which may cause problems and not just be meek, thankful little people resting in their bunk.

And your scenario about having a security guard opens a can of worms. Firstly, I don't think the homeless would appreciate being watched like they're criminals. Secondly, what if one of them does cause some major problem and the guard has to physically remove the person? The guard and anyone else there would have to be willing to do that.
Just wondering, do you let homeless people into your home 24/7? And it's not like the church does nothing for these people. Soup lines, passing out warm clothes, funding shelters, etc.

Not interested in the excuses; just pointing out the facts. Take them up with God, not me. :) Bless you

Originally Posted by Face His Truth

exerpt:
"Speaking of the “homeless”, it struck me one day. That my city has more than 5000 homeless people and is woefully lacking shelter for them. But the city also has about 80,000 residences. So I did the math and realized that if 5000 home owners took in only One homeless person, there wouldn’t really be a homeless problem in our city. :) In fact, we would still have 75,000 more residences than the number of homeless people. Yet, in a city of over 1,000,000 people, we seldom even hear of residents taking in a homeless person. Probably the same for your Hometown and doesn’t that pretty much sum up the state of contemporary Christianity?

Even worse though, we have hundreds of church buildings in the city too and I also realized that not even One local Christian church offers a bed for a homeless person. Most churches buildings sit empty 7 nights a week and are not offered to a homeless person as a place to sleep at night or have a meal. How is it even possible that we overlooked this? Isn’t this an integral part of what being a Christian is all about; Helping the Needy? In fact, if every Christian Religion in America offered their church buildings for homeless people to sleep in, this might all but completely solve the homeless problem wouldn’t it? Doesn’t require genius to figure that out and I even wrote to the Headquarters of one of the Baptist Church denominations suggesting this and guess what they said? Nothing! They wouldn’t even reply. So why aren’t Churches doing this? Why isn’t Your church doing it? Church buildings sit empty anyway so, for the love of God, how can we possibly call ourselves “Christians” and not open our minds to this solution?

Yes, there are some people who take in the homeless and needy but it’s usually for monetary compensation and you don’t have to be a Christian to do that. But the fact is, most Christians are not only too selfish to offer their own Home to a homeless person but they’re also too selfish to allow them to sleep in their empty church building. The very Place where they worship a loving God and it sits empty and useless every night. Bravo God’s Warriors! Something is extremely disturbing about that behaviour perhaps? In fact, churches won’t even take in one of their Own. If a parishioner falls upon tragedy and ends up homeless, even “they” are on their own. Indeed, I think it is sin and we need to stop wasting our church Space and start using it the way God intended?

Our priorities are wrong aren’t they? People are suffering in our hometowns and we can and should be doing something about it. Period! We treat the Homeless like pets in an animal shelter and like disaster victims filled with fear and hopelessness; they are made to lie on a floor beside each other in their soiled clothing and many suffering from ailments like malnutrition, mental illness, rotting teeth, diseases and addictions of all kinds but we won’t make room in our Churches and allow them some dignity? So what is preventing Your church from renovating part of it for a couple of beds, a bath and a shower and maybe a TV? And even if there are zoning By-laws which prohibit renovation of certain buildings, it is likely they would make an exception for “churches”? You could also make arrangements to take turns picking up a homeless person if they need a ride and bring them to the church each night where they may eat and sleep or buy them a Bus pass and have a meal ready for them before they have to wake up to the same plight the very next day.

Shouldn’t we stop locking our Church doors at night and open them 24/7 in the spirit of love and show God that you’re not hypocrites. Instead of just praying for the homeless, start doing for them. Invite them into your church family and teach them of repentance and baptism if need be, like we’re supposed to and if you’re worried they might damage the church, then take turns keeping an eye on the building or hire a Security Guard. What’s more important at your Church? Boy Scouts or feeding the hungry? What’s more important; BBQs or giving a homeless person a place to sleep and making them feel a little better? What’s more important; wedding rehearsals or money for Security to protect both your church and the homeless who would find sanctuary there?

Mercy; we should be receiving a homeless person just like any other newcomer and comfort them as best we can in His name and who knows; someone in your Congregation might even find a job for them one day? Dentists and Doctors in your Congregation could donate their services too. This is such a blatant oversight by Churches in America that I’m embarrassed just having to point it out. Our Churches have sat empty long enough and perhaps it’s time they start behaving more like Holy Sanctuaries instead of Businesses? So I pray that if this missive serves no other purpose than to encourage believers to utilize their Church facilities to house the homeless, then it was worth the effort. Because maybe one of the questions the Lord might ask Churchgoers is; why did your Church Building sit empty while there were Homeless, Helpless and Hungry people in your Community? Ouch! Starting to sink in yet?"

May I ask what you are doing about this situation ?

I may get beat up for this but I will speak with common sense.

Solomon said, to be wise , to be gentle as a lamb, but cunning as a serpent. This goes a long way to how we act in the world of today.

The innocent will pay for the guilty, what I mean by this is that most homeless people choose to be so. Most of them are drug addicts, mentally challenged and some are simply lazy and use the system to live. Offer them a job and a way out and they refuse it. Now sure there is the occasional one who is simply in a situation that has no control and they would change if they could. But the majority of them are simply doing this by their own free will and by choice.

Now it has come to be that many cities have placed into effect laws that say homelessness is a crime. It came to the point that it became such a problem that they put into place laws that make it illegal. Is this right or wrong?? In any event government is put into place by God to protect the people. So you have to look at this side of it too.

Some churches have tried this, and because of crime, disease and many problems it did not work, so some have built separate buildings and do use them as a shelter for the homeless. All churches do and will open up during times of extreme cold weather and an overflow of the shelters, they do this quite commonly at times. But they have to obtain volunteers to oversee it, to clean and to manage this.

The church or the sanctuary of worship, even as the Temple of God of long ago has to be kept clean, and is to be a safe place of worship for the members. Would you wish to use the restroom or have your children be exposed to disease and other bad things because of the use of the facility by these people??

We live in a time where crime and bad is the normal and not the exception. So if you open the doors of the church during all times and hours it puts a burden on the people and the church to mange these things, and if the doors of a church were left open today like they were just 20 years ago, there would be no church to go to. It would be destroyed. Crime, theft, vandalism, graffiti , and many things. So now the church doors are shut. Jesus would sit with these folks and talk to them, I will sit with them, I will help them, but I will not bring them home to live with my family. Now if they clean up their act, both in body and mind, that is different. But we do not have to live with them or be under their way, as a result of wishing to help. Caution is required, most of these folks have many issues. Some locally are prison releases that cannot find work, and are in a transition period between crimes and will most of the time end up back in prison. But you see they have a choice, it is what they do with it, they can wash dishes, they can work as a janitor, but they chose not to.

Many churches do give donations to the homeless shelters and some members do have a ministry to the homeless , but they go to them and visit them and try to speak with them.

I see no need to bring all under the burden of hardship that is created by the free will and choice of others. They have the free will to choose, (yes there are exceptions) and most choose to live the life they live by choice.

I want my church nice, clean, and would not wish a criminal rapist or a child molester to be hiding in the bathroom when my children go to the restroom on Sunday during worship.

It is a complicated situation, but we have to protect us and ours. The world is not a friendly place. All of us would naturally wish to correct all the bad things of the world. This is how we become when the Holy Spirit enters us. We would love to see all things change, from crime to starvation to simple morality. But we have to be wise in our way, we have to protect our way and our family and us.

We have a new law locally ourselves over this situation the the churches. Our Sheriff unlike many does follow God. This is very evident in his actions. But the churches were being hit every day , the homeless and criminals were stealing the Air conditioning units from the churches and selling them for scrap metals . So now as it became such a burden to them our new law requires even my self as a licensed plumber to go obtain a permit to sell scrap metal each and every time I wish to do so such as sell copper. It was such a burden to all that now we have to have a law to try to cut down on the crime. This is quite the hassle to the honest. But needed to combat the dishonest. No sooner would a church have new units installed , they would be gone again.

So what did happen, it has slowed down some. But now ............certain ones have run adds bring the copper and aluminum to me, I will buy it, then they hide it , melt it and so on and again make profits from dishonest gain. It is a constant struggle to overcome crime. Whatever you do they will figure out a way around it.

Respectfully

Kit

Originally Posted by Face His Truth

Not interested in the excuses; just pointing out the facts. Take them up with God, not me. :) Bless you

You're getting a little testy in your response here, FaceHisTruth, close to being insulting. Many homeless people are active alcoholics and drug addicts and will steal to finance their habits. Homeless shelters need to be staffed by people trained to spot and deal with such situations. Kit Carson's point about being "shrewd as snakes" (Mt 10:16) is well taken.

Spirit Led Ed (SLE)

The innocent will pay for the guilty,

That is a biblical principle,yes blessed are those who can pay.

what I mean by this is that most homeless people choose to be so. Most of them are drug addicts, mentally challenged and some are simply lazy and use the system to live. Offer them a job and a way out and they refuse it. Now sure there is the occasional one who is simply in a situation that has no control and they would change if they could. But the majority of them are simply doing this by their own free will and by choice.

In 1992-2000 I would agree because the unemployment rate was 4% and that last 4% was always pretty much unemployable.In my city there are many working homeless families and many homeless people seeking employment.Our county school system has around 1700 children(in 2009) who are registered as homeless.If the church can't reach out now then when?There may never be as many low risk homeless in the USA as now.
I know it can't really happen in churches because of mortgages and insurance and code violations and zoning and neighbors protecting property values but it can and does happen in home churches.

It's true that some are thieves that only come to rob,kill and destroy but the Truth is that Jesus came that we might have life and have it more abundantly.

Originally Posted by Kit Carson

I may get beat up for this but I will speak with common sense.

Solomon said, to be wise , to be gentle as a lamb, but cunning as a serpent. This goes a long way to how we act in the world of today.

The innocent will pay for the guilty, what I mean by this is that most homeless people choose to be so. Most of them are drug addicts, mentally challenged and some are simply lazy and use the system to live. Offer them a job and a way out and they refuse it. Now sure there is the occasional one who is simply in a situation that has no control and they would change if they could. But the majority of them are simply doing this by their own free will and by choice.

Now it has come to be that many cities have placed into effect laws that say homelessness is a crime. It came to the point that it became such a problem that they put into place laws that make it illegal. Is this right or wrong?? In any event government is put into place by God to protect the people. So you have to look at this side of it too.

Some churches have tried this, and because of crime, disease and many problems it did not work, so some have built separate buildings and do use them as a shelter for the homeless. All churches do and will open up during times of extreme cold weather and an overflow of the shelters, they do this quite commonly at times. But they have to obtain volunteers to oversee it, to clean and to manage this.

The church or the sanctuary of worship, even as the Temple of God of long ago has to be kept clean, and is to be a safe place of worship for the members. Would you wish to use the restroom or have your children be exposed to disease and other bad things because of the use of the facility by these people??

We live in a time where crime and bad is the normal and not the exception. So if you open the doors of the church during all times and hours it puts a burden on the people and the church to mange these things, and if the doors of a church were left open today like they were just 20 years ago, there would be no church to go to. It would be destroyed. Crime, theft, vandalism, graffiti , and many things. So now the church doors are shut. Jesus would sit with these folks and talk to them, I will sit with them, I will help them, but I will not bring them home to live with my family. Now if they clean up their act, both in body and mind, that is different. But we do not have to live with them or be under their way, as a result of wishing to help. Caution is required, most of these folks have many issues. Some locally are prison releases that cannot find work, and are in a transition period between crimes and will most of the time end up back in prison. But you see they have a choice, it is what they do with it, they can wash dishes, they can work as a janitor, but they chose not to.

Many churches do give donations to the homeless shelters and some members do have a ministry to the homeless , but they go to them and visit them and try to speak with them.

I see no need to bring all under the burden of hardship that is created by the free will and choice of others. They have the free will to choose, (yes there are exceptions) and most choose to live the life they live by choice.

I want my church nice, clean, and would not wish a criminal rapist or a child molester to be hiding in the bathroom when my children go to the restroom on Sunday during worship.

It is a complicated situation, but we have to protect us and ours. The world is not a friendly place. All of us would naturally wish to correct all the bad things of the world. This is how we become when the Holy Spirit enters us. We would love to see all things change, from crime to starvation to simple morality. But we have to be wise in our way, we have to protect our way and our family and us.

We have a new law locally ourselves over this situation the the churches. Our Sheriff unlike many does follow God. This is very evident in his actions. But the churches were being hit every day , the homeless and criminals were stealing the Air conditioning units from the churches and selling them for scrap metals . So now as it became such a burden to them our new law requires even my self as a licensed plumber to go obtain a permit to sell scrap metal each and every time I wish to do so such as sell copper. It was such a burden to all that now we have to have a law to try to cut down on the crime. This is quite the hassle to the honest. But needed to combat the dishonest. No sooner would a church have new units installed , they would be gone again.

So what did happen, it has slowed down some. But now ............certain ones have run adds bring the copper and aluminum to me, I will buy it, then they hide it , melt it and so on and again make profits from dishonest gain. It is a constant struggle to overcome crime. Whatever you do they will figure out a way around it.

Respectfully

Kit

. . . more excuses
Respectfully

Originally Posted by SpiritLedEd

You're getting a little testy in your response here

Judge someone else Ed. You are not qualified. Nor will I respond again to anything you say on my topics or threads; so don't bother. You seek only confrontation and I'll have nothing further to do with you.

Respectfully

Originally Posted by Thiscrosshurts

I know it can't really happen in churches because of mortgages and insurance and code violations and zoning and neighbors protecting property values

No you don't. You're assuming and
. . . more excuses
Respectfully