Realities of Homelessness

Late one Friday night, after lights out at the Emergency Shelter, there was a loud knock at the door. Actually it wasn't just a knock, it was almost frantic knocking. When I turned on the light, I saw Joe (not his real name) standing there in the pouring rain.
I knew Joe, like me he was a regular at the shelter. However, I was working there and Joe was looking for a place to stay. But I wasn't allowed to give him a place to stay.

How can a homeless shelter deny a man a place to stay on a rainy night?

It's the law, at least it was then. I don't know what the rules are in Cleveland, Tennessee now. But in 1992, it was against the law for me to give Joe a bed for the night.

There I was warm and dry inside a homeless shelter with about 100 empty beds and I couldn't let Joe come in out of the rain. I couldn't even open the door for him.

There I was, with a freezer full of food, a microwave oven, and a fridge full of good sweet iced tea, and I wasn't allowed to give Joe something to eat.

The shelter received money from the local and federal government and one of them, I'm not sure which, decided that someone could only stay in the shelter a maximum of 14 days. Every 90 days the count was reset. Joe had used his 14 days.

The rule was created so that the shelter and its funds weren't abused. Admittedly, Joe was probably abusing the system. The first of each month he received a disability check, but spent it on alcohol. By the 5th of the month, the money was gone. Because of the 14-day rule, in the final month of Joe's 90 day period he had no where to go.

I don't know where Joe slept that rainy night.

At this same shelter, the director would often rant about churches that helped the homeless rather than let his shelter do the work. The problem with the churches helping the homeless is that the help they offered was sometimes inappropriate. For example, one church put a homeless man into a hotel for over a month, paying all of his expenses. The church was being taken advantage of by this man.

In defense of the church, they probably didn't know what to do. Seminaries don't teach Homelessness 101. And in defense of the shelter, they helped many people find jobs and get moved into apartments. One of the programs offered would pay the deposit and first month's rent.

But for people like Joe, those with problems they couldn't find their way out of, neither the church nor the shelter knew how to help.

Have you ever had an opportunity to help someone, but really didn't know what to do?

Wesley's Advice for Bible Study

John Wesley

Preface to Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament

EDINBURGH, April 25, 1765.

If you desire to read the scripture in such a manner as may most effectually answer this end, would it not be advisable,

1. To set apart a little time, if you can, every morning and evening for that purpose?
   
2. At each time if you have leisure, to read a chapter out of the Old, and one out of the New Testament: if you cannot do this, to take a single chapter, or a part of one?
   
3. To read this with a single eye, to know the whole will of God, and a fixt resolution to do it? In order to know his will, you should,
   
4. Have a constant eye to the analogy of faith; the connexion and harmony there is between those grand, fundamental doctrines, Original Sin, Justification by Faith, the New Birth, Inward and Outward Holiness.
   
5. Serious and earnest prayer should be constantly used, before we consult the oracles of God, seeing "scripture can only be understood thro' the same Spirit whereby it was given." Our reading should likewise be closed with prayer, that what we read may be written on our hearts.
   
6. It might also be of use, if while we read, we were frequently to pause, and examine ourselves by what we read, both with regard to our hearts, and lives. This would furnish us with matter of praise, where we found God had enabled us to conform to his blessed will, and matter of humiliation and prayer, where we were conscious of having fallen short.
   

And whatever light you then receive, should be used to the uttermost, and that immediately. Let there be no delay. Whatever you resolve, begin to execute the first moment you can. So shall you find this word to be indeed the power of God unto present and eternal salvation.

Building Temples

Haggai is a prophet who lived during the reign of King Darius, the same king who had thrown Daniel into the den of lions. Haggai's passion was the building of the temple.

In Chapter 1, vv 7-8, Haggai writes:

Thus says the LORD of hosts, "Consider your ways! Go up to the mountains, bring wood and rebuild the temple, that I may be pleased with it and be glorified," says the LORD. (NASB)

Ministers today are also called to be temple builders but the temples being built are spiritual temples rather than the physical one that Haggai built. I believe we have three temples of responsibility:

1. Ourselves and our family
   
2. Our community of faith: this includes both our church and the larger community in which we live and work.
   
3. Body of Christ
   

At the time of Haggai, God told this prophet that his community wasn't blessed because they put the building of their own homes first, before rebuilding the temple:

"You look for much, but behold, it comes to little; when you bring it home, I blow it away. Why?" declares the LORD of hosts, "Because of My house which lies desolate, while each of you runs to his own house. "Therefore, because of you the sky has withheld its dew and the earth has withheld its produce. "I called for a drought on the land, on the mountains, on the grain, on the new wine, on the oil, on what the ground produces, on men, on cattle, and on all the labor of your hands." (Haggai 1:9-11 NASB).

Because the Israelites had chosen to build their homes first instead of the temple, God had withheld his blessings. The community had been economically impacted because of the choices they made. But they were also politically impacted.
In Chapter 2, verse 3 the Lord spoke through Haggia to the community saying, "Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? Does it not seem to you like nothing in comparison?"

The new temple they built is not even close to the awe inspiring spectacle of the former temple that was destroyed when they were led into captivity. The state of this temple reveals that the community did not hold the same political power it once held in the world.

But that's only the beginning of Chapter 2, because later, God promises that "the glory of this house will be greater than the former... and in this place I will give peace" (Haggai 2:9). God promises that the community will be blessed economically (riches v.7) and politically (peace v. 9).

3 Temples of Responsibilty

Self and Family

Paul writing to the Corinthians states, "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? (1 Cor 6:19 NASB)." And in Ephesians 5, Paul makes it clear that he believes that a husband and wife are one flesh ... one body. So this area of spritual responsibility described in Corinthians is extended to the family. Church leaders should be caring for their family temple, buiding it with love in Christ.

Community of Faith

A pastor's job is to shepherd his church. Take care to protect it from poor doctrine and provide for the health of the community. I believe this task is also extended to the larger community where the church is located.

Extended Community of Faith

Jesus extended the idea of our faith community when He asked us to "love even our enemies" and when He taught in Matthew 25

`For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.' "Then the righteous will answer Him, `Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? `And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? `When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' "The King will answer and say to them, `Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.' (vv 35-40 NASB).

Unfortunately too many churches seemed to have forgotten this teaching. For example, I once asked a pastor if his church had a food pantry or a clothing collection for families in his community who may be in need. He responded, "No, we don't have any lower income families in our church." Rather than waiting for opportunities to help someone, perhaps it is better to go find those who need help and don't know where to turn.

Body of Christ

Just as the responsibility of temple building extends from our selves to our family and from our churches to our communities, it also extends to the Body of Christ. By Body of Christ I mean the larger faith community ... all churches ... all denominations ... all of those who believe that Jesus is the Christ.

One of the things that impressed me about Nicky Gumble and his presentation in the Alpha Course is in the introduction to the course he says that if someone in attendance has questions they can turn to any church in there area to find help with the answers. He says it doesn't have to be an Anglican church, it can be any church.

Contrast this to a para-church leader who once told me he'd never refer someone he in his ministry to ABC denomination or XYZ church because they didn't teach exactly the way he interpreted the Bible.

Paul writes about unity in his first letter to the Corinthians:
But now there are many members, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; or again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. (1 Cor 12:21-26 NASB).

Looking Inward

Have you ever driven passed a single mom with a flat tire and thought, someone should help her? Next time, consider how you can extend the reach of your church.

Have you ever driven passed a Pentecostal church and thought, they are weird? Next time, sit next to the pentecostal minister at the community ministerial association and get to know him.

Or perhaps you are Pentecostal, have you ever driven passed a church of a different denomination and thought, those people just don't get it. Next time sit next to the pastor of that church at the community ministerial association and get to know him.

You may think these are extreme examples, but I could give you very specific examples of people who have said or thought the same things. There was a time in my life when I said some of them.

Your Vision

As you consider the temples of responsibility, consider how you as a temple builder may be impacted economically and politically by the choice of which house you spend your time on.

Extend this consideration to your denomination, how has your denomination built temples and been impacted by its choices.

Pray for God to lead you to consider your temples of responsibility.

A Prayer

Lord, forgive me for not being responsible in the temple building you have called me to. I have ignored those in my community and those in other denominations that I didn't believe were good enough for me to talk to. I repent of all that I know is wrong and ask that you would guide me to opportunities to build temples in my family, community, and the Body of Christ. -- Amen.

Katrina's Devastation

The devastation of the US Gulf Coast has been beyond anything we could have imagined. To hear today that there could be over 1 thousand dead in New Orleans is troubling. Hearing the stories of suffering is heart-breaking.

Surely no one in the area of devastation has time to read a blog, I'm almost embarrassed that I do have the time to post. But perhaps someone can be comforted by Isaiah 54:10-17 where God speaks to Isaiah the prophet, saying

"For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake,
But My lovingkindness will not be removed from you,
And My covenant of peace will not be shaken," Says the LORD who has compassion on you.

"O afflicted one, storm-tossed, {and} not comforted,
Behold, I will set your stones in antimony,
And your foundations I will lay in sapphires.
"Moreover, I will make your battlements of rubies,
And your gates of crystal,
And your entire wall of precious stones.
"All your sons will be taught of the LORD;
And the well-being of your sons will be great.
"In righteousness you will be established;
You will be far from oppression, for you will not fear;
And from terror, for it will not come near you.
"If anyone fiercely assails {you} it will not be from Me.
Whoever assails you will fall because of you.
"Behold, I Myself have created the smith who blows the fire of coals
And brings out a weapon for its work;
And I have created the destroyer to ruin.
"No weapon that is formed against you will prosper;
And every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD,
And their vindication is from Me," declares the LORD.

In the midst of the chaos and storm-tossed destruction, the Lord can break in to protect and provide.

Pray for those that are suffering that the Lord may comfort them. Pray that men and women will be moved to help through the giving of gifts and time as they can.

Although I'm not affiliated with any organizations that provide relief, I can recommend Matthew 25 Ministires.

Atheism and Christianity

I don't normally quote other blogs here but I recently read here where Ashish, a self-described athesit, writes that in dialog with Hindu leaders he has challenged the existence of God and this idea is recognized as a valid form of Hinduism.

Then he writes, "Try doing it to the Vatican! Try challenging the existence of God in presence of the Pope, and if he still extends his hospitality to you and accepts you as a Christian, I will be more than willing to convert to your Faith."

I do believe that you can challenge the existence of God to the Pope or any other Christian and still be received with hospitality. Every Christian has wrestled with their faith, asked questions of religious leaders (maybe not the Pope) and prayed to Jesus Christ with doubt in their minds at times. Challenging the existence of God is not unique to Ashish or to Hinduism.

While the Chrisitan faith can comprehend the challenge to the existence of God, a phiolosphy of atheism is not nor can it ever be a valid form of Christianity. At the root of Christianity is that firm belief the Jesus Christ is God incarnate. Christians are not afraid of dialog with atheists or with those of any other religion but those who call themselves Christians who follow the teachings of the crucified and risen Christ cannot validate non-faith in these teachings.

Every philosophy or theology has a foundation, for the Christian this is Christ. Any form of religion that omits Jesus as the Son of God cannot be viewed as valid through the scriptures. To ask such is to ask Christianity to become something it is not.

So, Ashish, if Christianity would recognize your non-belief as valid Christianity it would cease to be Christian and thus become invalid in itself.

God's Love and Provision

Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NASB)

In this short passage, we see that Paul is convinced or persuaded. This means that convincing comes from outside of Paul... God is convincing Paul of these things by His grace.

The things that Paul lists here as being incapable of separating us from the love of God have 2 things in common:

1: Each of these things is temporal... they are time based and constrained.
2: Each of these things is also created.

This is in contract to the love of God which is eternal and not created but is part of God Himself. Jesus came to earth showing us how God, in His love, wants to relate to us. And from John 3:16 we know that it is because of God's love that He sent His Son, Jesus, into the world that we all may have eternal life. God's provision also comes to us because He loves us.

Romans 8:32 says, "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?

If God was willing to give even His Son for us, of course He will work to meet our other needs that cost much less to supply. Even though we face hardship and pain, hunger and stress, we know that God will meet our needs because He has already shown us how far His willing to go to meet our needs.