Question for followers of any religion

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I used to be more against giving money to people who asked for it. I didn't want to help the druggie or alcoholic get their fix. But then I read some personal stories of people, some who went undercover as homeless people to see what it was like, and then other stories, and felt like sometimes they just need a few bucks. I have dropped food off for people holding the 'will work for food' signs, and they hide the food to eat later because I guess food is not all they wanted. But I feel like I don't need to judge it anymore. We can't usually help every single time we see something like this, but sometimes it's the right time to help.

That's how I feel about it. If we insist of certainties as to whether someone truly needs help, then we'll never help them. I think we can and should use common sense when being charitable, but beyond that, looking for certainty is futile because we'll never find it for every person who reaches out their hand for help.

[Danno 1,228]

We're getting off topic here, but there's no silliness in knowing that no one forces you to remain a USC. The conditions of your citizenship is that you will obey the laws here or face consequences. You are completely free to renounce your citizenship, thereby freeing yourself of any obligations to pay taxes. Same with state and local taxes. You can leave whatever state you currently live in freely if don't want to pay the state taxes there.

Where have you been Steven?

this is what People do all the time, leave one state to move to another with more reasonable tax rates.....

As an example, How much growth has California had from US citizens in the last decade?

[twowls 217]

I used to be more against giving money to people who asked for it. I didn't want to help the druggie or alcoholic get their fix. But then I read some personal stories of people, some who went undercover as homeless people to see what it was like, and then other stories, and felt like sometimes they just need a few bucks. I have dropped food off for people holding the 'will work for food' signs, and they hide the food to eat later because I guess food is not all they wanted. But I feel like I don't need to judge it anymore. We can't usually help every single time we see something like this, but sometimes it's the right time to help.

Drug addiction is a prison much like mental illness. There are very, very few homeless people that are otherwise perfectly capable of holding it together in the standard way but choose the panhandling desperate option for fun. It's not at all fun to be unsafe and out of control, and you can comfortably assume that their lives are hell.

These people are well-acquainted with those that scorn them. Your compassion is a meaningful act.

[Danno 1,228]

Great post, Stina. I too have felt the same - unsure about the circumstances of the person I'm giving money to. For donations to charities, or even welfare programs, I believe that most of the recipients are truly in need as such programs require certain conditions before help is offered. In those cases, however, how does one know whether that person is choosing to need help? In other words, can we ever be certain whether someone truly needs help and how much does that matter in the end, in terms of Jesus' message of helping the poor?

When people have asked me for money to eat, I almost never hand it to them, I most often will say something like "come on... I'll be glad to get you something to eat", a number of times I was on lunch break anyway so we sit down and eat together.

I did have one guy say "what.... you don't trust me"?

To which I replied... "Trust you, I don't even know you!... now do you want to eat or not"?

I had a guy at a Dunkin Donuts ask me for gas money to get home.

He looked at me with a dead serious face and said... "It's not for me, it's for my truck".

That was such an original line, I went ahead and gave him a few bucks.

[ready4ONE 5,400]

Good deeds

Matt 5:16 "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." (NIV)

Or:

Matt 6:3-4 "But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." (NIV)

So difficult to know what to do...

[twowls 217]

Good deeds

Matt 5:16 "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." (NIV)

Or:

Matt 6:3-4 "But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." (NIV)

So difficult to know what to do...

Not so tough. Do kind acts and don't brag about them.

[ready4ONE 5,400]

Not so tough. Do kind acts and don't brag about them.

Actually the first verse insists you brag, the second tells you to give in secret.

[twowls 217]

Actually the first verse insists you brag, the second tells you to give in secret.

That's not my reading. Nobody is compelled to do anything but let their light shine, be themselves, be good. The notice of such then goes to God for praise--not the adherent; there's no self-honoring at all.

The second passage is a metaphor for not being a d*ck about it.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Where have you been Steven?

this is what People do all the time, leave one state to move to another with more reasonable tax rates.....

As an example, How much growth has California had from US citizens in the last decade?

Good. So now you understand that you are not forced to pay taxes. If your state is taxing you to pay for welfare mothers, you can leave that state. If the Federal Gov't. is taxing you for Food Stamps, you can leave the country. Your residency here in the U.S. is as voluntary as your residency in the state in which you currently live.

[ready4ONE 5,400]

That's not my reading. Nobody is compelled to do anything but let their light shine, be themselves, be good. The notice of such then goes to God for praise--not the adherent; there's no self-honoring at all.

The second passage is a metaphor for not being a d*ck about it.

Ah the metaphor gambit to cover contradictory instructions... Didn't see that coming.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Good. So now you understand that you are not forced to pay taxes. If your state is taxing you to pay for welfare mothers, you can leave that state. If the Federal Gov't. is taxing you for Food Stamps, you can leave the country. Your residency here in the U.S. is as voluntary as your residency in the state in which you currently live.

or you can force others to change and show them you won't be pushed around.

You only have as much freedom as the person standing next to you allows you to have.

[twowls 217]

Ah the metaphor gambit to cover contradictory instructions... Didn't see that coming.

It's not a gambit, it's a literary device. Unless your hands have eyes.

Have you read the Bible as a work of literature? It's pretty fascinating. Not so great in terms of unambiguous and immutable meaning.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

It's not a gambit, it's a literary device. Unless your hands have eyes.

Have you read the Bible as a work of literature? It's pretty fascinating. Not so great in terms of unambiguous and immutable meaning.

[SuperDuper! 230]

(Please keep this on topic and with respect to religious beliefs or teachings)

Why give to the poor? Where is the reciprocity? Where does personal responsibility come into play?

Take this Gospel passage from Luke for example: Lk 16:19-31

Jesus said to the Pharisees:

"There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen

and dined sumptuously each day.

And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,

who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps

that fell from the rich man's table.

Dogs even used to come and lick his sores.

When the poor man died,

he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham.

The rich man also died and was buried,

and from the netherworld, where he was in torment,

he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off

and Lazarus at his side.

And he cried out, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me.

Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue,

for I am suffering torment in these flames.'

Abraham replied,

'My child, remember that you received

what was good during your lifetime

while Lazarus likewise received what was bad;

but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented.

Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established

to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go

from our side to yours or from your side to ours.'

He said, 'Then I beg you, father,

send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers,

so that he may warn them,

lest they too come to this place of torment.'

But Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the prophets.

Let them listen to them.'

He said, 'Oh no, father Abraham,

but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'

Then Abraham said, 'If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets,

neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.'"

You are on your way to the 50K posting team for sure!

Keep up the good work, sir.

[mawilson 2,133]

Why give to the poor? Where is the reciprocity? Where does personal responsibility come into play?

The only reason to give to the poor is to stop them from stealing and murdering for money.

Most people do it because it makes them feel good about THEMSELVES.