Is this an ungodly thing to say?

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Genipher

Genipher

Well-known member
#1
Jan 6, 2019
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#1
I was chatting on a mom site. Subject was homeless people. I mentioned that, over the years, all the homeless people I've spoken to have all said they prefer living on the streets because they don't want to be bound to a job or responsibilities. Our (huge) homeless shelter is pretty much empty because people don't want to follow the rules of looking for a job and listening to the Bible being read, which leads me to believe most of the homeless community would rather live in tents in the woods than get a job or listen to a prayer and have a safe, warm place to sleep at night.

I get that I'm only seeing a small majority, in my own area, and can't speak for the whole country. I get there ARE folks out there that don't want to be homeless (met a homeless family last year that desperately wanted to get back on their feet). Is it an ungodly thing to say that, from my experience, the majority of homeless don't want help but hand-outs? I never said these people were scum or not worth helping or saving or that we should hate them. Just repeated what they've told me and my husband (and our pastor, too, has shared similar stories).

Am I being unloving and ungodly by repeating these words of the homeless (as several of the women accused) or is the truth just offending these liberal women?

If it's me and I'm being too harsh or assuming, I need to apologize to them.
 
JTB

JTB

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#2
Aug 31, 2021
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#2
I would qualify your statement with the words "in my experience". That way you can share what you know with the understanding that for others it may be different.

And yes I have met many homeless who prefer it that way.
 
HealthAndHappiness

HealthAndHappiness

Well-known member
#3
Jul 7, 2022
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Almost Heaven West Virginia
#3
There are lots of reasons that people are in that situation. I don't think we can lump them all together. A common reason is drug addiction. However, some lose a job and miss rent. Next month they don't have an apartment. I had a serious accident recently that messed up my dominant arm and my back seriously. I have to pay the state rent.....property taxes. It can happen to anyone but for the grace of God.

There were many times Jesus was in a bad place without an earthly home, so I try to have compassion even though it's tempting to judge. I don't think you all are judging. I just try to remind myself since you reminded me of the unfortunate circumstances of many.

"And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head."

Luke 9
 
shittim

shittim

Senior Member
#4
Dec 16, 2016
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#4
Not knowing and staying in Christ seems the divider here, He promises to protect His own if we ARE His own. Seems those who have given drugs first place and not the Lord are where they are based on their first love.
 
A

Amanuensis

Well-known member
#5
Jun 12, 2021
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#5
Genipher said:
I was chatting on a mom site. Subject was homeless people. I mentioned that, over the years, all the homeless people I've spoken to have all said they prefer living on the streets because they don't want to be bound to a job or responsibilities. Our (huge) homeless shelter is pretty much empty because people don't want to follow the rules of looking for a job and listening to the Bible being read, which leads me to believe most of the homeless community would rather live in tents in the woods than get a job or listen to a prayer and have a safe, warm place to sleep at night.

I get that I'm only seeing a small majority, in my own area, and can't speak for the whole country. I get there ARE folks out there that don't want to be homeless (met a homeless family last year that desperately wanted to get back on their feet). Is it an ungodly thing to say that, from my experience, the majority of homeless don't want help but hand-outs? I never said these people were scum or not worth helping or saving or that we should hate them. Just repeated what they've told me and my husband (and our pastor, too, has shared similar stories).

Am I being unloving and ungodly by repeating these words of the homeless (as several of the women accused) or is the truth just offending these liberal women?

If it's me and I'm being too harsh or assuming, I need to apologize to them.
Click to expand...
Most of them just want some cash so that they can get drugs or alcohol. They are addicted and that is their main focus 24x7.
Help is offered to them, housing, food, rehab, but they want to use.

Don't give them money. Give them a list of places they can go and call for housing, food and help to get off the streets.

We need to pass laws and forcefully take them off the streets and get them help. If they keep breaking the law they go to jails. If they want to live in jail the rest of their lives so be it. No allowing them to do drugs and live on the streets. Not an option.

Eventually many of them will be able to get sober and restore their lives and maintain themselves. But we need to force them because they can't help themselves out of that addiction as long as they can beg for money and sleep in the streets.
 
JohnDB

JohnDB

Well-known member
#6
Jan 16, 2021
6,214
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#6
Anybody who wants to work and have a normal life....absolutely can here in America.
If you want to live on the streets with no responsibilities and do drugs you can do that too. We have made being poor very comfortable and an institution in America. The Profits from God are everywhere anymore and have infected every charity.
Look at the homeless in some of your big cities like LA, San Francisco and etc....

They prefer to be a blight than to do anything to help themselves. They would rather live like an animal than a decent human being.
 
shittim

shittim

Senior Member
#7
Dec 16, 2016
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#7
A sober lost soul is still a lost soul.
Giving first place to He who deserves first place prevents this.
Jesus doesn't guide anyone to get addicted or drunk, the last stages of demonic oppression are incarceration, institutionalization, or death.
 
Lanolin

Lanolin

Well-known member
#8
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
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#8
I think you assuming too much

Homeless people dont have a home or house because they cannot afford to live in one. They dont want hand outs either as they just want to be left alone. Because landlords and people(parents?) being on their case may be one of the reasons why they have left whatever home they had in the first place.

being a nomad is freedom for many people who just dont want to be tied to an abusive home. YES ABUSIVE homes.
shelters have all sorts of rules and things as well and its not easy living in those.
 
Lanolin

Lanolin

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#9
Dec 15, 2018
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#9
Jesus was homeless, he slept in the streets and on the mint of olives and whoever would lend him a bed for the night.

He relied on his Father to provide. He was not slaving his guts out trying to pay a mortgage.
 
JohnDB

JohnDB

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#10
Jan 16, 2021
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#10
Lanolin said:
I think you assuming too much

Homeless people dont have a home or house because they cannot afford to live in one. They dont want hand outs either as they just want to be left alone. Because landlords and people(parents?) being on their case may be one of the reasons why they have left whatever home they had in the first place.

being a nomad is freedom for many people who just dont want to be tied to an abusive home. YES ABUSIVE homes.
shelters have all sorts of rules and things as well and its not easy living in those.
Click to expand...
That may be true in OZ but not the USA.
 
shittim

shittim

Senior Member
#11
Dec 16, 2016
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#11
A person "slaving their guts out to pay for a mortgage" isn't walking out the plan God has for their life and they wonder why they are miserable as they live far from the blessing He would give them for obedience.
Our whole existence is to find the plan He has for each of us and walk it out, then go home to our reward.
 
Lanolin

Lanolin

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#12
Dec 15, 2018
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#12
actually I think a little compassion is in order here rather than judgement.

I dont live in oZ or america . dont assume everyone on this forum is from there.
 
Lanolin

Lanolin

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#13
Dec 15, 2018
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#13
Jesus also said mentioned those who are willing to give up their homes..to follow Him.....Luke 18:18

Which is just what the disciples did.
 
JaumeJ

JaumeJ

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#14
Jul 2, 2011
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#14
Just a reminder: No man is good no not one.
 
shittim

shittim

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#15
Dec 16, 2016
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#15
Lanolin said:
actually I think a little compassion is in order here rather than judgement.

I dont live in oZ or america . dont assume everyone on this forum is from there.
Click to expand...
That IS compassion, what is often called "compassion" is actually "pity".
 
JaumeJ

JaumeJ

Senior Member
#17
Jul 2, 2011
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#17
In context, we are taught to judge "for ourselves" what is right. This is not unto condemnation for we have not attained to such a privilgege, nor will we in this age.
It is good to judge "for ourselves" what is right, otherwise we would b ePharisees. However we must stop at appearances and continue with right judgement.

Remember always that our Father will justify the ungodly, which is a clear warning to jsut judg eforourselves, not for all.

As for the homeless who are totally unworthy, I do not know. I have had personal experience with wantin g toshare my belongings with less fortunates who refused my offer in favor of thigs new, not used. I felt very bad about them, but I figure they will be either taught to act with integrity or they will be left to their own devices. I pity any left to their own devices.

I am certain most here, know this but do not have it in mind always, but tey do come around when Jesus Yeshua enters the arena.
 
Lynx

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
#18
Aug 13, 2014
27,354
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#18
Genipher said:
I was chatting on a mom site. Subject was homeless people. I mentioned that, over the years, all the homeless people I've spoken to have all said they prefer living on the streets because they don't want to be bound to a job or responsibilities. Our (huge) homeless shelter is pretty much empty because people don't want to follow the rules of looking for a job and listening to the Bible being read, which leads me to believe most of the homeless community would rather live in tents in the woods than get a job or listen to a prayer and have a safe, warm place to sleep at night.

I get that I'm only seeing a small majority, in my own area, and can't speak for the whole country. I get there ARE folks out there that don't want to be homeless (met a homeless family last year that desperately wanted to get back on their feet). Is it an ungodly thing to say that, from my experience, the majority of homeless don't want help but hand-outs? I never said these people were scum or not worth helping or saving or that we should hate them. Just repeated what they've told me and my husband (and our pastor, too, has shared similar stories).

Am I being unloving and ungodly by repeating these words of the homeless (as several of the women accused) or is the truth just offending these liberal women?

If it's me and I'm being too harsh or assuming, I need to apologize to them.
Click to expand...
The homeless are not as visible, or in some areas not as prevalent, as they are in other areas. Whole states can be as different as night and day because of state rules that make it easier or harder to be visibly homeless, or to be homeless and still survive.

If you're in a state where "Holy crap in a can, they are EVERYWHERE!" and you talk to a person who lives in a state where "Eh, no, we never see homeless people around here" you're going to have different viewpoints. It's much easier for people to make assumptions when they don't even see the problem.

Invite those people to move to where you live for a year. =^.^=
 
Lynx

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
#19
Aug 13, 2014
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#19
Oh yeah, about your question. I didn't answer that.

I don't have any personal experience with the matter, but I have friends who report exactly what you have said. A lot of homeless people WANT to be homeless, with no responsibilities, and they happen to live in a state that makes it possible and even easy to do so.

If people on a forum are ragging you for mentioning this, I'd bet the farm that it is from lack of experience. Some people live far away from the problem and don't want to acknowledge the problem, so they get real uptight when someone mentions there is a problem.
 
JohnDB

JohnDB

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#20
Jan 16, 2021
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#20
Lanolin said:
actually I think a little compassion is in order here rather than judgement.

I dont live in oZ or america . dont assume everyone on this forum is from there.
Click to expand...
Wherever you are living....it doesn't matter. I know for a fact that homeless are predators and normal people are their prey. I also know that dogs bite. Maybe you never learned that....
 
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