Today I'm thinking of my friends, people like Art, Wendy, Joe, Blue and many more.
They call the streets of Dallas "home."
They possess almost nothing.
What they have, they share freely with their friends and neighbors.
If they eat today, they will eat a charity meal.
Some will bed down in a shelter. Some will find a resting place under a bridge or in an alley.
Every time I'm with them I hear expressions of thanksgiving.
They are my best teachers when it comes to gratitude.
For them I am very, very thankful.
I hope that soon, very soon we'll have more houses to offer them.
You know, real homes.
Showing posts with label compassion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label compassion. Show all posts
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Friday, November 09, 2012
Terry
His beard was magnificent!
The slightly built, Caucasian man rode up on a nice looking bicycle just as I was unloading more water from my truck for distribution on "the Corner."
"Have anything to eat?" he asked hopefully.
"No, sorry," I replied, "just water today."
"That's okay," he said.
His name is Terry.
"Nice bike," I observed. "It looks new."
"No, not new, but in pretty good shape," he commented. "A guy gave me this bike."
"Really?" I responded.
"Yes, he ran over my old one, so he gave me this one as a replacement," he explained as I admired his ride.
We talked for a long time. He explained that he was a street entertainer.
"I do card tricks and tell jokes for tips," he informed me.
"Where?" I asked.
"Deep Ellum," he replied.
"So, you work the clubs on the sidewalks?" I asked.
"Yes, but I know which ones to pick," he beamed.
He told me that he had staked out a private, secret place where he stowed his belongings and where he bedded down. He didn't like the shelters because once in, you can't get out until early morning.
"I don't have much stuff," he noted as we talked about securing belongings.
"Really, if you're happy on the inside and a pleasant person on the outside, that's all that matters," he declared.
"Happy on the inside" and "a pleasant person on the outside"--hmmm.
Sounds like a Rx for contentment.
"I used to be materialistic, but I've gone beyond that," he told me.
Wisdom from a new friend. I'd never seen Terry before yesterday.
I certainly hope to see him again.
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Responding to the needs of Jesus
"For I was hungry, while you had all you needed.
"I was thirsty, but you drank bottled water.
"I was a stranger, and you wanted me deported.
"I needed clothes, but you needed more clothes.
"I was sick, and you pointed out the behaviors that led to my sickness.
"I was in prison, and you said I was getting what I served."
"I was thirsty, but you drank bottled water.
"I was a stranger, and you wanted me deported.
"I needed clothes, but you needed more clothes.
"I was sick, and you pointed out the behaviors that led to my sickness.
"I was in prison, and you said I was getting what I served."
Matthew 25:31ff
--Richard E. Stearns Version
from The Hole in Our Gospel
page 59
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
When "justification" hurts others
Earlier this week I enjoyed a conversation with one of Dallas' Exchange Clubs. The meeting was really delightful.
There were about a dozen of us.
All of us were post-60 years old, felt like a fraternity of sorts!
My job: to talk about the high cost of keeping people homeless and on the streets.
The "return on investment" of permanent housing in real savings to a community makes it a no-brainer of a choice when it comes to public policy, but we continue to settle for the status quo that does little good for anyone.
So, we kick the can down the road while our extremely poor neighbors live in shelters intended to be emergency solutions for the short term, but end up becoming community institutions with long-term residents in a string of nights that too often runs on for years.
Anyway, as we spoke about the mythical stereotypes associated with the homeless, I had one of those moments of insight, at least for me it was.
"If you don't want to help the homeless, then don't," I counseled my new friends. "But at least don't concoct some lie about the helpless, homeless guy or gal that further embeds and strengthens the inaccurate stereotypes in an effort to justify your decision not to help."
I believe that is what happens an awful lot when it comes to the very poor among us and our decisions to "walk by on the other side of road." .
What do you think?
_______________________________
BTW--I've had amazing meetings this week with church leaders about building cottages in our PUSH 50 project at Malcolm X Boulevard and I-30!
So encouraging!
More later.
There were about a dozen of us.
All of us were post-60 years old, felt like a fraternity of sorts!
My job: to talk about the high cost of keeping people homeless and on the streets.
The "return on investment" of permanent housing in real savings to a community makes it a no-brainer of a choice when it comes to public policy, but we continue to settle for the status quo that does little good for anyone.
So, we kick the can down the road while our extremely poor neighbors live in shelters intended to be emergency solutions for the short term, but end up becoming community institutions with long-term residents in a string of nights that too often runs on for years.
Anyway, as we spoke about the mythical stereotypes associated with the homeless, I had one of those moments of insight, at least for me it was.
"If you don't want to help the homeless, then don't," I counseled my new friends. "But at least don't concoct some lie about the helpless, homeless guy or gal that further embeds and strengthens the inaccurate stereotypes in an effort to justify your decision not to help."
I believe that is what happens an awful lot when it comes to the very poor among us and our decisions to "walk by on the other side of road." .
What do you think?
_______________________________
BTW--I've had amazing meetings this week with church leaders about building cottages in our PUSH 50 project at Malcolm X Boulevard and I-30!
So encouraging!
More later.
Monday, July 30, 2012
Poverty--understanding scale
The following appeared in Blacklisted News. Lots to think about here!
100 Million Poor People In America And 39 Other Facts About Poverty That Will Blow Your Mind
July 25, 2012
100 Million Poor People In America And 39 Other Facts About Poverty That Will Blow Your Mind
July 25, 2012
Every single day more Americans fall into poverty. This should deeply alarm you no matter what political party you belong to and no matter what your personal economic philosophy is. Right now, approximately 100 million Americans are either “poor” or “near poor.” For a lot of people “poverty” can be a nebulous concept, so let’s define it.
The poverty level as defined by the federal government in 2010 was $11,139 for an individual and $22,314 for a family of four. Could you take care of a family of four on less than $2000 a month? Millions upon millions of families are experiencing a tremendous amount of pain in this economy, and no matter what “solutions” we think are correct, the reality is that we all should have compassion on them. Sadly, things are about to get even worse. . . .
The following are 40 facts about poverty in America that will blow your mind….
#1 In the United States today, somewhere around 100 million Americans are considered to be either “poor” or “near poor”.
#2 It is being projected that when the final numbers come out later this year that the U.S. poverty rate will be the highest that it has been in almost 50 years.
#3 Approximately 57 percent of all children in the United States are living in homes that are either considered to be either “low income” or impoverished.
#4 Today, one out of every four workers in the United States brings home wages that are at or below the poverty level.
#5 According to the Wall Street Journal, 49.1 percent of all Americans live in a home where at least one person receives financial benefits from the government. Back in 1983, that number was below 30 percent.
#6 It is projected that about half of all American adults will spend at least some time living below the poverty line before they turn 65.
#7 Today, there are approximately 20.2 million Americans that spend more than half of their incomes on housing. That represents a 46 percent increase from 2001.
#8 During 2010, 2.6 million more Americans fell into poverty. That was the largest increase that we have seen since the U.S. government began keeping statistics on this back in 1959.
#9 According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the percentage of “very poor” rose in 300 out of the 360 largest metropolitan areas during 2010.
#10 Since Barack Obama became president, the number of Americans living in poverty has risen by 6 million and the number of Americans on food stamps has risen by 14 million.
#11 Right now, one out of every seven Americans is on food stamps and one out of every four American children is on food stamps.
#12 It is projected that half of all American children will be on food stamps at least once before they turn 18 years of age.
#13 The poverty rate for children living in the United States is 22 percent, although when the new numbers are released in the fall that number is expected to go even higher.
#14 One university study estimates that child poverty costs the U.S. economy 500 billion dollars a year.
#15 Households that are led by a single mother have a 31.6% poverty rate.
Continue reading here.
The poverty level as defined by the federal government in 2010 was $11,139 for an individual and $22,314 for a family of four. Could you take care of a family of four on less than $2000 a month? Millions upon millions of families are experiencing a tremendous amount of pain in this economy, and no matter what “solutions” we think are correct, the reality is that we all should have compassion on them. Sadly, things are about to get even worse. . . .
The following are 40 facts about poverty in America that will blow your mind….
#1 In the United States today, somewhere around 100 million Americans are considered to be either “poor” or “near poor”.
#2 It is being projected that when the final numbers come out later this year that the U.S. poverty rate will be the highest that it has been in almost 50 years.
#3 Approximately 57 percent of all children in the United States are living in homes that are either considered to be either “low income” or impoverished.
#4 Today, one out of every four workers in the United States brings home wages that are at or below the poverty level.
#5 According to the Wall Street Journal, 49.1 percent of all Americans live in a home where at least one person receives financial benefits from the government. Back in 1983, that number was below 30 percent.
#6 It is projected that about half of all American adults will spend at least some time living below the poverty line before they turn 65.
#7 Today, there are approximately 20.2 million Americans that spend more than half of their incomes on housing. That represents a 46 percent increase from 2001.
#8 During 2010, 2.6 million more Americans fell into poverty. That was the largest increase that we have seen since the U.S. government began keeping statistics on this back in 1959.
#9 According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the percentage of “very poor” rose in 300 out of the 360 largest metropolitan areas during 2010.
#10 Since Barack Obama became president, the number of Americans living in poverty has risen by 6 million and the number of Americans on food stamps has risen by 14 million.
#11 Right now, one out of every seven Americans is on food stamps and one out of every four American children is on food stamps.
#12 It is projected that half of all American children will be on food stamps at least once before they turn 18 years of age.
#13 The poverty rate for children living in the United States is 22 percent, although when the new numbers are released in the fall that number is expected to go even higher.
#14 One university study estimates that child poverty costs the U.S. economy 500 billion dollars a year.
#15 Households that are led by a single mother have a 31.6% poverty rate.
Continue reading here.
Saturday, July 07, 2012
RIP, Andy
I grew up on Andy Griffith right in the middle of Mayberry, USA. My hometown was so much like Mayberry that I've always believed that sleepy little place reflected much of what our community building work in the inner city aimed to achieve, but with a lot more cultural and ethnic diversity.
So, I post my favorite episode of The Andy Griffith Show in memory of Andy who passed away earlier
this week.
this week.
Monday, July 02, 2012
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
We are all the same. . . (reprise)
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The Same Inside Walking to your place for a love feast
I saw at a street corner
an old beggar woman.
I took her hand,
kissed her delicate cheek,
we talked, she was
the same inside as I am,
from the same kind,
I sensed this instantly
as a dog knows by scent
another dog.
I gave her money.
I could not part from her.
After all, one needs
someone who is close.
And then I no longer knew
why I was walking to your place.
Source: The Same Inside
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Making change safe. . .
Space for Change to Take Place
Henri Nouwen
Hospitality means primarily the creation of a free space where the stranger can enter and become a friend instead of an enemy. Hospitality is not to change people, but to offer them space where change can take place. It is not to bring men and women over to our side, but to offer freedom not disturbed by dividing lines. It is not to lead our neighbor into a corner where there are no alternatives left, but to open a wide spectrum of options for choice and commitment.
Henri Nouwen
Hospitality means primarily the creation of a free space where the stranger can enter and become a friend instead of an enemy. Hospitality is not to change people, but to offer them space where change can take place. It is not to bring men and women over to our side, but to offer freedom not disturbed by dividing lines. It is not to lead our neighbor into a corner where there are no alternatives left, but to open a wide spectrum of options for choice and commitment.
Source: Reaching Out
Friday, January 13, 2012
A prayer. . .
Oh, God, when I have food,
help me to remember the hungry;
When I have work, help me to remember the jobless;
When I have a warm home,
help me to remember the homeless;
When I am without pain,
help me to remember whose who suffer;
And, remembering, help me
to destroy my complacency
and bestir my compassion.
Make me concerned enough
to help, by word and deed,
those who cry out.
(Printed on a card from Salesian Missions, New Rochelle, NY.)
for what we take for granted.
help me to remember the hungry;
When I have work, help me to remember the jobless;
When I have a warm home,
help me to remember the homeless;
When I am without pain,
help me to remember whose who suffer;
And, remembering, help me
to destroy my complacency
and bestir my compassion.
Make me concerned enough
to help, by word and deed,
those who cry out.
(Printed on a card from Salesian Missions, New Rochelle, NY.)
for what we take for granted.
Thursday, January 05, 2012
2012 image provoking reflection
Reflections on Poverty: A Photograph of a Desolate Man in Casablanca
Posted on December 27, 2011
By The Activists Photography Collective
Outside of the medina in central Casablanca, Morocco, a man rested shamefully with his back turned to the public whilst shoppers went about their daily duties, bags in hand, ignoring this man’s existence. His face was hidden, but it wouldn’t have mattered even if it wasn’t: globally, we have become so desensitized to the suffering of our fellow human beings that we walk past those perched on street corners, laying in the gutters, begging for money, or bundled up during fridgid weather without giving them a second thought. If they do something that catches our attention in any particular way, annoyed looks or words of disdain are usually cast in their direction. They are just like you and I and deserve to be treated as such, regardless of the amount of money in their bank account, the clothes on their back, or whether or not they have roofs over their heads. From Casablanca to Kalamazoo and everywhere in between, the revolution of compassion must start today. Be a revolutionary by honouring human dignity.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
You can help TODAY!
CitySquare needs your help before January 1!
You can help TODAY!
Take a look here to find out how you can make a huge difference!
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Injured, broke, and trying to work. . .
His jeans were torn, his clothing filthy, his facial expressions bespoke his fear and embarrassment.
"I live down the street in the blue apartments," he began. He told me his name and then began telling me his story.
He needed to earn a few dollars to purchase his anti-seizure medication. Just out of the hospital after a series of episodes, he needed a job.
When I reached for my wallet, he stepped back.
"No, don't do that," he scolded me. "I don't want a handout, I want a job. May I clean your windows or rake your lawn?" he suggested.
As we negotiated the job options, he showed me the gunshot wound that marked the back of his head. He pushed back his drooping right eyelid to reveal the absence of a normal eye. He told me an incident of random gunfire had devastated him and his life.
"The bullet came out my eye," he informed me. "The brain injury changed me."
He then began to cry.
He told me his meager disability benefits don't near cover his cost of living. He wept when he told me that he used our food pantry at CitySquare so he could eat.
He told me about his church.
He told me about his career before being shot.
He hugged me.
He went to work on the leaves in my yard, and I paid him well so that he could get his meds.
My neighbor should be doing better. Make no mistake about it: he's trying very hard. He's doing all he can do.
I'll try to help him, to stay in touch.
But the scale of problems like his are overwhelming. With so many in dire need, we need economies of scale provided by collective, national solutions.
In Monday's newspaper I read about more cuts in our privatized mental health services for the poor and disabled in Texas. As the report noted, Texas has made it to the bottom of the national ranking for these services.
Think about it.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Thanksgiving 2011: Widening wealth/poverty gap
Challenging thoughts for Thanksgiving. . .I posted this same material last year. . .things are now worse. . .
Poverty and Thanksgiving: A Call to Close the Rich-Poor Gap
Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. It calls forth the essential spiritual value of gratitude. I have precious memories of feasts shared with family and with good friends at congregational dinners. I eagerly anticipate this year's gathering.
Imagine inviting family and friends over for Thanksgiving dinner and feeding some of them a lavish feast and some of them scraps and leftovers. While some are served an overabundance of delicious food, others receive tiny portions of unappetizing leavings. Horrible thought!
Two apparently unrelated headlines caught my eye a few weeks ago as I surfed my usual news sites. I can't get them out of my mind. The first is a truly major development: The percentage of people living in poverty in the United States is the highest in half a century. One out of seven Americans lives in poverty.
The second headline was a mere tidbit in the business news. It said something to the effect that companies that make things no one really needs have done very well in this recession. Though apparently unrelated, the two items are, of course, intimately connected. The poor are getting poorer and their numbers are increasing while the rich are doing very well. They continue to buy high tech gadgets and luxury items.
These news items should have been a major religious story. At one level, the growing gap between rich and poor is an economic and political issue. But it is also a moral and, ultimately, a religious issue. There is a temptation to see economic relationships as the result of uncontrollable forces. As a matter of fact, allowing this widening gap between rich and poor is a choice -- a moral choice. And it is a moral choice with enormous spiritual consequences.
All of the great religious traditions teach us that we are connected to one another. Every human being is my brother or sister. Every faith teaches compassion, that those who love God express that by loving others. Every faith also teaches us that we become fully human in community.
Economic inequality pollutes human relationships the way smog pollutes our lungs. Just look at life where the gaps between rich and poor are greatest -- Latin America and Africa. And look back to when the gap was greatest in American history. These were times of slavery and robber barons.
I know from my years in parish ministry the financial strains that beset families. I have seen a member lose her home because of predatory lending practices and witnessed the devastation of a sudden illness. The Centers for Disease Control reports that in 2009 59.1 million Americans had no health insurance, and we know that catastrophic health expenses can plunge families into poverty. Why is it that the United States is the only country in the developed world without universal health insurance for its citizens? And why here, in the richest country in the world, did more than 1 million children go hungry in 2008, according to the Dept. of Agriculture? These are more than political issues; these are spiritual issues as well.
Inequality breeds fear, bitterness, suspicion, crime and violence. It eats away at the dignity and self esteem of the poor while it hardens the hearts of the rich. Inequality numbs our spirits. Ultimately it dehumanizes us. Ironically, social psychology shows us that our grandmothers were right: The rich are not happier.
The answer is not some romantic neo-Marxist notion of a perfect equality. But neither is it the uncontrolled and rapacious avarice that sacrifices people to profit margins and outrageous consumption.
The growing gap between rich and poor harms us all. We can choose a better way. Let us share the bounty of the earth. There is enough for everyone at the Thanksgiving table.
[To read the original from The Huffington Post, click here.]
Poverty and Thanksgiving: A Call to Close the Rich-Poor Gap
Imagine inviting family and friends over for Thanksgiving dinner and feeding some of them a lavish feast and some of them scraps and leftovers. While some are served an overabundance of delicious food, others receive tiny portions of unappetizing leavings. Horrible thought!
Two apparently unrelated headlines caught my eye a few weeks ago as I surfed my usual news sites. I can't get them out of my mind. The first is a truly major development: The percentage of people living in poverty in the United States is the highest in half a century. One out of seven Americans lives in poverty.
The second headline was a mere tidbit in the business news. It said something to the effect that companies that make things no one really needs have done very well in this recession. Though apparently unrelated, the two items are, of course, intimately connected. The poor are getting poorer and their numbers are increasing while the rich are doing very well. They continue to buy high tech gadgets and luxury items.
These news items should have been a major religious story. At one level, the growing gap between rich and poor is an economic and political issue. But it is also a moral and, ultimately, a religious issue. There is a temptation to see economic relationships as the result of uncontrollable forces. As a matter of fact, allowing this widening gap between rich and poor is a choice -- a moral choice. And it is a moral choice with enormous spiritual consequences.
Economic inequality pollutes human relationships the way smog pollutes our lungs. Just look at life where the gaps between rich and poor are greatest -- Latin America and Africa. And look back to when the gap was greatest in American history. These were times of slavery and robber barons.
I know from my years in parish ministry the financial strains that beset families. I have seen a member lose her home because of predatory lending practices and witnessed the devastation of a sudden illness. The Centers for Disease Control reports that in 2009 59.1 million Americans had no health insurance, and we know that catastrophic health expenses can plunge families into poverty. Why is it that the United States is the only country in the developed world without universal health insurance for its citizens? And why here, in the richest country in the world, did more than 1 million children go hungry in 2008, according to the Dept. of Agriculture? These are more than political issues; these are spiritual issues as well.
Inequality breeds fear, bitterness, suspicion, crime and violence. It eats away at the dignity and self esteem of the poor while it hardens the hearts of the rich. Inequality numbs our spirits. Ultimately it dehumanizes us. Ironically, social psychology shows us that our grandmothers were right: The rich are not happier.
The growing gap between rich and poor harms us all. We can choose a better way. Let us share the bounty of the earth. There is enough for everyone at the Thanksgiving table.
[To read the original from The Huffington Post, click here.]
Friday, November 25, 2011
Shopping carts. . .
[What follows provides very instructive insight into the world of deep poverty organized around an all too common sight in urban America today.]
On Shopping Carts, Thanksgiving, and Homelessness
Unless you own a turkey farm, chances are that the bird in your oven took a spin in a shopping cart. Most of us don’t think twice about using a shopping cart (except when it has a squeaky wheel).
On the streets, a shopping cart is called a “buggy.” When I was homeless, I avoided “pushing a buggy” as long as I could. When that day finally came – when I had to get something from point A to Point B and had no other option but to use a shopping cart – I could no longer be in denial about my situation. I was homeless. As you can imagine, accepting that reality was devastating.
To read entire essay click here.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Great deals at CitySquare Thrift!
Just in. . .
A major retailer has donated new toys, bikes, house wares, Prestone anti-freeze(!), linens, boys PJ's, and many, many more items to our CitySquare Thrift Store.
Of course, it is all marked far below retail prices.
For Christmas, or anytime, there could not be a better time to save money on gifts and items you will need.
Visit us today!
Spread the word among your friends and family in or near Dallas, Texas!
CitySquare Thrift Store
1213 N Washington at Live Oak, 75204
Mon - Fri 9-6. Sat 10-3
214.887.8800
Dale Adams, Manager
A major retailer has donated new toys, bikes, house wares, Prestone anti-freeze(!), linens, boys PJ's, and many, many more items to our CitySquare Thrift Store.
Of course, it is all marked far below retail prices.
For Christmas, or anytime, there could not be a better time to save money on gifts and items you will need.
Visit us today!
Spread the word among your friends and family in or near Dallas, Texas!
CitySquare Thrift Store
1213 N Washington at Live Oak, 75204
Mon - Fri 9-6. Sat 10-3
214.887.8800
Dale Adams, Manager
Friday, September 30, 2011
Junior League and poverty
The Junior League of Dallas has been a partner of ours for many years. Recently, the organization has stepped up to the pressing challenges created by poverty. The League's new focus on strategic impact encourages us. The video here is the result of the group's latest research efforts.
Junior League of Dallas - Poverty from Elixir Entertainment on Vimeo.
Junior League of Dallas - Poverty from Elixir Entertainment on Vimeo.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Wednesday, May 04, 2011
"Just" good
Over the years we've been asked often about "how we do ministry" here at CitySquare. Most of the time those who've asked this question have wondered how or if we "share the gospel" in our work or if we've done so as a condition of our willingness to help those who come to us seeking assistance. We've attempted to be clear and kind in our answers. The fact is, we discover deep, resilient faith in the hearts and lives of some of the poorest people in Dallas. In other words, most of the time we receive more theological insight from "the poor" than we offer back.
We do our work because of our faith. The values of our faith provide us motive. On a day-to-day basis, we operate like St. Francis, who, it is claimed, once said, "Preach the gospel at all times. Use words only when necessary."
In this light, I love what follows.
From Tony Campolo's blog, Red Letter Christians:
Good for Goodness Sake. . .Not Conversions
by Tony Campolo Thursday, April 28th, 2011
We should do good for goodness sake, not to achieve some other goal. A good act is good in and of itself. There are some people who believe that the only reason we should do good to others like providing the poor and oppressed with food and medicine, etc., is in order that we might win them to Jesus.
In other words, the good is simply a hook that we use to catch them and drag them in. I believe that when good is done with such motives, the good loses its spiritual dimension. Good is not good because of a pressured conversion or awkward Gospel message. Good is good for its own sake.
Jesus said, in the Sermon on the Mount, “When you do good (i.e., alms), make sure that you do it in secret. Make sure that your left hand doesn’t know what your right hand is doing.” When you read that in the Sermon on the Mount, you have to ask yourself, “How can I reconcile those red letters in the Bible with doing good with an ulterior motive such as getting people to be willing to listen to my rip on the Gospel which should be done in secret?”
I told a youth group once that when they delivered their Christmas baskets, they should knock on the door, wait for the people to answer, present them with the food, and then sing some Christmas carols. I asked these young people, “Do you really feel that the recipient is going to fall over, converted to Christ because of your generosity? In all likelihood, they will feel embarrassed that they are in an impoverished state and have to depend on the gifts you are giving.” When these young people asked me what should be done, my response was simple. Sneak the presents and food onto the back porch and go away, call the people on the telephone and say, “There’s stuff on your back steps. Go and get that stuff. It’s for you. This is God!” Then hang up.
The Bible says that the God who sees what you do in secret will reward you openly. It couldn’t be clearer from the Sermon on the Mount that the good that we do should never be for manipulating people into believing our doctrines.
We do our work because of our faith. The values of our faith provide us motive. On a day-to-day basis, we operate like St. Francis, who, it is claimed, once said, "Preach the gospel at all times. Use words only when necessary."
In this light, I love what follows.
From Tony Campolo's blog, Red Letter Christians:
by Tony Campolo Thursday, April 28th, 2011
We should do good for goodness sake, not to achieve some other goal. A good act is good in and of itself. There are some people who believe that the only reason we should do good to others like providing the poor and oppressed with food and medicine, etc., is in order that we might win them to Jesus.
In other words, the good is simply a hook that we use to catch them and drag them in. I believe that when good is done with such motives, the good loses its spiritual dimension. Good is not good because of a pressured conversion or awkward Gospel message. Good is good for its own sake.
Jesus said, in the Sermon on the Mount, “When you do good (i.e., alms), make sure that you do it in secret. Make sure that your left hand doesn’t know what your right hand is doing.” When you read that in the Sermon on the Mount, you have to ask yourself, “How can I reconcile those red letters in the Bible with doing good with an ulterior motive such as getting people to be willing to listen to my rip on the Gospel which should be done in secret?”
I told a youth group once that when they delivered their Christmas baskets, they should knock on the door, wait for the people to answer, present them with the food, and then sing some Christmas carols. I asked these young people, “Do you really feel that the recipient is going to fall over, converted to Christ because of your generosity? In all likelihood, they will feel embarrassed that they are in an impoverished state and have to depend on the gifts you are giving.” When these young people asked me what should be done, my response was simple. Sneak the presents and food onto the back porch and go away, call the people on the telephone and say, “There’s stuff on your back steps. Go and get that stuff. It’s for you. This is God!” Then hang up.
The Bible says that the God who sees what you do in secret will reward you openly. It couldn’t be clearer from the Sermon on the Mount that the good that we do should never be for manipulating people into believing our doctrines.
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