Curious Christian

Reflections on culture, nature, and spirituality from a Christian perspective

Street Beggars

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Matt Stone

2007-05-08

Internet Monk has some sagely advise on the question of: “Should I give money to people on the street who ask for it?”

I must admit this question has been bugging me for the last few weeks, as in my new job I am continually being approached daily on my way to the train station by beggars who strike me as very much of the more “professional” type. I have consequently been passing them by, but have been left with these lingering feelings of guilt for having done so. I think I should apply some of these tests to gain some clarity one way or another. Do others struggle with this?

Tags Money

8 responses to “Street Beggars”

Carlos

2007-05-08

I do at times, the Apostle Paul says
Romans 14:22
“Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves”
Granted he was talking about Jewish customs, however there is a truth in this statement. If we codemn the things we approve, then we are in conflict. If you are in conflict, I say divide your money in smaller amounts and give.

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Matt Stone

2007-05-08

I wont’ go into the full context but I suspect they are begging for drug money and alcohol, so I see this more of an all or nothing thing.

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Nathan Hale

2007-05-08

Growing up in the Third World, I was often confronted with a similar struggle. No, you don’t want to give to people that will just throw your money into worsening their lives, but then you can’t stand stand by and do nothing to help. It’s then you must evaluate what would REALLY help them, and trust the Spirit’s leading in each individual case.

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Chris S

2007-05-09

I usually give, my wife always gives and I’m trying to be more like her. As far as I know no one has become a millionaire by begging for money. Even if they are using it for drugs or alcohol I’m not sure that is more morally reprehensible than half the crap I spend my money on? I try to ask myself if there was $10 on the street who should get it? Me who is not in need and will spend it on luxuries, or the person who is need but I suspect might spend it on luxuries. I can’t help but feel I should give every time.

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Eric

2007-05-12

A few years ago when I worked in the city I was sometimes asked for money. I would ask what they wanted money for. Often they say they want to catch the bus.
For this reason, I got into the habit of “tithing” my tickets. In Adelaide you buy one ticket which lets you ride the bus/train/tram ten times. I try to keep a few tickets with one trip left on them, which I can give to anyone who asks.
If they said they needed food, I could sometimes offer them a muesli bar or two (if I was on the way to work. if I was going home I would usually have eaten it).
I’ve sometimes directed people to the various places in the city which provide meals, noting that these are funded by churches like mine which in turn are funded my people like myself.
I’ve thought of asking Subway in the city if I can give them $50, and I can give people vouchers and tell them they can put it on my tab.
Aren’t there begging laws in NSW?

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Kalessin

2007-05-15

I see four main issues in the Sydney CBD.
a) Drug addiction. People who aren’t impressed with you offering to buy them food, rail tickets, etc (whatever they asked for) presumably fall into this category.
b) Begging cartels. A group of beggars in the area of Town Hall and the QVB all use a very similar mode of operation: a small cardboard square written in black texta advertises their situation; they always sit on the ground looking straight down, never making eye contact as if to discourage interaction; a disproportionately high number of them carry Bibles relative to the general population. They give the impression of all following the same plan.
We’re not at the level of parts of Asia where the begging is run by gangs and people in genuine need are run out of town for infringing on their turf, but the sense of organisation is disturbing.
c) Self-respect. The best charity helps people to help themselves, which does more good in the long term than receiving handouts. But I get the impression that for some, choosing to live on the street is their way of refusing charity, and in itself forms part of their self-respect.
d) Mental illness. This is an area I don’t know about at all; it certainly seems relevant for some cases; but there are many possible causes. I would expect that some grows out of (c), above.
I’m hopefully catching up with some people from HopeStreet[1] this week, who are likely to know a lot more about this than I do. I’ll pass on any insights…
[1] http://hopestreet.org.au
It would be good to work out what actually helps and what doesn’t, especially with winter approaching.

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Matt Stone

2007-05-15

Kalessin, I would be interested in the perspective of Hope Street on this, they probably know our turf better than anyone. For reference the station in question is connected with Sydney Uni. I choose not to spell it out because I don’t want to trigger stereotyping and counter stereotyping. I trust you can work out the rest of the story for yourself. We have noted however that some regulars rotate stories. Some don’t even bother with stories. You might say it makes me and others very suspicious.
I refuse to support a drug or alcohol habit and do not believe that it would help anyone, the victims included, for me to support them in their habit. The larger concern that comes up for me is mental illness, are any of them mentally ill? With the levels of welfare in Australia no one need beg unless there are contributing factors, such as drugs, alcohol or mental illness. Mental illness is the one problem, alone of these, that is not ultimately a choice of the person in question.
If people think I am unsympathetic of drug users, think again. I do not turn them away. I just do not give them hard cash.

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Agent X

2016-04-15

Luke 1:53;6:30
Mark 10:21
I really could go on.
Giving is not wrong. There can be better ways of sharing Jesus with the poor, but giving is always a good thing and usually a good start.
Agent X
Fat Beggars School of Prophets
Lubbock, Texas (USA)

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