Charity

Someone in a private Facebook group said this :
"Bribing people to accept one's book for food, shelter, substance abuse assistance I take a HUGE issue with. Do your charity without an ulterior motive."

I keep saying that. If the person truly believes in Jesus, Jesus never put conditions on His love. He said love on another. He also said leave the judging to God. So why is it that I decide to give someone a couple dollars to help, I get silly comments?.  I am told, "Oh don't give them money, they will use it for booze". I have answered that before.  I said, "I'd use it for booze too if I was cold, homeless and hungry. And besides that, I gave it to them, it is now theirs and they do what the want with it. Not up to me, I don't judge people. If I can help I will."

I am basically Christian, but I have seen Christians walk around a homeless person like they were contagious. All the while going into a restaurant for breakfast after Church. Sometimes it makes me hesitate to tell people I am Christian.  

My husband and I had gone to church, and after that, we went with a group from church, to breakfast.  We all waited outside the restaurant, for a spot to open.  As we were being called in a man approached us slowly and shyly.  He asked if we had some spare change, I asked the person to wait so I could get change. The others in the group just walked around him trying not to look, but also not going anywhere near him, as they went inside. It hurt to see that they really didn't learn anything by going to church. My husband stayed with me, and we caught up with them inside. And again, there was the question, "why do you give them money? they will spend it on booze, if you want to give, give them food." I was so upset, more disillusioned, and disappointed that people whom I thought had learned compassion, love and understanding, seemed not to know how to apply that in real life.

I have not read the Bible lately, but I read a lot of it when I was little, and some when I was an adult.  I know for sure that Jesus taught us to love without conditions, or exclusions.  Which leads me to something that really feels wrong.  He never told us to love only people that have our beliefs, or only people our color, or only people of a gender we approve of.  No, He said, "love one another as I have loved you."  And if you wish to disagree with Jesus, I respect your views, but..  most religions or faiths in this world teach love, compassion and understanding.  Most religions tell us to treat others as we like to be treated.  It is that simple.

I want to address the part that I just said feels really wrong.  Where do people get off telling gays, lesbians, transgenders and others (would be a long list), that they are not accepted by whatever church?  Some churches do accept, but many don't.  They keep twisting the words in the Bible until they fit their needs.  Many will argue with me that it is not natural.  I say to you all, "God doesn't make mistakes!".  No human has been an accident or a mistake, we are all God's children!  He made us all, and rejecting some people because they are different, saying God doesn't love them, it is totally unacceptable.  Because you are telling God Himself that he made a "mistake".  That is offensive to the God you all keep saying you love and respect.  

So please, we should all just get along at least.  We don't have to be all the same, because then we would not learn anything in this life.  It is our differences that make us beautiful.

If you truly want to help others, then help them.  Don't put conditions to your generosity.  Don't judge people by their appearances, you don't know what they have been through.  Don't worry about what they will do with what you give them, just give.  Don't just preach about love, generosity and compassion, unless you are willing to walk the walk.  Don't tell others what they should do, you do your thing and let others do theirs.  (unless they are putting someone in danger, obviously)