Comments on: Give beer to beggars!

By: Halden

Halden — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 17:35:28 +0000

Why do people only seem to take my posts labeled “humor” with excessive seriousness?

By: Brad A.

Brad A. — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 17:33:58 +0000

And I’m willing to bet that there is a wide variance of opinion among those with “more than a passing relationship with the people on the streets.”

By: The Charismanglican

The Charismanglican — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 17:09:23 +0000

The point of the post seems to be more about poking fun of the hypocrisy of certain biblical hermeneutics then a prescription for dealing with poverty and substance abuse.

By: Michael Harris

Michael Harris — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:52:36 +0000

How far do we take this? In my neighborhood in inner-city Chicago (where I am involved in the Christian community Jesus People USA, which runs a large shelter for women and children) I have neighbors who live directly across the street from me who are schizophrenic and frequently beg money to buy crack from one of the numerous local crack dealers. Do I then give them money so that they can “forget their troubles?”
I think your answers might change a bit if you had more than a passing relationship with the people on the streets.

By: Steven Kippel

Steven Kippel — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:48:05 +0000

But if you hire someone, and they work for you, that’s capitalism at work and said gentleman/lady can then spend the money on booze at will.

By: chris

chris — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 18:31:44 +0000

I’ve always been bothered by these arguments against random acts of kindness as well. Doing nothing has never sounded so responsible! I’ve always countered this argument with, “So is it suddenly your business what this stranger does with your money? You don’t even know their name! Why not stop and talk to them, offer to walk somewhere and buy them food. Make a friend.”

By: Marvin

Marvin — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:39:00 +0000

I prefer to self-medicate with wine rather than taking anti-depressants. Alas, wine is not a good substitute for anti-psychotics, the latter being what a lot of homeless people need, but can’t get, the former being more readily available. Which is why many are homeless to begin with.

By: Thomas J Bridges

Thomas J Bridges — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 19:58:14 +0000

This is awesome.

By: david

david — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 09:04:31 +0000

Good post! I’d never noticed that proverb before. I remember reading an anecdote once about how CS Lewis was walking through town one day with a friend and saw a beggar, so he gave him some money. When the friend he was with suggested that this might not have been such a good idea, because the man will probably only spend it on beer, Lewis replied, ‘So would I.’

By: Colin

Colin — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 07:06:17 +0000

I actually did this once.

There was a dude in my university town hanging around outside a convenience store with a sign indication hunger, poorness, veteran status, god bless, etc. I figured, “What the hell?” and asked him what he was trying to buy to eat.

He said, “You know what, all I want is a beer.” And I thought, “Same here, I’m going to go home and drink one after I buy one for this guy.”

As per his request, I purchased a tallboy of Mickey’s and added two healthy bags of trail mix for the road. As I delivered them to him, I learned he was a couch surfer, his name was Richard but everyone calls him “Catman” and noticed that he had about four teeth, including his canines.

I’m guessing he liked the beer but had trouble with the trail mix.

By: Bobby Grow

Bobby Grow — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 03:10:46 +0000

of course prov says other things about alchol and drunkardness as well

I was under the impression that alcohol in this era was used medicinally for lack of other more controlled things. medicine to quench the pain of the dying (like Jesus on the cross, but He refused).

But yeah, the logic of not giving beggars money because their afraid they’ll drink is stupid.

By: Liesl

Liesl — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:55:59 +0000

I think roger is wise. I think it’s important to give to beggars because it makes me uncomfortable. Giving to a charity is good too, but it doesn’t make me uncomfortable. Being uncomfortable is good. If my discomfort can bring comfort to another, even better.

Perhaps the most damaging part of the “he’ll buy alcohol” reasoning is the underlying suggestion that that’s why he’s there in the first place. And it’s comforting for me to think that avoiding such dirty habits has separated my fate from that guy’s.

By: roger flyer

roger flyer — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 23:50:14 +0000

I say. Beer for the beggar, steak for the son.

By: Nathan

Nathan — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 21:23:30 +0000

Of course God is being sarcastic. There’s no other way to explain this verse without challenging my assumptions, therefore I say it’s sarcasm.