Begging the Question

Q. What should one do when a stranger begs for money? Scripture, it seems, commands us to be openhanded to the poor and needy, but a large percentage of homeless people who beg have substance-abuse problems and need to find more responsible ways of earning income.

—Ethan Pien, Honolulu, Hawaii

A. Social service agencies in many cities have concluded that handouts to the homeless do more harm than good. This isn't a new problem; early Christians found that when news of their communal generosity spread, they had to contend with leeches who would take advantage, and in effect steal from other poor. So believers began giving their donations to a common church fund, rather than directly to the needy. (This collection happened during Sunday worship and included gifts of animals, which must have made things pretty lively. Imagine everyone filing forward after the hymn to hand the pastor a live chicken). Pastors and deacons would then use their best judgment about how to distribute the proceeds. "Let your alms sweat in your hands until you know to whom to give it," reads one early text.

Today there are many specialized agencies that can receive our donations and spend them wisely. When we pass homeless people, we can give them gift certificates to McDonald's or vouchers for free meals at a soup kitchen. Or have your kids put together lunch bags with imperishable foods, like peanut butter crackers and a juice box, and keep them in the car to hand out at stoplights. You might include a tract with your church's worship times, too.

Jesus told us that when we do something for the "least of these" we are doing it for him as well. While this doesn't mean we should thoughtlessly give cash to someone whose next stop will likely be the corner liquor store, one should remain sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leadership in these matters.

Frederica Mathewes-Green is the author of The Illumined Heart (Paraclete).

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