The other night I had the privilege of handing out food snacks and water that some friends and I collected for the homeless on the streets of Los Angeles. We went downtown to Skid Row area (also known as the Mission District), famous for the number of people living out on the streets. They all have a different story, and you might be surprised to actually stop and listen. The items in my truck were all kindly donated from individuals at the hair care company Paul Mitchell (from the Santa Clarita corporate headquarters, the Beverly Hills office, as well as water bottles from Paul Mitchell The School in Fresno). Many more food items not pictured were faithfully donated from the members of Copperhill Church, and all of it was exciting to receive and give out. It felt great to see so many big smiles when we pulled up and started giving out what we brought; but it was also sad to see the condition these people are in.
I can point out plenty of different reasons how someone ended up living on the streets, and I can easily think of reasons why I wouldn’t take the time to go down there and help out in some small way, but it’s often a bunch of excuses I have when I really think about it. Because if I’m sitting here on my couch judging how that homeless lady or man ended up stuck on the streets after the choices they made in their past (which is a stereotype in itself and often not so simple as you expect), and I refuse to go in and help, doesn’t that say I’m just better than them? I’m too important to do something that low? As a Christian… so much for Jesus’ words, “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink…” 
Something that I found really amusing and so true because of the irony was what Francis Chan said one week at Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley. He was talking about the responses we have when we hear about needs of the poor, and saying that some people are waiting for this call from God that they should go care for the needy. And you have to ask those people (including myself), did God call you to watch TV today? Then… what were you doing? In other words, it’s silly that we think some Christians have this special light from Heaven come down and pick them to go serve. To actually do what Jesus said. And the other Christians don’t have to because they didn’t get this calling from God. What are we thinking? And I’ll let this be a challenge to myself for the countless times I ignore the poor, saying I don’t have time (more accurately: I don’t make time. It’s all in my priorities). Yeah, putting it in writing brings out the truth of how weak that argument is. I don’t know about you but that’s convicting. Now I didn’t say “Go move to another country,” or “Sell your house tomorrow,” although that might be what some should seriously do. And neither would I tell you to go do this specific activity in this specific location; just look around you. Secondly, I’m addressing those who wear the name “Christian,” because I wouldn’t expect others to care for the poor when they don’t have a real reason to do it. Actually quite the opposite with Darwin’s concept of natural selection, from Herbert Spencer’s “survival of the fittest,” and the whole idea of human life coming about by chance, therefore why waste time and effort trying to prevent the natural dying out of those who are weak? A very sad and prideful way of thinking. Instead, I’m talking about the basic Christian response to what Jesus constantly talked about and lived out in regards to the hurting and needy people around him.
(based on: Matthew 25:31-46)
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Very nice blog. I totally agree with your thoughts.
Thanks for good post
Great blog post. I really enjoyed reading it. I hope you dont mind me mentioning your article in my blog. I am writing about my experience helping a soup kitchen pass out food to needy families in Portland Maine.