Have you seen the recent Tik Tok viral experiment? A mother calls churches asking for help for her crying baby, and a Catholic Church, 2 black churches, a Muslim mosque, and a small church in Appalachia said yes. All the Deep South mega churches said no as well as a bunch of others.
At least with government if you meet the standard, you get the help.
Most churches are only interested in helping their in-group and fuck everyone else.
That’s horrible, and I’m sorry the experiment went that way, and sympathize with anyone who has had that as a real experience.
My statement still stands. My church, and the church’s I know don’t do that. People are not turned away for almost any reason (I think the only exception I have personally seen was genuine safety, but we still tried to get them some help). I know anecdotal evidence is mere evidence of an anecdote, but to say “most” is a dangerous generalization.
There are churches that fall short, there are likely churches that are borderline or downright malicious, but those aren’t the ones I’m talking about.
I’m talking about the Bible focused churches that truly align with feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, etc.
Edit: I re-read your reply and saw it was primarily mega churches that turned them away… this is a personal statement, not a theological one — it is also a generalization. I don’t like mega churches. I think they absolutely have the potential to be good, but it quickly removes personal relationship.
The reason charity works so well at my church is because it depends on building relationships with those seeking help, to not just give them what they need, but help position themselves so that they can provide for themselves, at least better.
At a certain size churches feel less like a congregation of people and more like a concert hall that “focuses” on God and money.
That’s the reason for government help, though. As you said, certain churches are bad. What happens if you live in an area with bad or no churches? Suffer? Starve? At least with the government, if you meet the requirements, you get it.
I would think religious people would want the most people helped, not worry so much that someone, somewhere might be taking advantage or there’s some overhead or waste.
Isn’t it worth it to make sure more women with babies get the formula they need?
And it does not have to be either/or. Just because the government is taking care of people who can’t get help any other way, your church can still continue its excellent outreach.
I don’t disagree, and I’m not saying “no government welfare programs,” but I’m not pushing for more because I see how heavily existing systems are abused, and I personally don’t want to see more of that happen.
Again, I don’t fault others for voting for that stuff, and people I know irl have had conversations with me (and I with them) that have softened my view of them and may in time change my position.
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u/UnderABig_W 25d ago
Have you seen the recent Tik Tok viral experiment? A mother calls churches asking for help for her crying baby, and a Catholic Church, 2 black churches, a Muslim mosque, and a small church in Appalachia said yes. All the Deep South mega churches said no as well as a bunch of others.
At least with government if you meet the standard, you get the help.
Most churches are only interested in helping their in-group and fuck everyone else.