From time to time Christians tell my wife and I that “Loving the poor and homeless and your neighbors is all well and good. But that’s really not all that important in the grand scheme of things. Getting them to heaven is the important thing. You should be telling them about Jesus so they can get saved and go to heaven. That’s what they really need.”
In a sense I understand where many such comments originate. I understand the sentiment and passion behind them. However, I sense that those making the comments are repeating some stock statements they have heard somewhere, probably in church.
Figuring Out How To Sell Jesus
Do you remember the heady days of the 70’s when “personal evangelists” were “saving” people right and left? If you read the book “Evangelism Explosion” or attended a two hour “soul winning” class, you too could be a “soul winner”, whatever that term was intended to mean. If you were really good at soul winning, you could “win” dozens of souls every day.
Unfortunately, the vast majority of folks who tried those no-fail soul winning methods discovered the methods didn’t work for them. Their friends, relatives, and neighbors would sooner have bought the carcass of a dead dog than sign on to whatever religious idea they were trying to sell.
As a result, the emphasis shifted back to the churches, where it had been before the personal evangelism craze. As good Christians it was once again our job to convince our neighbors, friends, and relatives to go to our church. Then the preacher’s responsibility was to preach the Gospel, the Word, or whatever term you might use, which would convince these folks to repent and get saved.
This plan hasn’t been going so well either. According to recent surveys, the average congregation in the USA reports approximately one person coming to faith each year. Actually the number is slightly less than one.
Many Christians have decided that neither churches nor individual Christians are doing a good job telling people about Jesus. “If someone would only tell people, surely more would repent. Of course many won’t, but at least they’ve had their chance. They made the choice to go to hell instead of heaven.”
They Already Know About Jesus And Churches
I find, however, that theory is rarely correct. Most people have heard about Jesus. Most people like Jesus. They’ve heard about “getting converted.” “getting saved,” “repenting,” going to heaven and so on. They think they know what all that means. Ask them. They’ll tell you.
They also think they know everything they need to know about churches and Christians, and often what they think they know is not complimentary. Using the exact terms I have heard nonbelievers use on repeated occasions, they believe Christians are unloving, mean, angry, hateful, bigoted, homophobic, judgmental, too politically motivated, hypocritical, and more.
Who of us would want to join up with any group that met those descriptions? Would we be interested in what they believe? Would we be interested in their religion or in their God?
I have been surprised by how many nonbelievers can almost quote Ghandi’s famous comment: “I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”
Love People
Keeping all these things in mind, we try to love people and build friendships and relationships with them. That is our agenda. We’re not selling soap, insurance, or religion. We don’t hand someone a bottle of water and say we’re with such and such a church. We don’t give out tracts.
Sound un-Christian? Perhaps, but it doesn’t work out that way. For example, we’re often asked when giving food, clothes, tarps and other items to the homeless “Where do you get this stuff?
“We buy most of it,” we answer.
“Who gives you the money?”
“We pay for it.”
“Are you part of some church or something?”
“We’re followers of Jesus. We’re not part of an organized church. We come here to spend time with you. We bring church to you. No songs or preaching. Church is spending time with you.”
“Well, the people down here have been discussing why you do this, and we think you do it because of your compassion. Is that right?”
“Yes, we’re trying to show the love of Jesus to our friends here.”
We’ve had variations of that conversation with the homeless, the poor, prostitutes, bikers decked out in their leathers and chains while sitting on their Hogs and others. We take Jesus to them.
Obviously not every person we come in contact with asks these kinds of questions, but we get them regularly, often several times a week.
Almost none of these folks go to church. The church has not been kind and loving to them in their opinion. In their hour of need, be it when a family member was gravely ill or died, when they lost their job, when they lost their home, or even when they ended up on the street, the church was not there for them. The church was sitting in a building singing songs and listening to Bible lessons.
Care About Me First, Then We’ll Talk
We’re often asked, “Could I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
With rare exceptions the questions are about God, Jesus, the Bible, church, and so on, questions that somehow relate to their lives. Sometimes we spend twenty minutes or more answering the person’s questions, usually with others inching up close enough to hear the conversation, and sometimes joining in.
We hear “I’ve always wanted to ask someone this, but didn’t know who to ask,” followed by God and Jesus questions.
No building, no sermon, no songs, no flyers, no ads, no sound system – none of those things. But most figure out we’re there because we care.
I remember that old adage “I don’t care what you think until I know you care about me.” I probably misquoted it, but you get the idea. Another way of stating the same idea: We must earn the right to be heard. Our currency is caring and loving.
The church and Christians lost the right to be heard in many peoples’ lives long ago. Instead of finding caring and loving, they found disinterest at best, meanness, hatred, anger, and judgment at worst.
Our friends, be they the homeless, the poor, our neighbors, or our gay friends, want to talk. They tell us their stories. We listen. They ask us questions. We answer their questions, talk with them, shake their hands, hug them, and in the case of the homeless give them some water and maybe an orange and a pair of socks, a tarp, or a warm coat.
Sometimes when we’re on the street and we answer their questions with “We’re here to show the love of Jesus to the folks here in the neighborhood,” they start crying. I don’t remember how many times this has happened, but it’s not unusual.
I’ve hugged a crying biker on his Hog in the middle of the street, a bank robber, Viet Nam, Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and more. I even hugged a crying city councilman. (He said “Never in all my life have I ever seen or even heard of such a thing. If churches did this kind of stuff I might be interested in going to church.”)
We go. We care. We love. We share. They ask questions. We answer their questions. They listen intently because we’re answering their questions. Our agenda is love. Period. The Spirit works in that space.
“Thank you for remembering us. We love you.”
“We love you too!”
“We know.”
A Call to the Church
Dear church,
Awaken from your slumber.
Get out of your buildings with your comfortable chairs and comfortable sermons. Meet you neighbors. Meet the poor. Meet the homeless. Meet the people you despise. Meet the people you’re sure are going to hell.
Touch them. Hug them. Learn to care about them and their lives. Learn to love them. Be genuine. They can smell deception from afar.
Learn to share. Share your time. Share your material goods. Share your love.
Leave your theology, your opinions, your Bible verses at the door. They’ve already heard those things from people who don’t care and don’t love, people who have been unloving to them time after time. Don’t share your opinions about anything. Listen to their stories, their opinions. Listen and hear.
If they’re willing to share their stories and their lives with you be thankful. You’re learning to care, learning to love, learning to share.
When they ask why you care, why you love them, it’s OK to tell them you’re sharing the love of Jesus. Then shut up. No Bible verses. No theology. Not a word about which church you attend. You – You are the church. So don’t blow it by repeating what you believe about alcoholics, unmarried people living together, homosexuality, or whatever you think might apply to them. Hold your tongue.
When they ask about this Jesus, the Jesus they’ve been seeing in you, tell them about Jesus, not Paul or Leviticus. They already know about Paul and Leviticus. What they don’t know about is followers of Jesus who care about them and love them with the love of Jesus.
May they exclaim “Never in all my life have I ever seen or even heard of such a thing.”
May they say as you part ways that day: “Goodbye. We love you.”
And may you reply in return: “We love you too.”
May you hear the echo: “We know.”
Allow the Spirit a space in which to work, and then allow the Spirit to work. Don’t try to sign anyone up for your Bible study, your church, or your theology class. Some may eventually decide to participate in those things, if they find caring and loving. Many others will not. They’ve been hurt too badly in the past and cannot risk being hurt again.
You are the church. For many of the people you care about and love you are the only church, the only Bible, the only theology, they know. For those, you are the hands, the arms, the feet of Jesus.
Awaken from your slumber, oh church. Awaken and walk among the people of this world. Touch them, hug them, love them. Share the love of Jesus with them, that they may see the real Jesus, God with us.
There is so much need in the world!
And YOU can help.
Fill out the form below to receive several emails about how to love and serve the poor and homeless.
(Note: If you are a member of RedeemingGod.com, login and then revisit this page to update your membership.)
Anne says
I am overwhelmed. Your article is so spot on. I have been wanting to reach out to the homeless and have tried to do it but I have been struggling on how to approach them. My heart keeps on reminding me about doing something for the homeless but without knowing the how part. I am so grateful about your website and will now start to implement what I have learned. God bless you abundantly.
Jeremy Myers says
Thanks, Anne. There are numerous posts on this blog about homeless people. Hopefully you are helped by reading them and are able to put some of the ideas into practice.
Sam says
Thank you for the kind comment. Follow the links at the end of this post and read more posts on helping the homeless. If you have questions, post another comment here with your questions and I will try to answer them.
Rebekah Lopez says
Just love people. 🙂 I agree with this sentiment completely.
Viki Wieland Manera says
A few of us were talking about this tonight…
It’s simple: we see a need, and fill it. No questions asked and no judgement assumed or given. It’s all about love. ❤️
Elisabeth Procter says
love this….and this is how Jesus was…..howcome as a church we have so often missed it…?
John Guy says
Oh some Christianity for real! ‘When I was hungry, you fed me’
Michael Zucker says
Amazing thank you so much for this ! I just started feeding the homeless down the street from where I live and I needed to hear this
Sam Riviera says
Michael and everyone else who commented since I last looked at this post – Thank you for the comments. It takes conscious effort to just love people, be they the homeless, our neighbors, store clerks or our cranky relatives. We all have people in our lives that are personally difficult for us to love. After all, we’re not exactly Jesus. Sometimes we have to pause before responding to others and think, “How can I respond with love to this person and situation, to what they’ve said or done or to what I find offensive about them?”
Jeff Brackin says
Sam, As Michael is I am also amazed at this article! What is more amazing is that we just started feeding the homeless and needy in our city about 3 weeks ago and I receive this article in my inbox, from 2014, a couple of days ago. Thanks for all the writing you are doing on being Christ to the homeless and needy.
Sam Riviera says
Thank you for loving the homeless, Jeff. We find that spending time with them, looking directly at them when we talk with them and really listening to what they have to say are ways of showing love and building relationships while we’re sharing food and water with them.
Rick Nelson says
We had a young homeless man (22) show up at church today. I wanted to know more about how to help him. In my research I “found” your article. This is what I’ve been learning for the last few years. I want nothing to do with religion, I want to share the Real Jesus with people. The approach you describe is so dead on ! Our Church is Pastored by a man that shares that love with us and other people. Thank you for this insightful and truly biblical approach to spreading the gospel Sam !
David says
The homeless are entitled to love even if they hate Jesus. The homeless come first. I’ve been homeless myself so I understand. Jesus comes second and can wait his place in line behind the homeless.
John says
Please send me more info on ministering to the homeless. God bless you for what you do.
Rebecca says
I volunteer at a homeless NPO and as much as I enjoyed the first part of the post, I do not agree with leaving bible verses and the implication of forgetting about sharing Jesus out completely…I understand the reasoning and that people have been hurt, but to leave Jesus out of the equation unless they ask doesn’t sit well with me.
If there was biblical reference for this, I would say fine, but what I know is that Jesus taught:
“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation…”
Although our NPO is run by Christians, there are also Muslims, Hindus and atheists who volunteer, and if they care as much as the Christians do to give of their time and resources, compassion alone doesn’t point to Jesus since anyone can have it.
Being homeless poses many health risks and being out on the street is also a danger, and can be life threatening in many ways.
A lot of these people may die in an instant and then where will they go? If they have never heard or never been told, how would they ever know? And they will look at you and ask “But why did you never tell me when you had so many opportunities?”….
Showing love and care is great – 100% – but no amount of supplies or food is better than having their soul filled with the love of their Creator and Saviour.
We sing every week with the homeless, and occasionally have a word spoken to them/a testimony from a previously homeless person, and every week we ask for prayer requests and pray with those individuals who have the faith to ask. No one is forced to do anything but if we are doing something in the name of Jesus, we make sure He is made known and glorified for what He has provided for.
I believe God should get all the credit, instead of it being accredited to human love or compassion. We do these things for Him.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.
Linda says
Agree with your comments
Wholeheartedly
How dare we disrespect God almighty!
Todd Jackson says
I understand your point, but I agree with the Sam here. I have never run into anyone in the city of Atlanta that has not been told about Jesus. (Though we do put a gospel tract in every lunch we hand out).
I am sure there are some out there, but I have not met one yet. If I was serving in an area that had not heard the gospel it would be the primary focus of my time with them. Christians have a very bad reputation in general, and have earned it, I believe my actions should reflect Jesus, the time will come for me to speak with them and God will soften hearts because of my love and kindness.
In America, unfortunately, our words as Christians tend to fall on deaf ears because most do not act much like Jesus at all. I love your heart for the lost, it is awesome! But the great majority have heard the gospel and had a chance to respond and did not. I truly do not feel like it falls on me if they unfortunately pass away and I did not preach the gospel to them the first time I met them.
I say all this in love, God bless you.
Todd Jackson says
I agree completely with your article. We hand out food, hats, socks, and hugs! Tell the homeless we love them, listen to them, I amazed at the gratefulness and positive attitudes many have. Telling them about Jesus will come, the more they see you, the more impact you will have. I have truly come to the conclusion that, though it is good to be an example to your church, our calling is out in the streets. But please do not give up on those in our churches, there are still some that just need encouragement to get out there.
Rev Jim says
In Matthew 25 we are told of God’s judgment of people…the separation of the sheep (believers) and the goats (nonbelievers)…God’s judgement will be based upon how we treat the least of these: the hungry & thirsty, those in need of clothing, those in need of shelter, the sick, and the imprisoned. We would call these people the homeless. Giving them money will in most cases lead to them feeding the demon that lead to their homelessness (not all, but most chronic homelessness). Giving money isn’t mentioned in Matthew 25, giving things in need is. Give socks, warm clothing, food (especially military rations known as MREs), bottles of water and easy to read modern translations of the Bible
James Rubinate says
This has helped me. There are numerous avenues to help the homeless physically; through social agencies in our town, Barre, Vermont.
But I haven’t seen anyone helping the spiritual side. I am not blaming any of the local pastors in our area, But I’m have been introduced to many of our homeless (which are many) through our neighbors.
We try to treat everyone as a person, each with feelings, needs, life experiences, and stories. Some with substance abuse; drugs and alcohol. Some with mental problems. Sometimes, a hot cup of coffee, and an ear is all it takes. We feel overwhelmed sometimes, and we have wept a lot, feeling inadequate.
Pray for us. God has opened a door here, and we don’t know where to begin.
carrie t says
you already have begun and i would say great job!🙏🏻🙏🏻
carrie t says
I found this article because my husband and i have been working hard to build relationships with our homeless friends. I share my faith but i don’t preach. i try to have individual conversations with each of them and i will almost always mention that i am praying for them and i think they believe me. today there was a group there and I was told im doing it wrong… that i need to “be an evangelist.”
I don’t disagree but i think we are following Jesus’s lead in our approach. however, i felt stress about it wondering if I was doing it wrong. i honestly believe in that expression: “ people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care “
Lisa says
I love this article. It explains things so simply and speaks Jesus so eloquently. As a nurses aid I am in contact with not only homeless people, but people who are just lost and suffering mentally. I show them as much love and attention as I can, and am always thinking about how to share Jesus with them in ways they can understand. This article says it all. I love the phrase, “Go, Care, Love, Share. That is really what Jesus wants us to do. Thank you.
Nga says
This article really hit my heart. God used to use me for the homeless. Feeding them both physical food and spiritual food. Since I attended church legalisticly, I have been told not to help the homeless physically but only pray for them and pray with them; homeless have become distant from my heart. Your article is a message, I believe from God , which reminds me of coming back to His calling. Please pray for me and if you have any articles and information about homeless ministry biblically please send me. I really appreciate!