Faith or Food Bank?

I think if the saints in Macedonia were commended for giving to the poor saints in Jerusalem, then food banks certainly would be consistent with the idea of providing for the poor, and it would not be a lack of faith for someone in need to accept that help. (Gal. 2:10) It begs the question- "How does God provide?" I think George Mueller was exceptional, but I don't think it wise to compare ourselves to him, because there is a Biblical mandate for us to take care of our own families, work for our food, and provide for others, even out of our poverty. God uses people to provide for the needs of others, so how could it be a lack of faith to accept that help?

There certainly is no reason to think that it is a lack of faith to seek a physician or go use the church's food pantry, but rather that we should ask God to provide guidance in fulfilling our needs, rather than going to Him as a last resort when we're desperate and have exhausted all worldly options.

Well, as humans we certainly do tend to go to one extreme or other. There are folks who literally don't do anything to help themselves because "God will provide"- like... He's going to send ravens with a loaf of Wonder Bread and some PB&J? Folks in Mueller's community obviously knew that his orphanage had needs, and he trusted that God would use them and that those folks would be obedient. I don't think it is all that mysterious, nor is it so different to set up a food bank and have folks come for help rather than having it delivered. But the other extreme is the self-sufficient group that worships the axiom "God helps those who help themselves" to the extent that they never "wait on the Lord" or seek guidance for how He might want to fulfill their need.

I don't ever discount God impressing on someone's heart to fill a need in an unexpected way- my husband once stopped at a garage sale on impulse, and lo and behold there sat a nearly new washing machine. We bought it to give to a young couple at our church because theirs was broken.

First, if a believer criticized my husband for using a food bank to feed his family, I would want to know "WHERE IN THE NAME OF JIMMY CRACK'D CORN WERE YOU?" I mean, if someone thinks food banks are a bad thing, then they'd better be ready with an alternative, or just shut their yap. That really frosts my taters. Quite frankly, it's a shame that folks go to gov't for what the church used to provide. I think Christians and religious groups are still a tremendous source of charity (look at all the hospitals, orphanages, and other charitable groups), but folks should never have to seek elsewhere (from family and church) to find sustenance or shelter. I think the Bible is pretty clear on that.

That being said, if a church has the means (refrigeration, storage, workers) then a food pantry is a great ministry. My dh and I have been involved in this kind of thing off and on for years, and it has always been a wonderful experience and has provided so many opportunities to show the community that the church cares about them and to create a connection that allows one's to witness effectively. I just talked to a guy the other day who stopped into our church hoping to catch our pastor before he left. He's been calling around to churches in the area looking for work- he's a certified flooring installer, but was laid off. He's willing to mow grass and do any kind of repair work that anyone has for him- but our church was the only one that actually called him back to set up a time to meet with him. What kind of testimony is that? I mean, it's good for us, but doesn't speak well to someone who hasn't been in church since he was young boy about how he is viewed by 'Christians'.

As for where churches obtain goods, I think if it is there, it's fair game. Just about any restaurant or grocery store in town will give away their excess and nearly expired food stuffs to anyone who asks for it. So... if no one else has asked, it isn't the church's fault, KWIM?

My husband often shows people how to recycle scrap metal to make extra money. Take a drive through a nice neighborhood early in the morning on trash day, and count how many air conditioners, washer, dryers, grills, lawn chairs... are sitting on the curb. Anything made of metal can be taken to the junkyard for $$$. Metal prices have been down lately, but just the catalytic converter on a junky car can be worth $60-70. Air conditioner coils are copper, and copper right now fetches over $2 per lb.

I said all that to say any time we find a way to provide for our families or help someone else, especially in a way that negates waste, (Jn 6:12) then I think that's dandy. And you can just tell Martha Crabbypants she better get herself down to the church to help out.

It seems that some folks have enough faith for other people's problems, (especially when it involves a broken home), but just wait until they are in a jam. While it is true that trusting and waiting on God are essential, this does not preclude taking sensible actions to provide for oneself. Like I said- would anyone advise you to sit at home and wait for the ravens to provide? No- you get a job and go to the grocery store. If someone has a 'conviction' against using food banks, then they need to have a Biblical alternative solution, or it's just talking to hear their head roar.

Can I join too?

First of all, I didn't know that individuals could just go to a food bank to buy things. I thought only organizations could go. I know that when I worked for a children's home in the Greenville area I sometimes prayed that they would have diapers because a bag of diapers only cost about 85cents years ago when we were paying by the pound. (BiLo brand).

I'm not sure why using a food bank by a camp or Christian organization is misuse. Why would it be? It seems if they can save money on groceries, they have more to put into materials and/or other things that are necessary. Why should Christians be saddled with "regular retail prices" while the nonChristian or nonfundamental organizations use the cheaper stuff--many times they are the same items. It is frustrating to me to think that some think so. It is also why sometimes it "feels like" God is broke, when we all know He isn't--if we've had to buy things at regular price and others get it donated, then it takes more money for us just to exist--long before any ministry can actually take place.

The stuff has been donated. Most of the food bank stuff in Greenville, when I shopped there for our girls, was donated by BiLo. It was scratch-and-dent stuff. I suppose they had some USDA stuff, but we didn't seem to see much of it. There is more available now, I understand, like peanut butter, etc.

If a church has a food bank ministry, wouldn't they stock it with food bank stuff that they've purchased? Unless you have a private "in" with a grocery store, I doubt you could afford to stock it at regular prices. People who play the "Drugstore game" wtih CVS could keep it stocked in h/b aids for almost no cost, but grocery items...that's a different matter. A really smart shopper with access to tons of free coupons can do marvelous things, but time is of essence.

The reason many ministries don't do the food bank thing is because there are so few people who really "try on their own" who will use it. You appeal to the freeloaders. You can't convince me that a 350 lb. woman is starving. If she were "hungry", it'd be a good thing and maybe help her lose a bit of weight. (I saw this with my own eyes...sob stories about having no food by these people...very few actually 'hungry' people...) I've seen hungry people. The truly poor are thin. These are the ones who miss meals regularly because they just don't have the money to buy bread. (Or else they'd rather have cigarettes--)

My brother-in-law tried it for a while in his church. They would have food that they gave people. They bought it at the local food bank and would store it in their garage. The only they asked was that people would come to one service of the church to come and get it. You'd think that they asked for something hard. They got asked "to deliver", "I'll take 2 bags of groceries please", etc. One time the pastor was transporting a lady to church who had no way to get to church in order to get her food and she told him, as they passed Walmart on their way to church to pick up her free groceries, "I have a swimming pool on layaway here." Needless to say, he wondered why in the world he took the time and energy and gas money and then money out of pocket (because they bought the groceries themselves since not all the deacons were for the idea) for this woman. They did it for a while, but didn't find that they were reaching the people that they had thought they could help. Most of the people were professional freeloaders that made the rounds of the churches who help people.

It sounds heartless. I know my sister and hubby are not heartless. Far from it. But they see no need to enable freeloaders.

Jay,

It sounds like your church seemed to be doing it right. What did they do about people just calling from the community? Actually, we do the thing about asking for the bill and just paying it directly if it is necessary. We don't give money.

I was on the staff at a large church for seven years. The policy for getting food from our closet (for non members) required them to fill out a form (it asked for their name, address, size of family, if they were working, if they went to church, etc.). We kept the forms on file and checked them whenever someone came for food. Like it or not, there are professional beggars who go from church to church. The other requirement was that they had to meet with one of the pastors. We had a large enough church that there was always at least one pastor on site. That way the gospel could be presented and some practical advice could be given to help the people. We also did not let them pick out from the closet. We went and filled bags for them while they talked with the Pastor. More than once I helped carry bags out to their car only to see 5 or 6 other bags of groceries in the trunk from the other churches thay had been to.

We never gave out cash. We also never paid their bills. We refered them to community agencies. For church members or attenders, we would pay the bill, but again no cash. The system seems to work well after years of experience.

I'm typing this with nine fingers [trying to keep that pinkie up ], but as far as I know, we've never run into this kind of problem [w/ freeloaders]...Pastor *has* told me that people showed up at his door asking for food but refused it when they found out it was coming from the church pantry and not their own. There are a few members that have been out of work for health conditions, and there have been people who lost their job, and there are people who have needed help from the community, but I don't think we've ever actually had to say "No, you can't have any more", and I'm not sure that doing so would be wise. Paul went without in order to maintain his reputation/testimony to the people of either Thessalonica or Corinth, so I think we have Scriptural precedent there. Neither do we require that people register or attend church once in order to receive aid. As I said before, there are apparently some [in the church] that have told many people in my church that they need food, but yet they won't avail themselves to the resources in the church building, which kind of makes it difficult to believe. I mean, I'm all for eating healthy, but if I don't have any food at all in the cupboard, then I'm going to take whatever I can get my hands on, KWIM? You aren't healthy if you're dead from starvation.

I need to talk with my pastor some more about this...I don't know all of the specifics and how it's worked out all the time.

Yes, I do think there's been a definite uptick in people who need help, which is why it behooves us as Christians to minister in more than "spiritual" ways. Prayer and Bible study are good, but they need to be complemented with physical ministry as well.

--edit--

Becky, I think that the dynamic of your outreach in Poland is going to be considerably different from the dynamic here in the States, and I'm not sure that I'd be overly offended if people stopped coming when the handouts ended - that says more about their hearts and motives. I learned a long time ago that some people don't want help - they just want you to take care of them, like 40 year old toddlers or something. Keep ministering as long as you are able, but don't feel like you have to bail everyone out all the time - that's not what you are in Poland to do.