I’m a believer even if someone on here don’t believe I am, you just don’t know me. I’ve backslidden before and my pastor KNOWS this and still welcomes me and while he acknowledges I’m still a believer, he’s implored me to turn back to God. Question. For those who immediately want to throw bible verses around, what do you say to those who don’t have food and don’t have work because of this Chinese flu (no I’m not racist) COVID-19 crap?? Do you recite bible verses to them?? Do bible verses actually put food on the table?? Do bible verses put gas in their cars so they can get to a job that is now on the ropes??
Discussion
51 comments
-
no bible verses don’t but prayer does!!!!
-
You help them. If you have the means, buy them a sack of groceries. Get them a tank of gas. You give them fish and loaves. You show them love. Then, you show where your love comes from. That’s Jesus. Read the book of James.
-
Yes. Recite the Bible verses. However not in some pretentious and self-aggrandizing manner. Recite those verses you hold onto with your actions. Be those verses of actionable love and encouragement.
-
Reciting a bible verse doesn’t do much. Living a bible verse does. If you love your neighbor as you love yourself, you will put food on the table of those in need.
Jesus is very direct when He says we will have trouble in this world. Heck look at his apostles all but one died horrible deaths.
But Jesus has conquered the world!
-
Love. And fulfill the need. If I can’t, I ask my church who can. God meets people where they’re at.
-
I believe the Bible verses are to inspire the believers and show us the heart of our Father. If we see how many times Jesus referred to caring for the poor and needy, it should compel us to look after them, as He would. So basically, Bible verses can put food on their table..if you know what I mean ?
-
I find it amazing, here me out. I went to a motel where a single mother and her young kid were homeless and didn’t have any food to eat. They had just lost their “home”. I had a bible with me and she rolled her eyes, but she was taken back when I asked her what her and her kid wanted from McDonald’s. I bought them food and then sat with her and held her as she cried becuase no one had ever done that before. Just bought them food and sat, listened to her and held her as she cried. EVERY Christian that approached her before me only wanted to give her a bible and constantly referenced John 3:16. That didn’t pay her motel bill, get her out of the motel nor put food in her mouth that night. Interesting response. I heard about a church that had a new pastor and no one knew who it was. As the doors opened, a guy who was filthy and stunk pretty bad walked in and sat in the back, but he was told to sit in a specific spot in the back cause he stunk so bad. No one came near him, offered a hand shake or anything and any children that tried to approach him were quickly ushered away by concerned and judgmental parents. In the end, it turns out that the filthy guy was actually the new pastor He shut the service down after identifying himself and sent the entire church home for the day. THAT was a heart wrenching service and a serious gut check for many that day.
-
No man! You give em food from your pantry, take em to the store and get em groceries, give them some money, start a gofundme, network with others in your church and neighborhood for them and welcome them into a that, go fill up their tank, get them something anything at all and what’s more make sure you get their info so you can keep checking in on them
-
What is the purpose here?
-
Well faith without works is dead (James 2:26). And far as you lacking the means to help some one is simple… You are a believer, so that means the person that lacks that you are in relationship with has access to the local church that you are connected to through you. Also, remember that to one who gives generously God gives more that he may keep giving (Proverbs 11:24).
-
1 John basically makes the case that because God actually, in the flesh, incarnated, and actually fulfilled the law in our place, and actually died on the cross… that we should actually love one another in deed, and not just in speech. Christian love acts and sacrifices and gives when it sees a brother in need.
-
Here’s another question on the same line for those who believe that once we’re believers that we will always want to embrace God and He will always change our hearts in a way that we can’t or won’t backslide. AFTER Peter confessed that “Thou art the Christ the son of the living God”, isn’t is PETER who denied Jesus 3 times after the last supper. Am I a rebel for asking this?? Any takers?
-
Suffering is not an uncommon thing. We all experience it, the world experiences it. A question that’s good to ponder on is why is there suffering? Remember, we live in a broken world that rejects God – a world that embraces sin. And this sin does not only affects the person committing it but at the same time it has the tendency to affect the people around that person. Look at what pride does. It destroys families, relationships. What about envy, wrath, lust and greed? Certainly the people you are talking about suffers possibly because of the irresponsibility of others and I certainly know for sure that they don’t want it. Who likes suffering anyway? But that’s why God came to earth, Jesus, to offer the hope of salvation to the world. A hope for those who are hungry, to the poor, to the brokenhearted, to the fatherless, faithless, to all of us sinners. As Jesus said in John 3:17 “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” God doesn’t like sin, he hates it. And He will bring an end to it at the end of the ages.
-
Our church has a homeless ministry. We have collected tarps and rope they make tents with. Food, hygiene items, etc. meeting a physical need is important and gains an ear to share the gospel. I don’t know your friends story. The need quite often is beyond what one person can effect. Find ways to bring others into your ministry to those people. The guy at our church wanted to give water bottles out back in September, because of heat. He was challenged to seek to get others involved. When he did God abundantly blessed the ministry. They have given out hundreds of pack packs with food, tarp, water, hygiene items, clothing, and more…All from a man who wanted to give a bottle of water. God need a heart He can pour a vision into…and a man to walk in that vision. You can’t do this alone, God is bigger than that. Be you, think of who has already connected your life to who can help. Ask God to show you how He wants this to unfold. He sees far beyond your view…
-
With a couple of responses, specifically one calling me a rebel and basically saying, “get back in line”, I wonder if friendly fire is something that should be payed forward?
-
Frankly I’m still trying to figure out how your post had anything to do with apologetics
-
I had a friend who was saying they had no food and I offered to go to a food bank for him and get him food. I also felt the Lord telling me to give him some cash. I made sure he knew it was God who told me to give him the money. I wanted God to get the glory for all of it. I feel that during this time, we need to act as the church should and be used by the Lord in any way possible.
-
James 2:15 NIV
[15] Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. [16] If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? -
Half the bible is about complaining to God and God responding by becoming part if our world filled with these problems.
-
Jesus mandated people to put Scripture into their hearts, which means, when someone meditates the Scripture, they should put an application based upon relevance and wisdom rather than just quoting it freely and not looking into the practicality. We are created in His image to be His agency of grace and truth. For instance, nowhere else in the Scripture (aside from James) that teaches us to pray for the sick. Instead, it teaches us to heal the sick. The Scripture has a lot of call to actions than just instructions, reminders and quotations.
-
Nope, but reading and knowing Gods word prepares you for these moments, as for a redeemed child of God it’s not what you think, it’s not what you feel it’s what you know; so do you know God is Sovereign, do you know what His word actually states about who He is ie that He is Jehovah Jireh meaning the Lord will provide and what He says He will do for those who love Him “I will never leave you nor foresake you”, do you know why and what God says about suffering 2 Corthinthians 1 vs 3- 11, so for me when I see a ‘sister or brother in Christ’ floundering in and with life’s afflictions or struggles I know that there is power in His word, so should you, so in your time of trial and testing by being given scripture see it as lifelines of that which you should know but have momentarily forgotten as your focus is ‘on the storm’ and not on Christ. Remember God is Sovereign, so nothing is happening to you that He is not in control of and if you are/have been backslidden then maybe you need to meditate on Romans 8 vs 28 (especially grasp the “all things” meaning good and bad) and then Hebrews 12 vs 3-17. So ? do not go with what you think, do not go with what you are feeling strive for holiness, strive for allowing God to be glorified through your life by living by what you know about God through His word. Remember the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is Faithful ?
-
You sound angry in your responses, are you angry?
-
What are you doing to help them? Don’t ask God like Cain, Am I my brother’s keeper?” The very scriptures are food to the hopeless SOUL. Through WORDS of encouragement and not of CONDEMNATION many people have come to the knowledge of the power within THEM through CHRIST Jesus!
-
Christian’s are suffering the problems caused by this virus and by the shutdown of the economy. God let’s the sun shine on good and bad people and desea and hunger also affects us. We are all human, we are prone to die. We don’t only focus on the material things. God will provide and as much as we can, we can help others. Truthfully there is a destiny much worse than hunger, homelessness of death. It’s eternal death. So in moments like this, we give as much as we can to those in need, but we also tell them about Jesus so in case they die, they’re lives are saved in Christ for eternity.
If Jesus suffered, if Lazarus suffered, If Job suffered, If the primitive church was persecuted and killed, why would it be any different with us?
Jesus said clearly.. In this world you will hace tribulations, but beleive in me, I have defeated death!
And That is what realy matters.
-
Throw Bible verses around? Throw Bible verses around? MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE BUT ON EVERY WORD OF GOD. if it is someone you personally can help, then YOU help them. If it’s a lot of people then you help them find an organization to supply their needs.
-
Point of correction. Chinese cannot manufacture dis
Point of correction. We must not talk alot about origin of Corona Virus. We must busy ourselves on how to find solution to curb Corona Virus. What we must do to those in need, read Prophet
Micah 6 : 6 – 8 . -
If I have something to give then of course I’ll give it, but even without provisions I can always give something from God’s beautiful Word.
-
Not all things are fed physically but spiritually. If you will recount the works and miracles of Christ, sure He healed, yes He fed, BUT He ALWAYS spoke spiritual truth into them. A need physically was never met without the demand spiritually.
-
What does scripture have to do with the virus? Especially when the virus came from hell.
-
PM me a name and address and I’ll send them some gas and grocery money.
-
They’re given food and supplies. We talk about Jesus through our ministry as those things happen. Tell stories. Talk. Be human. Standing as a God before another person holds no righteousness in Gods sight, it is sin.
Backslidden, sin or not, new or old to the faith, big house or little shack, all are treated as the same.
-
It is not enough to believe. Even the devil believes.
-
We took someone in that was homeless due to Covid. And in that period of time he was here, we fed him and gave him a nice bed. BUT! We ALSO GAVE him the bread of life, the word of God, prayed with him. He has left to his own place, has more stable work and is truly blessed by God. That is what we are suppose to do.
-
It’s simple. Do what Jesus would do.
-
Jesus said Man don’t live by bread alone but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God
-
You have to give what you have
If you have the two it is highly needed because Holy Spirit is the greatest Consoler
So you share both the material things and the Word of God -
So you are using the Chinese flu to insult the bible?
-
I’m not sure of any Christian that would do what you’re suggesting (throw Bible verses around) in the context of feeding the poor… but if you’re asking a question, why wouldn’t any Christian resort to Scripture? You’re asking for an answer, not physical food. Nourish yourself on the word of God in your search for answers. Use your hands, feet, and voice to love others. That seems like a universal understanding amongst all those who follow Christ.
-
Hey there. My husband and I had devotional time this morning and we read through 1 Peter. I love this book. It reiterates how we WILL suffer, those who believe in Christ. Suffering is not only for the “wicked”. We WILL go through trials and tribulations. We are NOT exempt. However, the difference is that we are told that when we suffer when we do good, then this glorifies God. Why? Because we refuse to bend and turn our back on Him when things go wrong in our life. People observe us. They notice how we handle things related to suffering. Do scriptures help those who already have faith get through tough times? Absolutely. But for those who do not have faith, if you know of said person, the best thing for them is for you to LOVE them and do the work of Christ in their life so they may see Him. Pray for them. Love on them. Befriend them. Console them. Comfort them without abandoning or compromising your faith. That is how these people who truly suffer, having no faith, will see Christ and desire to then have faith. So, ask the Lord how you can be a blessing is what it comes down to.
-
“But be doers of the message and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves, because if anyone is a hearer of the message and not a doer, this one is like someone staring at his own face in a mirror, for he looks at himself and goes away and immediately forgets what sort of person he was. But the one who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues to do it, not being a forgetful hearer but a doer who acts, this one will be blessed in what he does .”
James 1:22-25 LEB -
People talk less when they have a mouth full of food! I’m a buy em their favorite, THEN talk to them about Christ! Full belly… Full spirit!
-
I am not much into throwing out verses, as action is just as important, if not more (per the book of James). What I think is important is to see the example of the church in the NT and do likewise. I am specifically referring to the point that back then, those who would come to Christ could have all their possessions confiscated by the authorities, leaving them with nothing. So this uncertainty we currently are facing was everyday life for the church back then. The church (meaning the people) gave to each other as each had need. In 1 Corinthians (Chapter 9, but don’t quote me), Paul explained that it should be in a way that those who reap plenty would not have too much and those who reap little not have too little…. If you ask me, when any of us really want the Word of God to speak to us, we need to be willing to let it challenge us, break us, take us out of our comfort zone, and shake us to our very core. Hope this helps.
-
Ironically, there’s a verse for that. James 2 tells us it’s pointless to just talk and wish well. We also have to ACT, and if we don’t, our faith is in vain, maybe not even real. So you’re right, people shouldn’t be throwing Bible verses around, unless of course that’s literally ALL you can do, which it very rarely is (except it’s more common now, because it’s not like we can throw food through the internet).
As for your doubts, there’s precedent for that, too: “Be merciful to those who doubt”. It’s in Titus somewhere, I think.
-
I would try to help them out.
I would share whatever food and money I have,and also try to help them get on their feet again – even by protesting the unconstitutionality of shutting down businesses and insisting that the martial law ends – and we go back to the Legislators making laws, like it supposed to happen.
-
I think your question is posed in the wrong forum. This is an apologetics page.
-
Wonderful questions but I’m not going to throw bible verses at you or them. I’m going to ask you what have you done to be a workmanship of the faith in Christ? What have you done to help put gas in someones car? Food? etc??
The question isn’t a bible verse but to whom God is to you and what are you doing in our times?
-
Psalm 34:18, James 1:5, Philippians 4:6-7
The Bible teaches us if we have faith in God, God will help us and provide us in our daily needs. -
May the Lord punish them. In our part may the Lord bless us and strengthen us to endure these and give us heart to forgive them.
-
You don’t say anything if you’re a Christian. You simply feed them.
-
Practical help and prayer should be combined
-
[…] I’m a believer even if someone on here don’t believe… […]
Comments