Can anyone accept this challenge?

Question

Instead of going to your place of worship next week, could you take one day and devote it to your fellow man? Go out and help someone who really needs it, volunteer at a shelter, give out food to the homeless, take the money you would have given the collection plate and offer it to someone who needs it more. Make an effort to change things, instead of just talking about it and be your brothers keeper. Can anyone oblige?

I said next week so as to give people a week to find something they can do.

Answer 1

I think that is a great idea!

To build on that idea...

Maybe if houses of worship did this as a team once a month, things would get better quickly because you would have a team working to do bigger jobs.

Answer 2

I am sure you'd rather have a "yes" or "no" answer. Worship (whether corporate or private) is a personal expression of the worth or value bestowed upon God by the individual.

Many of us already make these efforts of helping those who really need it throughout the week. Since we do not broadcast these efforts, we are grouped with the others who just talk the talk.

Forsaking to assemble ourselves on a day set aside for public worship to prove we are not just talking about being our "brother's keeper" is too close to pleasing man instead of God. Pledging to meet such an obligation smacks of idolatry.

Answer 3

This is a great challenge and it is my opinion that the church is (you) anyway, not some place you go. Take it to the streets. It does no good to continue with the same people week after week seeking confirmation for what God has to be talking to your spirit about anyway. Grow up spiritually, you do not need to be disciplined forever from some group. Let God's Spirit teach you and when you do fellowship, make it a celebration. Be sure you have something to celebrate, like all of the hungry people in your area fed and blankets for those that must sleep outside. Better yet let them sleep on your bedroom floor or in your bed and you on the floor. Give them a shower and basic needs and stick with them until they are ready to step out on their own. Isn't Jesus the Shepard and all humans the sheep. If they are stray you may be the only way back for them. After you got it going on, then turn your church building into a retreat for these people, it probably isn't being used most of the time anyway. If it is it, it is to have meetings to figure out how to help and not actually helping. Nobody gets helped at those millions of meetings. People only get help where the rubber meets the road. I for one will be working for the Holy Spirit this week outside of a building. If he needs me there I will be there also.

Answer 4

Give in good faith and don't look back. Move forward and stop the whiner attitude with complaints, because it may be you one day needing a hand up in this world. No need to ask why just know that it is.

Here's a few ways one can help;

Number #1 reason for homeless in America is lack of affordable housing. Shelters do good works, but they need public support.

Every two seconds, someone in America needs blood. It only takes 10 minutes time to donate.

Buying an extra bag of dog or cat food dropping it off on your way home to your local animal shelter.

Helping the neighborhood widow. Ones roof maybe leaking in need of repair.

Support our troops..Contact local recruit office to see how.
Operation Hero Miles is a unique way to help the troops
www.heromiles.org

I encourage all to look for solutions in helping our great nation be a better place for the love of humanity.

Answer 5

Well, I'm not going to skip church. BUT, my husband and I do things like this during the week all the time. I don't think you have to JUST use your tithe money for good. Why can't you give your tithe money to the church (10% like the Bible says) and then give other money and time and sacrifices throughout the week. Why should we limit "making an effort" to just Sunday morning OR to just our tithe money.

Mark and I always give 10% on Sunday. However, we also help support different families in the community by giving to the local Pregnancy Center, the Boys and Girls Ranch, the Food Drive, Needline, and many others. Also, we just spent $30,000 this summer in Guatemala helping with orphanages and humanitarian aid....not to mention fell in love with one of the little fellows and are adopting him and bring him home....hopefully very soon.

So, I'm not going to skip church. BUT, I will continue to make an effort to change things.

Answer 6

I can certainly oblige your request, because I volunteer in some way every week and I make monthly donations to charity organizations.

But I can't oblige the "instead of going to your place of worship" part because I don't go to a place of worship.

So, hopefully, I am still satisfying your challenge and, more importantly, helping out my fellow human being.

Peace.

Answer 7

That is avery thoughtful challenge but why not fulfill both. We can go to church on Sunday or whatever day you attend and still help your fellow man. I have enjoyed a great deal to volunteer at the local food bank boxing up groceries for peopel and helping the elderly carry them out to their car. One of the greatest things bout the little church that I attend is that everyone is always willing to help one another whenever they can with whatever is needed and if someone brings a need before the church body of someone who does not attend they try very hard to fullfill that as well. Thank You for the considerate challenge.

Answer 8

Why neglect God to serve man? Why not do both?

And if you do put money in the collection plate, look in to how your church is spending the money. Are they wasting it or are they using it to serve the poor of the community? Ideally that is what the money that goes into the plate is for: helping the poor and outreach.

Most churches publish a budget of where they spend their money and how much money they have coming in. If your church doesn't do that, ask them why! In the budget you can see for yourself if the money is being well spent, and if you disagree you can join the board or the finance comitte of the church and make a difference. Churches are not monolithic entities, they need people with fresh ideas and spirit to come in and help them.

Instead of complaining and abandoning the church, make the church a better place by adding your gifts to it!

Answer 9

I've been doing that several days a week for a long time AND I don't belong to any religion or go to a place of worship. I've already taken the challenge and, at the same time, have broken the stereotypica/prejudiciall (political and religious) views of those who are the helpers (keepers).

Answer 10

I don't go to church, but I also don't devote a 'whole day' to helping others. It's the small things I do every day that make me feel good. Underwear to the homeless shelter, let someone 'in' from the freeway onramp, give $5 in school supplies to the neighborhood elementary, books to the AIDS hospice, food to the neighborhood pantry. Living my life like this makes me feel good.

Answer 11

i will supply you 2 first of all solid success! Ezekiel Ch 20. Talks approximately Nebuchadnezzar destroying Egypt and that it may well be desolate for 40 years that no foot would desire to trod upon its soil. First there is no historic, archaeological, or self reliant aspects to instruct that this has ever happened. Ezekiel 26: 7 - 14 Nebuchadnezzar would completely injury Tyre that it might under no circumstances be equipped returned. yet, Tyre continues to be a thriving community on the instant this very day seem it up online you will discover it. that's a nicely-liked vacationer spot in Lebanon. i will even throw in a contradiction in case you please... Isaiah 13 suggested that Tyre would be desolate for 70 years. This financial ruin is speaking approximately what happened while Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Tyre. wager what no evidence this ever happened the two. additionally that's a blatant contradiction of Ezekiel. If god wrote this e book why would he lie and misinform his flock into believing issues that are no longer genuine????? solid success pal bear in mind be careful what you ask for.