Click over to Read the entire article.  Essentially, a judge ruled that feeding the homeless at a place of worship can be banned by city ordinance.  That ruling means that CrossRoads United Methodist Church in Phoenix can no longer feed the poor on its campus.  The judge stated that the church had a long history of feeding the “poor in poor neighborhoods” but the use of this property to feed the poor bused in from another place was different. The church was classified as a charity dining hall, and a charity dining hall cannot feed the poor in a residential area.  

The decision follows an incident between two homeless men in which one was stabbed with an ice pick in the leg.  Neighbors define the incident as a confirmation that the neighborhood, which is fairly affluent by the way, is deteriorating due to the environment and lack of safety.  One neighbor is quoted by saying, “It’s very inappropriate to allow that kind of demographic to go there for one meal.”

Now I know that people want their kids to be safe.  I won’t deny that.  But, I think the root issues here are fear and pride.  I’ve been guilty of it myself before.  However, I don’t think Jesus ever had a permit to do any of the things he did while on earth.  And he calls us to do the same.  This situation reminded me of a quote by C.S. Lewis in The Problem with Pain….perhaps we should substitute the word “prostitutes” with “homeless.”

“Prostitutes are in no danger of finding their present life so satisfactory that they cannot turn to God: the proud, the avaricious, the self-righteous, are in that danger.”

What are your thoughts?  Is this a fair ruling?

image: sam