Friday, February 22, 2008

What would Jesus DO ???

One day out in the countryside of Galilea, Jesus said, "Make the people sit down."

Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all.

Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted.

When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, "Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost."

So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets ...

Now, I wonder how Jesus would be recieved for doing this in some modern cities???

Today I was doing some online researching for my day job, and I discovered a study entitled "Feeding Intolerance" from The National Coalition for the Homeless in the USofA ... it is an exploration of the limitations being placed upon food distribution programmes and initiatives across the United States.

Among the findings were the following:

- the Las Vegas City council passed an ordinance that bans "the providing of food or meals to the indigent for free or a nominal fee in city parks."

- the city of Willington N.C. passed an ordinance that prohibits the sharing of food on city streets and sidewalks.

- the Orlando Fl city council passed and ordinance that prohibits sharing food with more than 25 people in city parks without a permit, and limits groups to doing so TWO times a year

And for punishments, the report noted:

- in Orlando Florida, police arrested a man who served food to 30 people in a public park without a permit - he could face a fine of $500 AND 60 days in jail !!!!

- in Dallas Texas, anyone caught sharing food with a homeless person without a permit may be fined up to $2000 and/or be jailed for up to SIX months !!!

Kind of makes me wonder what Jesus would do in such cities ... but it makes me think seriously about a ROAD TRIP to engage in some acts of civil disobedience ...

So, what do you think ever happened to the concept of "just as you do it for one of the least of these my brethren, you do it for ME ..."???

3 comments:

My Own Woman said...

How embarassing.

Anonymous said...

I loved your points made! Hope you can visit my blog at peoplepowergranny.blogspot.com. Vote in my poll on what you would do if you had no infrastructure at all where you lived. What would any of us do?

James Hayes-Bohanan said...

Thanks, Prairie Preacher, for this post and for your compassion for the poor, which is in very short supply lately. The rich steal from everyone, and the middle class blames the poor!

I found your site while looking for an image, and got so much more! See http://environmentalgeography.blogspot.com/2010/10/globalization-and-local-church.html