Denominationalism

[Vic]

Hi Chris

Quote: I actually was staying with a brother in Christ for a while, then when spring came, He ended up moving and the Lord told me to live on the streets for a while. I spent the next 2 or 3 months sleeping under bushes and behind buildings. Then, off and on, the Lord would make divine appointments with other members of the body of Christ that would invite me into their homes for a short time, and back on the streets I would go. I've slept in many places. Sometimes outside on the ground, sometimes in a vehicle, sometimes in someones house and every once in a while the Lord gives me some money and tells me to get a motel room for a few days.

I hope your were actually invited to sleep in that occassional vehicle. You speak of God telling you to do these things, so I assume you have a special relationship and dialogue directly with him on all these issues in order to get the specific direction needed? How do you know it's God? This issue is something that has always troubled me.

How do you suppose your witness comes across, when people see you without a place to sleep, or place to keep yourself clean, and without food at times (although this isn't stated specifically by you, but implied by the statements of being homeless and living on the street), but having a good computer, a website, and the costs that accompany those things? Have you gone without food for days and dug into garbage cans? How does this 'homeless' witness portray God taking care of all your needs? Let me be clear. It is recorded in the Scriptures of the sufferings of God's people. And doing without at times. But I am curious about what type of witness happens for you.

There are some Scriptures that come to mind, and I am wondering how you see them applying to you.

Psalms 37:23-25 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. 24. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. 25. I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

Psalms 59:11-17 Slay them not, lest my people forget: scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord our shield. 12. For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying which they speak. 13. Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be: and let them know that God ruleth in Jacob unto the ends of the earth. Selah. 14. And at evening let them return; and let them make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city. 15. Let them wander up and down for meat, and grudge if they be not satisfied. 16. But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble. 17. Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.

Wouldn't it be a contradiction for God to convey this very serious rebuke, and then not take care of His own servants, by providing shelter and food?

1Ti 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

Didn't Jesus say,

Matthew 6:25-34 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26. Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27. Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28. And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29. And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31. Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32. (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.