Among other things, every year we host a week for homeless people to come to live at the church (BTW-this is in conjunction with a number of other churches including a Catholic church in the area). We are not allowed to evangelize or even help them find a job. We are simple to house them. I'm not sure this is a Christian principle and have become more and more convinced it is not. Especially if social services will not allow us to evangelize.
At first I thought there was something wrong with me, not caring for the poor enough. Yet the more I think about this and search the scriptures, I do not find any responsibility towards the poor in this manner. Rather it is just the opposite. We are called to be generous but that is all. Not to give away everything. Often people will quote the verse in Acts where the early Christians had “all things in common” pointing out how socialistic they were or they will misquote Christ saying to the rich, young ruler “give all you have to the poor” as a motto for Christian living. Yet they neglect to quote Paul statement that “if a man does not work he should not eat” or the number of Proverbs talking about failure to be productive. Even our Lord Jesus complained about people wanting free handouts (John 6).
The gospel was never about socialism nor having “all things in common”. The trouble is when you bring all this up you sound like a real Christian “creep” which is typical of liberal pressure.
If the government is providing funding for the week, then they set the rules.
If they are not funding, then on what basis do they presume to tell you what to do?