“IOW, I’ve had people say how irritating it is when some “Born Again Christian” actually witnesses to them. A few of those times I’ve actually been able to explain to them why that Christian thought it was so important.”
I can’t say as I ever found those preachers particular;y irritating. Down in Greece you don’t see many of them, though there are a few. The Greeks call them “Fools for Christ” and they are generally respected as holy people.
What one does see in Greece is beggars, lots of them. And Greeks always, or virtually always, give them some small coin. They call that a “evlogison”, a blessing and will often ask the beggar for a blessing when giving the coin. Here in America it seems the protestant culture is irritated by beggars to the point where not only do people refuse to give them something, they positively scorn the beggars. I understand that the importuning of beggars can be an irritation, but imagine what God puts up with from all of us.
***Here in America it seems the protestant culture is irritated by beggars to the point where not only do people refuse to give them something, they positively scorn the beggars. I understand that the importuning of beggars can be an irritation, but imagine what God puts up with from all of us.***
Jesus has instructed us that when someone asks for our shirts, to give them our cloaks as well. It takes some pretty powerful theology to amend that to the hating of the poor.