Homeless Proofing – or Christ Proofing?

Last updated on: July 5, 2014 at 11:45 am by Mark Sandlin

Homeless Proofing – or Christ Proofing? 2014-07-05T11:45:37-05:00 Mark Sandlin

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

By: Rev. Mark Sandlin

There is a new and disturbing trend in Great Britain and China. They are homeless-proofing their streets. As disgusting as the behavior is, I guarantee you that there are those in the United States who follow suit – and quickly. I can only assume that slanted park benches and surfaces covered with metal spikes will soon make an appearance in this country.

Photo: Nudges.wordpress

Photo: Imgur/Reddit

I suppose the idea is “out of sight out of mind.” Why allow our delicate sensibilities to be confronted with the consequences of the constant increase in world “austerity”? Force the homeless to the margins. I’m sorry. Scratch that. They are already in the margins. Force them to a place where they exist only to each other.

If there’s one thing contemporary society is, at times, all too good at, it is sweeping our problems under the rug, or at least turning a blind eye. When we can’t turn a blind eye, “because that homeless man is sleeping right there under the overpass, for heaven’s sake,” we tidy up our landscape so that our lives can stay equally devoid of any reminders that we are stepping on people as we climb our way into a better life.

Since money seems to be the only thing that matter to many of those with power to do something about this, I’d like to make one simple point: The reality is that further marginalization of the already marginalized homeless will not lessen the cost to society of having homeless people. They will still be there, even if you no longer have to lay your eyes on them. And, it will still be less expensive for society to do the humane thing and provide housing for them.

As a minister, I would be remiss if I did not mention two glaringly biblical considerations for anyone who considers themselves a Christian and is thinking about “homeless-proofing” their corner of the town.

First: “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” This was not a trite, clever sounding piece of banter that Jesus constructed to get good coverage in the press. This is central to his teachings and, thus, central to those who claim to be trying to following Jesus.

Second, don’t think for a moment that trying to deter a homeless person with metal spikes because they upset the sensibilities of the powerful hasn’t been tried before. I can think of this one time where it started an entire religion.

Facebook continues to make it increasingly difficult for me to let you know about new blog posts like this. Please consider signing up for my mailing list where we can insure you are notified. Just click here!

Uncategorized

Previous Post

June 10, 2014

A Prayer For The Nation On The Event Of Another Shooting

Next Post

July 4, 2014 Mr. President, Discrimination by Any Other Name...

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category abortion Advent Afterlife agnostic America atheist Bible bourbon Brad Pitt Brokeness Christianity Christmas Church Civil Rights Confessions Congress Conservative Christianity Crucifixion Easter election Elections Equality Facebook Feminism Ferguson Fiction Following Jesus Foodie Gamers God GOP Gospels Gun Control Health Care Hell Heretic Heritic Holy Week Humanism immigration Inclusiveness Innovation Institutionalized Church Intellectualism Islam Jesus Job Justice Lectionary LGBT Life Love Matthew 11 Minister MLK Mother's Day Movie Review Movies Music Nones Obama peace Political Pope Francis Poverty Prayer Prison Progressive Christianity Prophetic Question Mark refugee Resistance sex shooting Sin Spirit Thanksgiving The 10% The Christian Left The Walking Dead Theology Trinity Trump Uncategorized unChristian Unemployment United States violence voting war Women's rights workers rights

Select a Month January 2017 July 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 October 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz