Iâll never forget the story my dad told about the time our church was contacted by a man who was in need of some money for food, so the pastor took my dad to meet this guy at a cafe to talk about what was going on in his life, and some specific ways they could help, both materially and spiritually. The guy rebuffed every attempt to establish any kind of relationship or to hear the gospel, and made it very clear that he just wanted the money. When the pastor eventually gave him a gift card for a grocery store, he got upset that it wasnât cash.
Another story is of my former pastor who had a man walk into church after the service and ask for money for food. The pastor said heâd take him to lunch at the MacDonalds down the block, and they could talk about what was going on in this guyâs life, and how the pastor and church could help. The pastor got a phone call at the door, so he handed the guy a twenty dollar bill and told him he could go order. After his phone call, he went into the restaurant and the man was nowhere to be seen. Heâs taken his whole $20 and skedaddled.
Another story of a pastor who invited a man who had come to the church asking for money for food to his house for dinner. Later that night, the man broke into the pastorâs house, stole a bunch of stuff, and stole his car.
Rest assured pastors are used to people dealing with them in bad faith. These men remain some of the most generous people I know. They give to all who ask them. But a pastorâs willingness or unwillingness to give his churchâs money and resources to someone he doesnât know, who will not even attempt to engage in the community that is a church, especially someone who wonât even show up in person, is not an accurate barometer to gauge the generosity of a church or individual or Christians in general. The pastorâs job is also to protect his flock from wolves, like scammers who prey on the generosity of kindhearted people.
