Regular readers here will know I have written previously about how I feel about being unemployed for 12 months and how it has affected my family and life.
…it occurred to me that the Church doesn’t handle unemployment very well.
But, I was reading this post recently and it occurred to me that the Church doesn’t handle unemployment very well. Sure we have parachurch organisations such as Anglicare, Salvation Army Employment Plus etc that help the unemployed in Australia find work and learn how to find and apply for work. And of course there are the churches etc that provide welfare such as meals, food, clothing, etc.
Where is the support — both physical and spiritual from the church, particularly from the church where the unemployed person attends?
Unemployment, particularly long term is mind-numbing and a roller-coaster of emotions, coupled with the struggle to provide for the family.
We cater for the physical needs (poorly in many cases) and offer counselling and prayer when requested, but surely the body of Christ, the family of God should be doing more for those unemployed, within and without the Church.
Any suggestions or comments?
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A lot of churches see the unemployeed as a liability as they cannot give offerings etc.
My mums church has the work for the dole people to help out where ever as possible, ie making lunches, garden work etc. A lot of church buildings have work that needs to be done, so why not get these guys/ girls to do it for them and as a bonus you can witness to them and they cannot run away
Thanks Jermayn – think you hit the nail on the head with the comment about churches seeing the unemployed as a liability. I think this is more so with the prosperity doctrine so popular in Australia and abroad lately.
Thanks for the comment and joining the conversation here.
In Buddhist Thailand, if you have no roof over your head or no food, then you rock up to the temple and you are provided food and shelter. The people of the village or suburb bring lots of food for the monks on a daily basis which the monks share.
Seems a simple concept, but occ health & safety would prevent the sharing of the food in Australia
That sounds very similar to what was set up for the land of Israel in the OT. God obviously thought it was a good idea!
The gap, I feel, is far greater than that of providing physical needs.
Maslow's hierarchy of needs – the base is being met, but the next level is crumbling, affecting any progress and affecting needs such as community, friendship, self-esteem etc.
A lot of churches see the unemployeed as a liability as they cannot give offerings etc.
My mums church has the work for the dole people to help out where ever as possible, ie making lunches, garden work etc. A lot of church buildings have work that needs to be done, so why not get these guys/ girls to do it for them and as a bonus you can witness to them and they cannot run away
Thanks Jermayn – think you hit the nail on the head with the comment about churches seeing the unemployed as a liability. I think this is more so with the prosperity doctrine so popular in Australia and abroad lately.
Thanks for the comment and joining the conversation here.
In Buddhist Thailand, if you have no roof over your head or no food, then you rock up to the temple and you are provided food and shelter. The people of the village or suburb bring lots of food for the monks on a daily basis which the monks share.
Seems a simple concept, but occ health & safety would prevent the sharing of the food in Australia
That sounds very similar to what was set up for the land of Israel in the OT. God obviously thought it was a good idea!
The gap, I feel, is far greater than that of providing physical needs.
Maslow's hierarchy of needs – the base is being met, but the next level is crumbling, affecting any progress and affecting needs such as community, friendship, self-esteem etc.
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