Religious Panhandlers

A co-worker of mine at the community college writes in her blog about "Christian begging." Twice she has gone to a local store and each time there have been Christians at both the entrance and exit asking for donations for some type of church work. Their signs indicate the church and the product. This would be okay for her as she could pass them by without donating to their cause or taking time to chat with them.

Her problem comes when they speak to her and if she pretends not to hear them, their greeting becomes louder and louder as they ask her to donate. She tells them she is not a Christian but they still insist on her donating to their cause or can't believe what they have just heard. She spoke with the store's manager about the matter. He indicated he would take it up with the corporate office. The store is private property and thus, they have the freedom to allow groups to set up tables in front of their building. She indicated she knew that, however, it was her right not to be solicited or panhandled by this religious group or any other group. It is, also, her right to shop elsewhere if this continued.

She has indicated the store would not allow the poor or disadvantaged to panhandle in front of their store. Nor would they allow someone to whistle or "come on" to her as she entered or left the building. So, why would they allow religious panhandlers to be there?

During her shopping, she was approached by several other customers who agreed with her. Many of them were Christians who were active in their local church and thought it was disgraceful to be solicited by another church to donate to their cause. These comments made my non-Christian friend feel better in knowing she was not alone in her opinion on the matter.

I have never given this a second thought until now. I can see my co-workers point of view. Most often when I have encountered such [with the exception of the Salvation Army], I pass by without saying a word or donating anything being the introvert I am. Now, I just may have the courage and strength to do as my co-worker---confront them and or management.

Yes, this is a free country. Yes, I am a Christian. Yes, I reside in an area known as the "buckle of the Bible belt" but their freedom ends where mine begins. Enough of religious panhandlers and their begging methods.