At our last missions convention, our Master's Commission (college program) dressed up as Indian beggars and begged in our lobby and in the church bathrooms. It was awesome, actually.

I would've asked if he wanted something to eat, taken him to the kitchen of the church and fed the guy.  I would have also tried to look for the pastor to see if we could take up an offering for the guy to stay overnight at a hotel (to get a shower)...and get him cleaned up with some 2nd hand clothes.
(I've been able to do the first part many times...but not successful on the later portions)

I think more pastor's should teach like this...that's pretty cool.

If that happened at my parent's home church they would probably have kicked him out because, you know, he's making the uber rich look bad by being there.

I hate my parent's home church.

Another spin on the same 'act':

I knew a pastor who appeared as a homeless man on the steps of other local churches asking every passerby to help him find God. He appeared at the same church for three weeks and then on the fourth week he re-appeared in suit and tie preaching the gospel as the same 'church' people who couldn't help him in the previous three weeks entered their 'place of worship'. Once again, shaming and angering 'church people'.

This doesn't surprise me in the least. You don't have to dress up like a beggar to be ignored, or even shunned outright, in a church. Just be someone who  doesn't fit into a neat little box as it were. Just be someone  to whom the standard Christian cannot affix a neat little label. Christians are loathe to leave their comfort zones in order to minister to the individuals who need ministering to  the most.
 Add to that that most churches are run like businesses with an eye to the bottom line, therefore judging anyone warming their pews with an eye to  potential profitability, and there you go.
 I have seen this in action. From both sides of the situation.
To people who are going through  a lot and come to church to seek God as a last resort (which is often the case) Christians seem cold or else very condescending.

And yet you all wonder why non-Christians have a poor view of Christians!  This is an excellent example of experiences that we have all had, clearly showing that some people are just hypocrites.

@Pariahtich@xanga - Mhmm, it was truly a blessing to find.  Such wonderful people!  I wish more people got a chance to have that experience. 

I would feel betrayed, lied to...etc.

It's saddening that a majority of today's "Christians" seem to be only worried/thinking about themselves and not about the people around them, whom they do not know. 

i like this guy.  what a potent way to get your point across.

That's a harsh way to get a point across but it does prove the point exactly.  We too many times walk past that person on the street because of what they "may" do with the money you give them, or you make a choice that they probably don't really need the money so why should i part with some of mine for them.  I've done the right thing and the wrong thing, probalby too many times on the wrong.  I don't know how I would react to someone sitting on the doorstep at my church, but after reading this I would surely invite them in and try to connect them with someone in our recovery ministry.  I always remember something that Jesus said something like, to whatever you've done for the least of these you've done to me".  I personally think that was a good message and point for this pastor to do, conviction helps make some people get out of their comfort zones.

@GodArt@xanga - I agree that some of the criticism is warranted. However, I still believe that the main reason people dislike Christians as a whole group is because the message of the cross is foolishness to them.

In a sense, I think I have the poorest view of Christians it's possible to have-I don't believe we have anything to offer in ourselves without Christ.

Maybe they thought he was a trannie? Better yet maybe they knew it was him?