Lofty Attitudes

I'm a Christian. I've mentioned this before, and to that end, I try to be a good one. When I'm out in public, I try not to be a pain, I'm generally friendly to those who are being fair, and even when I'm dealing with people who service customers, I am congenial to them because a) I know what they're going through and b) 99% of the time, whatever is wrong is not their fault. This is not the case with some others who wear the Christian logo on their cars and t-shirts. You want a sort of righteous anger, that is how I feel about those who do not uphold the teachings that they claim to follow. As a disclaimer, no, I don't claim to be perfect, but I can claim that I do not do anything I list here, and I am well versed in the word and according to Matthew 18:15-17, one Christian can call out another on their sins.

The ones that bug me the most are those that do things BECAUSE they are Christian in that they feel a level of entitlement due to their faith. The action that sparked this rant was a story of a pastor (or should I say "pastor"?) who stiffed a waiter on a tip and wrote on the receipt, "I give God 10%, why should you get 18?" The waiter reported that the party of 20 (to which the computer automatically adds the 18% tip as it's a party over 8; a system that has been place for years) was generally arguing over the bill anyway, and didn't want to pay it. they said their service was great, but they didn't want to pay for it. And this is supposedly a church leader.

And on the subject of restaurants, you know which crowd is usually the rowdiest, messiest, and restaurants generally dislike? Oh, and tips the worst. We're already here, so you know which one. I've heard this answer first hand. It's the post church service Sunday crowd. Those people who just got out of church come to lunch and wreck the place. Like sitting for an hour has completely ruined their morning, and they have to take it out on someone. This is not how we're supposed to be.

Ever been cut off or run down by someone in traffic with a fish logo on their car? Yeah, 'nuff said there.

And how about them protesters? Yeah, you have the Westboro Baptist crowd that shames all Christians everywhere, but I'm taking a few steps down the ladder here. I mean those who protest whatever they don't believe in, or is against the Bible. Abortion clinics, gay weddings, whatever. Let's see what Jesus would do. I'm going to word this very carefully. How many times did Jesus seek out something that was against God's teaching and jut stand there and yell at them that they are wrong? Go ahead, give me a number. The answer is zero. Jesus taught the people many times, but he only told them what to do. Now, when people approached Jesus, he would give them some outright answers, but he did not seek them out. Here's the difference.

What many people do is go out to an abortion clinic, for example, and scream at those going in, or try and block the doors, or whatever. How much help do you think those people want having come to this decision? Especially from fanatics who won't listen to them. Jesus would weep, but he would allow them to do what they wanted. If they stood before him, and asked, "What do you think I should do," then he would tell them. Either that, or launch into a parable to illustrate for them what the right answer would be for them.

This applies to everything else in our world that goes against the teachings we've grown up to follow. What would Jesus do? He would let them go their own ways to make their own decisions, and find their own lives. He would give guidance where guidance was requested, but if they wanted nothing to do with him, he would let them. How many people did Jesus let walk away from him? How many did he give the harsh truth to, and when they left him, he told those closest that his is a hard teaching and not everyone can follow it? Jesus forced himself on no one. He simply lived his life as an example and let others follow if they wished. If they did not want anything to do with him, he knew he could not make them do it.

Jesus would also understand walking into a restaurant that he is responsible for the prices set on the menu that he can read beforehand, and also know that an 18% gratuity is added to parties greater than 8. It says that on the menu. Jesus paid the temple tax. He got the money from a fish, mind you, but he didn't try to stiff the temple because he belonged there.

Are you doing what Jesus would do?