As I was visiting with a friend recently, she told me about a disturbing conversation she had had with her daughter and her daughters friend. Both of the young women are college students who work as servers at a local restaurant.
They were telling my friend about the experiences they have had as servers to tables of church goers. Some are high profile people in the community, well known as ministers or as active in area churches, some are people that the girls have gone to church with. The girls said that many of these church goers are the worst costumers they have; they are rude, demanding, critical, difficult, and stingy with their tips. Even some people who spoke to my friend daughter at church did not acknowledge her in the restaurant. This is not the first time I have heard that kind of complaint.
I have a very good friend, Shelly, who has worked in food service in some capacity most of her life. She at one time worked at a Denny's that was a favorite place for the Sunday Night after church crowd. All of the servers fought over who HAD to work on Sunday nights because no one wanted to serve the church crowd. She said that they were loud and inconsiderate of other customers, they were rude to the servers, demanding, and stingy. Shelly was not a Christian then, and saw nothing in those Christians that was attractive.
Why do Christians act like that? Why would they treat a person who is helping them rudely. My guess is they just forget. They are there to eat and expect to be served and do not think about how they are acting.
In 2Corinthians 5:20, Paul said that we are the Ambassadors of Christ who are sent out to help people be reconciled to God. As His ambassadors, we have to represent Him well. They way we treat those who are there to serve us, like waitresses, cashiers, the Walmart greeters, our appliance repairman, etc, is a reflection of God to them. Let's not ever forget that. How would Jesus treat these people. Some of us may not have the courage to go to a foreign country on a mission trip, or have the nerve to share the gospel with a neighbor, but everyone can at least be nice, smile,be friendly, leave a generous tip. Not everyone feels equipped to be a strong testimony for Christ, but no one needs to behave in a way that He would be ashamed of.
Our purpose is to encourage women to pursue a growing, passionate relationship with Jesus Christ through support, fellowship and discipleship. We strive to provide many opportunities to help women grow in relationship with Christ; to live the abundant life that Jesus promised, a life of joy and freedom, and to have relationships that are healthy and fulfilling.
1 comment:
Amazing how this story can be repeated over and over again. Where is the disconnect between the love Christ has shown to us and the love we are commanded to show to others? Why do so many "church going" folks not display the compassion and love that should be evident in their lives above all others. Are we perfect? No. Am I perfect, a resounding NO! So I do not expect perfection, nor a sinless life from others. I do not in any way set myself up above any other Christian brother or sister. But, I would encourage brothers and sisters to prayerfully seek an answer to my original question - where is the disconnect in the love that has been shown to the "church crowd" and the love believers should be showing to others to draw them to Christ rather than repel them from Him.
The old hymn says it best, "and they'll know we are Christians by our love". How sad that in this story they know we are Christians by our harsh treatment of others.
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