Window Christians

Yesterday I visited my first Christian Bookstore. Seems kinda amazing for someone who has been a christian their entire life. The reason I have never shopped at such a store, and my impression of the store itself, will have to wait for another time. Because I would like to share with you a little incident that I witnessed and see if perhaps you are as affected as I have been.

I ran into the store to look for a book I have been wanting. Within the first few minutes I found out that the book was out of stock. So I wandered around the store a bit and picked up a few trinkets.(Okay, okay, I have a weakness for hippie jewelry, this one said "live love"). There was only one register open, and a woman was very involved in a discussion with the young man who was working the counter.

The longer I waited in line, the more irritated the woman became with the clerk. She began to berate the mild man. Complaining and yelling about everything that came to mind that she was unhappy about. The kinder the man treated her, the ruder her behavior became. I have always felt for people who work retail, because I too had worked it for four years, and understand how hard it is to have someone treat you so badly. Of course, I had people yelling at me about shoes. This was a christian, in a christian bookstore, buying a Jesus statue, out doing herself in arrogant rudeness. Acting completely in opposition to how Jesus would. The irony of the situation was astounding. But it was about to get worse.

After the spectacle was over, in what was a previously very quiet store, it was my turn to checkout. I tried to lighten the mood a bit, and said to the young man, "Do a lot of grumpy Christians shop here?" He had to laugh and replied, "I would say that would be about 90 percent of our customers." I was amazed! "How terrible!" I said. "Yes, and most of those are Pastors like her." he said very matter of fact. I was stunned! I was already concerned with how this professed Christian woman treated the clerk, who may or may not be a christian, but to find out that she was the Pastor of a congregation took my breath away. I felt the need to apologise for his treatment. "I am sorry you were treated that way." "It's ok" he said, The other 10 percent of the customers make up for the 90.". At that point I was really hoping I fell in with the 10 percent.

This very small event really opened my eyes. While many profess to be Christians, how do they act when not on display as one? When no one is watching do the values disappear into selfish actions? Do we say we follow Jesus, but ignore his commandment?

I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. As I have loved you, you should also love one another. Joh 13:34

I couldn't help but wonder what one of this woman's congregation would have thought of her actions, and if she would have acted differently in front of someone she was accountable too.

How sad that many professing christians forget that all our actions are on display to our Father. "Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight, but all things are naked and opened to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do." Heb 4:13

Lip service is of little value without love. Faith and love that changes us from the inside, affecting our thoughts and actions to the core, our heart. Without allowing Jesus to change our hearts, we become like what Jesus called the Pharisees.

"And the Lord said to him, Now you Pharisees make the outside of the cup and the platter clean, but your inward part is full of plunder and wickedness." Luk 11:39


This event made me even more aware of how I treat others. Self examination reminded me of times that I had gotten irritated, some for good reasons, others for none, and it has made me even more determined to live up to the name of whom I profess to follow.

Accordingly, as God's chosen ones, holy and loved, clothe yourselves with the tender affections of compassion, kindness, lowliness of mind, mildness, and long-suffering. Col 3:12