The Bible People Read

I wrote last week about unforced errors in ministry. Ironically, I discovered another one this week that made my heart ache.

I advertised something for sale recently and had a person respond. We agreed to meet up yesterday afternoon to complete the sale. I had noticed in his profile that we had a mutual friend, so when I saw him, I mentioned that I knew this person. What he said next took me aback. “Well, I know him but after Saturday, I’m not sure we’re friends anymore. Then he proceeded to tell me the story.

The ”friend” is a pastor and his property adjoins my buyer’s property. He often has meetings at his house and that day there were more cars than expected. Some folks parked in such a way that it blocked the entrance to my buyer’s property. He went over and talked to a couple people who he said were rude and dismissive of his concerns. Then the pastor came out to see what was going on. According to my buyer, he was just as rude and his language was “colorful.”

As he told the story, my heart sank. As it turned out, I actually knew my buyer. He is the neighbor of my best friend. I also know he is not a believer. He’s a good guy, but not a follower of Jesus. So to hear him tell of his experience with three believers, including a pastor, I was grieved.

I remember early in my Christian life hearing the evangelist Billy Graham speak at a youth conference. One thing I always remembered as he challenged us to live holy lives as we prepared to return to campus was this statement: “You are often the first Bible unbelievers read.” What he meant was that unbelievers get there impressions about Christianity from those who claim to be believers. Mr. Graham assured us that people who are not followers of Jesus are watching us, even if we are unaware of it. They’re watching what we do, what we say, how we treat others, and whether or not we truly live what we claim to believe (or what they think we believe). 

So when these believers knowingly parked on “David’s” property (there were signs posted) and then treated him rudely when he asked them to move their vehicles, he was “reading” them and learning what their faith really meant. My believing friends, his neighbors, have been trying to witness to David for several years. It took mere minutes to complicate those attempts.

My prayer is the pastor will go with the other two of his church to David and ask forgiveness for their attitudes. I believe that would go a long way to counteract the effects of their initial encounter. Jesus said people will know that we are his followers by the way we love one another (John 13:35). He also said that we should treat others as we would want them to treat us (Matthew 7:12)  Combined these teachings sum up what Mr. Graham said those many years ago. People first learn about Jesus from watching those of us who follow him. We should always keep that in mind. 

© Jim Musser 2022 All Scripture references are from the New International Version, 2011.