I know several people who work as sales people in stores, so when one told me the rudest, most demanding people they encounter are usually from a church my jaw popped open. What? How could that be?
He nodded. “It’s true. In fact it’s so bad it is a common joke around the store. When someone overhears a customer being rude to another employee, they click their tongue and whisper, ‘must be church staff.'” He went on to explain that they feel they should be treated as special, be given huge discounts or have their items for free since they “serve God”. One lady who forgot her discount card and didn’t have the church’s phone number handy to reference it, yelled at a cashier for not giving her 10% off and told him all the store’s employees were going to hell for ripping off God’s people. She stomped out wearing her Jesus Loves You T-shirt, after she made sure her ruckus was loud enough for everyone else in the store to hear. The clerk’s next customer replied, “And that is why I don’t go to church. People like her.”
Two other people I asked who I knew worked in sales agreed. I heard over and over that it happens all of the time.
Please pass this onto your pastors, church staff or anyone else who represents your church. Ask them to watch how they act towards others, especially sales people, waiters, and others who serve customers. Are we not also called to serve? These people are working hard to earn a living and deserve respect. They have to face grumpy people who ignore them or treat them poorly. Shouldn’t we, whose Master ate with sinners and tax collectors, treat them better?
Folks, when we step out of our church doors back into the world, are we projecting Christ, who humbled himself on the cross for our sins, or are we like the Pharisees who shouted their piety on the street corners?
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Romans 12:18
Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Romans 14:19
