How’s the world treating you?

In the late 1970’s and early 80’s it was often common to greet someone in Australia with the question “How’s the world treating you?” I have an Uncle who is retired now but at the time was working for TSA.  His reply to that greeting was always “The world’s treating me fine … it’s the Christians that are causing me all the grief”.

I’ve worked for TSA, other churches, the Public Service (Government), private enterprise and for myself over the past 30 years and I can honestly say that the worst treatment I’ve ever seen meted out to employees or volunteers has been within churches (including TSA).

People don’t treat each other very well at all sometimes. To say that this behavior is Un-Christ like would be pretty obvious, but the question remains as to why we allow this disgraceful behavior to continue in Christian circles.  Perpetrators are often un-called on their arrogance, bullying, ignorance, lack of respect and just downright rudeness.  Some people in management cannot abide by a code of conduct that is generally accepted in the corporate world. It seems that they have never connected their relationship with Jesus to their relationships with other people. I’ve worked for ruthless hollywood producers who have more respect for their co-workers.

It’s almost like we believe that because someone chooses to work or volunteer for the church or TSA then they are somehow deficient in some way and not worthy of any respect.

I’m idealistic (or is that naive?) enough to believe that the church should be an example to the world, an oasis where everyone is treated equally and with a degree of care and dignity.

In our SA context it would be easy to blame the  autocratic structure I suppose. Does this contribute to the creation of these tin-gods (and goddesses)? Does kneeling on a velvet cushion somehow constitute a God-given right to push people around because you are somehow “set apart” or “anointed”? I would have thought that the servant leadership model should kick -in if this was for real. And don’t get me started on the whole nepotism and “children of the regiment” or ”son of the manse” stuff. Some of that is inappropriate and  just downright unjust in anyone’s estimation.

Most Churches and Corps alike have a stated aim to “bring them in with all their sin” and grow the church by means of constant conferences with the latest pneumonic slogans and colouring-in schemes. But what about the people who are already here and have been for some time? How many of us really care about our fellow travellers? Not just the acceptable, “easy to love”, “nice people” with their middle class attributes and accouchements, but everyone.

Retailers and Marketing gurus will tell you that keeping one, existing customer satisfied is equivalent to winning ten new ones.  When a Corps really looks after the flock or a Social, Mission or Retail arm look after their people, others will be naturally attracted to it and want to be a part of it.

For God’s sake let’s treat people better than the world does!

 

2 Comments to How’s the world treating you?

1. Well said and very timely Bruce. Thanks for having the guts to put this stuff out there.

   We really do need to start living like we really mean our faith and really believe what we say we believe through our actions.

   Mistreatment of our fellow travelers is evil. No wonder our stats show such rampant decline.
Peter B on September 14th, 2009

2. Excellent article Bruce and something I feel strongly about! The church seems to concentrate so much on the sins of society and very little about the sinful goings on within the body itself. But that’s the problem of a faith that is more about ‘pie in the sky when you die’ than transformation living today.

   Peter I also suspect that one of the reasons its allowed to go on for so is that stats are more important to an institutional church than a disciplined lifestyle!
Graeme Smith on September 14th, 2009

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