What if being a Christian isn’t defined only (or primarily) in terms of what we believe but, rather, how we live?  In Galatians the apostle Paul lists some characteristics that a person who has the Holy Spirit within them should strive to exhibit.  We commonly call these the “fruit of the Spirit.”  One aspect of this fruit is kindness.  Really, everyone should strive to be kind whether they are a Christian or not.  Yet, Christians, above everyone else, should strive to demonstrate simple human kindness. Sadly, this too often isn’t the case.  It just astounds me how folks can leave a church building on Sunday around noon after worshipping the Lord and then stop at a store or a restaurant and be just extremely rude to people who are stuck at work on a Sunday simply trying to do their jobs.  

There are many examples of this I could share.  A few years ago I stopped by Biggby to get some coffee before church.  There was a young guy in front of me who worked at Bob Evans across the street.  I believe he was a dishwasher.  And he was there buying drinks for everyone in the opening shift at Bob Evans.  After he paid, the person at the counter said “Have a good day!”   He said, “Well, I’ll try.  It WILL be a good day after all the church people are done and gone.”  Let me add, that before he said “church people” he inserted a sort of descriptive adjective (or was it an adverb?) belying his opinion of the church people who go to Bob Evans after church on Sundays.  

As we were waiting for our drinks to be done I approached him and said something like “Hey, I heard what you said and I’m a pastor…”  He then got a look of horror in his eyes not knowing what to expect next.  I just apologized to him for the way that they are often treated by the after church crowd and that it wasn’t right and please not to hold it against Jesus for how some Christians act. He said very sincerely “Oh, I’m sorry…you don’t need to apologize…I didn’t mean anything by it….”  He appreciated my effort, though I’m sure it didn’t change his opinion.  

Then, about a year ago after church I stopped by our little grocery store in Perry.  This grocery store is much smaller than Kroger or Meijer and I think at times it struggled to stay open.  I was in line behind a family who had obviously, like me, come from church.  I didn’t pay much attention to them.  But when I got to the register I said the usual “Hi, how are you?” to the young girl working.  She literally was on the verge of tears.  She said she was fine and thanked me for asking.  I asked her if she was okay.  She told me that the church lady before me didn’t say a kind or friendly word to her and basically acted as if she was nonexistent except to get irate because the store was out of fresh green beans.   

Evidently, this happens a lot—people just being rude and acting as if she isn’t a human being. She said she appreciated that I looked her in the eye, asked how she was and took the time for the very simplest exchange of greetings.  She told me she always works on Sundays because she doesn’t go to church.  I asked her if Sundays seemed to bring more of the rude people like the lady before me.  She said Sundays were the worst to the point she was thinking of quitting.  I apologized to her and talked to her a little bit and left feeling angry (after I had just preached a sermon on anger) at the insensitivity of “church people.” 

This can’t be.  We are Christ’s ambassadors. How can so many Christians be so unkind?  I know we all have bad days and I’m not saying that I am always a perfect example of human, Christian kindness. But over several decades of life and ministry I have heard and seen enough examples to know that this is a pretty widespread problem.  And, especially now, when the world is so topsy turvy and there aren’t enough people to fill these and similar types of jobs, we need to be kind.  Because we’re Christians.  But more than that because we’re human beings.  And so are all those people we encounter behind a cash register, who take our orders for lunch, or who serve the public in a whole host of ways. 

In the 4^th century, Pachomius, a young Egyptian peasant, was abducted and forced into the Roman army.  While awaiting transport up the Nile, he and the other conscripts languished away in a jail.  Local Christians arrived with food, water, and other supplies to care for them.  Pachomius was puzzled.  He asked who these caregivers were.  “They are Christians,” he was told.  “What is a Christian?” Pachomius asked.  “They are people who bear the name of Christ, the only begotten Son of God, and they are merciful to everyone, including strangers and even enemies.”   Pachomius was so amazed by the love and kindness demonstrated by these Christians that he vowed to commit himself to their God if he ever found freedom.  When he was discharged not long after, he sought a local church and was baptized.  Pachomius later became one of the leading voices and most influential Christians in the history of the early church.  

What is a Christian? “They are people who bear the name of Christ, and they are merciful to everyone, including strangers and even enemies.”  I wonder how many people today would define a Christian that way?