I've known Joe for a number of years. He's not some lock-step asshole Christian who won't give anyone permission to do anything other than come to Jesus. Joe never mentions Christianity. He goes to church. He helps to build schools in Africa. He gets to the senior center to buck the bereaved up.
And now the parking enforcement woman was about to ticket him because, technically, his advertising for the younger Graham was too close to his driveway ... or anyway, that's what Joe believed .... and was pissed about. "It's one-way tolerance" he fumed. Anything that says "Christian" is immediately suspect.
And he's right in one sense: My town is so goodie-two-shoes-left-leaning that it risks flying up its own asshole and disappearing. Lesbian, transgender, homosexual, black, brown, 'Native American,' women and other victims, blah blah blah.
It's all OK with me ... except when Joe's lawn sign appears to be the focus of a wrath attack. For my money, Joe gets to be a Christian if that's what he chooses. My own appreciation of Christianity is not the issue, though I do think slightly more of it since seeing Joe in action.
Everyone gets to be the asshole (s)he chooses, and as long as it doesn't harm others ... well, have a ball.
Joe was furious.
I don't blame him. The person who called the parking enforcement folks (we live on the relative outskirts of a sometimes impossible-to-park-in downtown) obviously didn't want to take responsibility for his or her disagreement. And when you don't want to take responsibility, one of the easiest ways is to cite the rule book, call the law ....
Tolerance.
Yeah ... right.
As a former Buddhist you should know it’s probably best not to encourage anger; in this day and age more than ever.
ReplyDeleteSeems Joe’s shirtsleeve “Christianity” needs lots of work. Just like the rest of us.
7 TRAITS OF THE CONSIDERATE CHRISTIAN
1. They are inclusive.
2. They treat everyone with respect
3. They give necessary criticism privately whenever possible.
4. They uphold biblical standards with courage and serenity
5. They seek to love and forgive at all times.
6. They are humble.
7. They don’t seek to draw attention to themselves.
Curious to know what the violation actually was and whether law enforcement reached an accommodation with Joe.
DeleteI take issue with the trope, “Ignorance of the law is no excuse.” I’m more of a “three strikes and your out person” (‘cept for a gun shootin’ real bullets).
Meanwhile I ain’t advertisin’ nuthin’ for no one.