Don't Tell Them That You Go To Church Here

Years ago a close friend of mine led a group in the summer representing the Bible School from which we had graduated. Back in town after a trip, he and his wife were catching up on business. Paralleled parked in front of the post office, he, when he got in the full size van to leave, he couldn't see the small car parked behind him. As he backed up to exit the parking place, the bumper crashed into the car. Putting the van in park he got to check on the vehicle he had hit. A woman was getting out of the damaged car. It was evident that she was some what upset, but when he tried to assure her that her vehicle would be taken care of by saying, "Ma'am, I'm really sorry about hitting your car. Don't worry I'm from the Bible School (He named it)." and the name of the Bible School came out of his mouth the women went ballistic. It took some calming of the lady and conversing with her, but my friend finally discovered why she had become so immediately angry. Just a week before another former student had also ran into her vehicle. He had reassured her that he was from the school, and not to worry, the school would take care of her vehicle. Although he had been a student, he was not a representative of the school although he gave her a business card indicating he was. His deception had left a terrible perception of the Bible School in the lady's mind. Each member of our church represents our church. People who do not attend, judge the church by the life of the member they know, work with, are acquinted with. What they see in and think of one from the church is what think of the church. It goes a bit further than that: What they think of a member is what they think of the Church is what they think of God. If you run into someone's car and don't take care of the damage, please don't tell them you go to church here. I may run into them next week.