The Christian Thing To Do?- Update 2

In case you're wondering if there has been any more news on my gas station episode, the answer is no.  I have not heard from the store manager.  A bit of an update from another place though: When I shared this at a men's breakfast recently one young guy suggested I pay forward the money I saved on the gas.  Actually John K. suggested something similar when he said I could give that money to the church.  So if the manger doesn't call in the next while that's my plan, to pay it forward to some deserving cause.

Dave

A Long Obedience in the Same Direction

I was saddened last week to read that Christian music artist, Ray Boltz has let it be known that he is a homosexual.  If the name doesn't ring a bell for you, he was well-known for his songs "Thank You,"  and "I Pledge Allegiance to the Lamb."

Apparently he has been struggling with this sin since his youth.  He came to Christ and hoped that would cure him, but he says although he married and had children the feelings have never gone away.  He broke the news to his family over 4 years ago, but has not gone public with it until a couple weeks ago.  He is now divorced from his wife and living a homosexual lifestyle. 

Especially discouraging is that this is not just something that he continues to struggle with.  He has apparently completely embraced it and deceived himself into believing it's okay.  In a recent interview he said,

If this is the way God made me, then this is the way I’m going to live. It’s not like God made me this way and he’ll send me to hell if I am who he created me to be … I really feel closer to God because I no longer hate myself.

There are a number of different ways we can respond to this and things to think about, but I have one particular thought I want to address.  It seems too many Christians, as they get older, fall headlong into some sin or another, or simply fall away from the Lord(can't think of any other specific cases offhand).  It's another clear reminder of how weak we really are and how much we need to keep clinging to our Saviour and to one another as believers.  We need to be constantly aware that the possibility is there for all of us to become deceived and fall away.  I cringe when I hear people say that it won't happen to them.  Being aware that it can happen is half the battle.

Eugene Petersen titled one of his books, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction.  He borrowed the phrase from Friedrich Nietzsche.  The Bible uses words like steadfastness, perseverance, faithfulness.  May we do our part and trust God to do His so that we can stay true for a lifetime.

Dave

The Christian Thing To Do?- Update

Well I've been back from vacation for a week now and this is my first post.  Not so much a time issue(although it has been busy), but more because I wasn't ready to update you on my gas station episode.  Finally I am.  I want to thank all of you who posted responses on my blog and on John K's, and also others I talked to face to face.

When it happened my immediate response to myself and to the attendant was, "What do we do now?"  She immediately replied that she didn't know what happened, but it was okay, not to worry about it.  I accepted that and gave her the $20.  

It wasn't until later when I had more time to process it that I started to wonder if I had done the right thing.  My greatest concerns were: 1. Did she have the authority to say it was okay?  2. Would she have to pay it herself?  3. What would Jesus do?  I likely should have gone back that day to check it out, but (excuses) we were busy getting ready to go away and I didn't think I'd have much chance of finding the store manager(this was a Safeway gas bar).  

Anyway I finally got back to the store today and talked to a manager.  I told him what had happened, and that I am a Christian and the pastor of the Baptist church and for that reason I wanted to be sure that this was looked after properly.  I told him that I was willing to pay.

The manager told me he had not heard anything about it(sounded like he thought he should have) and that he wanted to check into it with the gas bar manager.  Then he wondered aloud why he hadn't heard anything and if there might have been some cover up.  Now I'm feeling bad that I may have gotten someone in trouble by not dealing with it right away if that's the case. He thanked me, took my name and phone number and said he'd let me know.  

Perhaps I should have done something different to begin with but it is usual that I need some time to think things through.  I'm not great at spur-of-the-moment decisions.  Regardless, I can't change that now.  I believe I've done what I can now.  I'll let you know how it turns out.

I do want to address some of the comments you made before I sign off.  I disagree with the use of the verses from Romans 13.  I don't believe I legally owed the money or that it was stealing as I didn't try to get away with it.  I was told it was okay.  When I turn the situation around to look at it from the other end I ask, If you were the business owner that made a mistake would you expect your customer to pay for it?  I wouldn't and I don't think most people would.

On the other hand, I like what John K said about this being a great opportunity to be a witness for Jesus.  In the end I decided I would rather be on the side of grace rather than law.  I guess a verse that makes sense to me here would be to do unto others as you would have them do unto you.  Praying that God will somehow use this in my life, yours and the others involved.

Comments welcome!

Dave