Did I do the right thing?

[PollyJetix]

Today, I stopped for a burger, and decided to sit down to eat. I don't usually, but this time, I felt like celebrating. I had just deposited a very nice paycheck in my bank account.

So, I ordered and sat in a booth...
Right behind me sat 3 ladies, waiting for their food.
I couldn't help but hear everything they talked about.

Who they were discussing, I did not know, but everything they said was cutting and mean.
Then they mentioned another name, and the conversation continued to slice and dice people down to size.

When their food came, They said a few choice words among themselves about the ineptness of this establishment's management.

Suddenly, they all bowed their heads, and the most beautiful prayer thanking the Lord for the food, and asking blessings and giving thanks for all things in the Name of Jesus... it flowed over my soul like a balm.

"Amen" they all chorused.
And immediately, their tongues got back to the negative gossip.

I finished my food... and felt I could not leave without saying something to them. But I didn't want to make a scene. I mean, they could get very angry, and how would that serve Christ?

So I prayed, and suddenly felt maybe a note would work.

So... this is what I wrote on a small note paper, and gave it to them as I went out:

"The prayer I heard from your booth blessed me! I enjoyed hearing it so much!
But I can't say the same about the rest of your conversation.
If I were an unbeliever, the witness of your prayer would have been erased by the witness of your negative gossip.
- Because I love Jesus."

I signed my first name, got up, stopped by their table and said, "Hello, Ladies" with a smile... handed them the note... and scooted.

Do you think I did the right thing?
(I'm really doubting myself now, because I'm usually more gifted with succinctly speaking the truth, than with social grace.)

 

[Winken]

Today, I stopped for a burger, and decided to sit down to eat. I don't usually, but this time, I felt like celebrating. I had just deposited a very nice paycheck in my bank account.

So, I ordered and sat in a booth...
Right behind me sat 3 ladies, waiting for their food.
I couldn't help but hear everything they talked about.

Who they were discussing, I did not know, but everything they said was cutting and mean.
Then they mentioned another name, and the conversation continued to slice and dice people down to size.

When their food came, They said a few choice words among themselves about the ineptness of this establishment's management.

Suddenly, they all bowed their heads, and the most beautiful prayer thanking the Lord for the food, and asking blessings and giving thanks for all things in the Name of Jesus... it flowed over my soul like a balm.

"Amen" they all chorused.
And immediately, their tongues got back to the negative gossip.

I finished my food... and felt I could not leave without saying something to them. But I didn't want to make a scene. I mean, they could get very angry, and how would that serve Christ?

So I prayed, and suddenly felt maybe a note would work.

So... this is what I wrote on a small note paper, and gave it to them as I went out:

"The prayer I heard from your booth blessed me! I enjoyed hearing it so much!
But I can't say the same about the rest of your conversation.
If I were an unbeliever, the witness of your prayer would have been erased by the witness of your negative gossip.
- Because I love Jesus."

I signed my first name, got up, stopped by their table and said, "Hello, Ladies" with a smile... handed them the note... and scooted.

Do you think I did the right thing?
(I'm really doubting myself now, because I'm usually more gifted with succinctly speaking the truth, than with social grace.)

You did good. I probably would have spoken right up, quoting a few scriptures. But I'm old, so most likely they wouldn't claw my eyes out.

 

[-Hannah-]

Your note was so gracious. I think you did good.

 

[HereIStand]

You absolutely did the right thing. I've heard of folks having the preacher for lunch after church, they talk so badly about him.

 

[Another Lazarus]

happens everywhere,
not so wise to intervene as u r just a stranger to them, they didnt even know you how would u expect people to rcv ur advice.

 

[PollyJetix]

I was really angry at them... I didn't trust myself to speak to them. I probably would have said something cutting... just as bad as they were doing!

But it got me to thinking... this is how Christianity has gotten such a name for hypocrisy.
Because unbelievers hear the witness of the unchristian words far louder than the pious words.

In fact, it would have been better if those women would have skipped praying completely, if they were going to use their tongues to spew such venom afterward!

By self-identifying as Christians in a public place, and then to follow that up with such evil talk, they did Christ more harm than good.

I think I'm still mad.

 

[Another Lazarus]

I think I'm still mad.

Its not advisable to let people know that you are listening to their private conversation, you're not invited. Nobody's perfect yet.

 

[PollyJetix]

Its not advisable to let people know that you are listening to their private conversation, you're not invited. Nobody's perfect yet.

To the contrary... I think it is very wise to open some peoples' eyes to the fact that their conversations in public are being overheard.

This is a true story:
An Amish mother and her teenage daughter were traveling by bus.
They thought no one around them could understand Pennsylvania Deutsch, so they conversed quite freely, about very private subjects.

A man in the adjacent seat waited until he was getting off the bus... and then he leaned over and said...
"Excuse me, but I thought you may wish to know that I know German, which is very close to your language. Even though I am not Amish, I could understand everything you said."

He did them a favor.

 

[HereIStand]

I was really angry at them... I didn't trust myself to speak to them. I probably would have said something cutting... just as bad as they were doing!

But it got me to thinking... this is how Christianity has gotten such a name for hypocrisy.
Because unbelievers hear the witness of the unchristian words far louder than the pious words.

In fact, it would have been better if those women would have skipped praying completely, if they were going to use their tongues to spew such venom afterward!

By self-identifying as Christians in a public place, and then to follow that up with such evil talk, they did Christ more harm than good.

I think I'm still mad.

That's true. People overhearing this could well think badly of Christians. Gossip probably doesn't get the attention that perhaps it should, as something a Christian shouldn't engage in.

My sense is that much of gossip stems from boredom. People don't have much going on in their lives. They need an outlet. Shared ridicule brings comfort.

 

[bekkilyn]

<staff edit>

People are free to speak in public, true, but it doesn't mean that they are free from any consequences of speaking in public, such as being overheard by the people around them who may react in various ways to the things they overhear.

 

[HereIStand]

People are free to speak in public, true, but it doesn't mean that they are free from any consequences of speaking in public, such as being overheard by the people around them who may react in various ways to the things they overhear.

Totally agree. It's not a question of legal rights. It's one of what should a Christian do, especially in public.

 

[HereIStand]

<staff edit>
If the people sitting near her had not identified themselves as Christians, then nothing should have been said. We should though feel a sense of shared responsibility as Christians to behave properly, especially in public.

Beyond this, plenty of Christian missionaries have gone into countries where they weren't invited.

 

[Winken]

I was really angry at them... I didn't trust myself to speak to them. I probably would have said something cutting... just as bad as they were doing!

But it got me to thinking... this is how Christianity has gotten such a name for hypocrisy.
Because unbelievers hear the witness of the unchristian words far louder than the pious words.

In fact, it would have been better if those women would have skipped praying completely, if they were going to use their tongues to spew such venom afterward!

By self-identifying as Christians in a public place, and then to follow that up with such evil talk, they did Christ more harm than good.

I think I'm still mad.

Get unmad, okay??

 

[mukk_in]

To the contrary... I think it is very wise to open some peoples' eyes to the fact that their conversations in public are being overheard.

This is a true story:
An Amish mother and her teenage daughter were traveling by bus.
They thought no one around them could understand Pennsylvania Deutsch, so they conversed quite freely, about very private subjects.

A man in the adjacent seat waited until he was getting off the bus... and then he leaned over and said...
"Excuse me, but I thought you may wish to know that I know German, which is very close to your language. Even though I am not Amish, I could understand everything you said."

He did them a favor.

Stating your opinion politely without becoming combative should be OK .

 

[PollyJetix]

Get unmad, okay??

Working on it, bro.

I wasn't mad for myself.
It was the fact that they had so piously identified themselves as Christians in a very public place, and then made Christians look like that.

I felt a bit like tipping over a few tables.

 

[RaymondG]

I find nothing wrong in your actions. My personal goals, however, are to have ears that thirst for righteousness. I want to enter a room full of negative talk, and only hear the positive... and i also want a spirit that is slow to anger... and is not too easily upset by the words of others... IF I find myself drawn to negativity, I would start to examine myself.... But thats just how I feel about me....not others.

 

[-Hannah-]

<staff edit>
Each country has their "social rules", PollyJetix knows best how her action is seen in her country. Of course her action is right for some, wrong for others. I think she was extremely polite by writing a note instead of talking. What could be a confrontational situation ended up being just some food for thought. I hope the ladies were inspired by this episode.

As a Mathematics teacher, I can't count the times I intervened in a conversation without any invitation, after overhearing someone in need. We aren't inside closed boxes, we interact with each other spontaneously, if the person doesn't like our approach, they will demonstrate and everyone continues their lives, no knifes, no stabbing.
Just the other day I was walking in the wind, a car stopped and told me "How painful it is to me, to drive by you in my car while you are in the cold", I told him I liked the wind and I was warm; he said "I feel better then", and there he went to his life. Strangers interact in public places, that's a wonderful part of being a person.

 

[REM]

Today, I stopped for a burger, and decided to sit down to eat. I don't usually, but this time, I felt like celebrating. I had just deposited a very nice paycheck in my bank account.

So, I ordered and sat in a booth...
Right behind me sat 3 ladies, waiting for their food.
I couldn't help but hear everything they talked about.

Who they were discussing, I did not know, but everything they said was cutting and mean.
Then they mentioned another name, and the conversation continued to slice and dice people down to size.

When their food came, They said a few choice words among themselves about the ineptness of this establishment's management.

Suddenly, they all bowed their heads, and the most beautiful prayer thanking the Lord for the food, and asking blessings and giving thanks for all things in the Name of Jesus... it flowed over my soul like a balm.

"Amen" they all chorused.
And immediately, their tongues got back to the negative gossip.

I finished my food... and felt I could not leave without saying something to them. But I didn't want to make a scene. I mean, they could get very angry, and how would that serve Christ?

So I prayed, and suddenly felt maybe a note would work.

So... this is what I wrote on a small note paper, and gave it to them as I went out:

"The prayer I heard from your booth blessed me! I enjoyed hearing it so much!
But I can't say the same about the rest of your conversation.
If I were an unbeliever, the witness of your prayer would have been erased by the witness of your negative gossip.
- Because I love Jesus."

I signed my first name, got up, stopped by their table and said, "Hello, Ladies" with a smile... handed them the note... and scooted.

Do you think I did the right thing?
(I'm really doubting myself now, because I'm usually more gifted with succinctly speaking the truth, than with social grace.)

That's what non Christian women do. Par for the course.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Today, I stopped for a burger, and decided to sit down to eat. I don't usually, but this time, I felt like celebrating. I had just deposited a very nice paycheck in my bank account.

So, I ordered and sat in a booth...
Right behind me sat 3 ladies, waiting for their food.
I couldn't help but hear everything they talked about.

Who they were discussing, I did not know, but everything they said was cutting and mean.
Then they mentioned another name, and the conversation continued to slice and dice people down to size.

When their food came, They said a few choice words among themselves about the ineptness of this establishment's management.

Suddenly, they all bowed their heads, and the most beautiful prayer thanking the Lord for the food, and asking blessings and giving thanks for all things in the Name of Jesus... it flowed over my soul like a balm.

"Amen" they all chorused.
And immediately, their tongues got back to the negative gossip.

I finished my food... and felt I could not leave without saying something to them. But I didn't want to make a scene. I mean, they could get very angry, and how would that serve Christ?

So I prayed, and suddenly felt maybe a note would work.

So... this is what I wrote on a small note paper, and gave it to them as I went out:

"The prayer I heard from your booth blessed me! I enjoyed hearing it so much!
But I can't say the same about the rest of your conversation.
If I were an unbeliever, the witness of your prayer would have been erased by the witness of your negative gossip.
- Because I love Jesus."

I signed my first name, got up, stopped by their table and said, "Hello, Ladies" with a smile... handed them the note... and scooted.

Do you think I did the right thing?
(I'm really doubting myself now, because I'm usually more gifted with succinctly speaking the truth, than with social grace.)

Perfect. You did great! You did the right thing. A note is non-confrontational and it gets the point of your message across without turning it into a scene.

But you did the right thing.

People need a "wake up call" these days. Many today are trying to justify a sin and still be saved type gospel. Many today have a form of Godliness but they deny the power thereof (2 Timothy 3:1-9). We are in the last days. Christians need to strive at following Jesus and make every effort in being true, genuine, and pure hearted whereby they love and do good towards their enemies. Believers today truly need to renew their minds and allow the Lord to work in them (Allowing Christ to move them so as to be His hands and to be His feet).


...

 

[NothingIsImpossible]

I probably would have said something, but leaving a note was a better idea so no fight ensues. While I'm not perfect, it blows my mind when I hear people at a table talking about their sex life, their body parts, other people, insulting others, swearing and then pray or talk about what God is doing in their life.

I mean... if I weren't a christian and I heard you saying that stuff I'd be like "What a joke christianity is! Hypocrites!"

Speaking of I made a terrible mistake today to prove my point further. After waiting all day to eat we finally made it out to a new place only to find they were closed. I suggested a buffet place I like to eat. My wife and mother wanted to go back to another buffet they like. I told my wife I didn't want to, nothing has changed there. I didn't want to waste my money.

So after a small argument, we went to the place they wanted. I told my wife before we walked in "Never ask me to come to this place again if I still don't like the food!". I was mad. So we went in and sure enough nothing had changed. The food was bland, cold and terrible. When my wife came back to the table with her food she asked "So how is it?". I snapped and said "It taste like (swear word regarding feces)!". She was upset and said something and I raised my voice (not loud) a bit and said "I told you I didn't want to come!".

Well as if I didn't feel bad enough right after and guilty.... my mom had come back to the table and said "Guess whos here? The pastor and his wife!". I look to my left and about 40 feet away in another booth (that can see us) I see them. That guilt just went through me so hard. I almost NEVER swear. But knowing the pastor was there...ugh.

I went into the bathroom and prayed. Then I apologized to my wife and mom. Thankfully the pastor and his wife didn't hear me do it. But it reminded me we are to be like Jesus. What we do in public can be seen and heard by others. And if they knew I was a christian, they would also laugh at my christianity and think it was a joke. >.<