editorial

Cut Off By a Little Fish

Michael Zigarelli

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You’ve seen the scene. Perhaps even experienced it first-hand. There you are, driving down the road, prudence personified behind the wheel. All of a sudden, some product of the “me-first” culture comes flying out of the gas station and cuts you off. You hit the brakes, but not the horn. Honking displeases God, you know. But then you notice something else displeasing: on the back of the minivan that just cut you off is a little fish, the universal symbol of a born-again on board. The outward sign of an inward reality: this driver’s a Christian and he advertises that wherever he goes.

We see similar incongruities at ballgames. The fan wearing the church shirt is swearing at the umpire. We see it at the church picnic as guys casually but noticeably check out each other’s wives. We hear it in our phone conversations as two gossiping Christians bond at the expense of a third. So is it any wonder that researcher George Barna recently found that unbelievers see only two differences between themselves and Christians? “Christians go to church more than we do and they are more judgmental than we are,” report these folks.

Ouch. What ever happened to “they will know we are Christians by our love”?

Now consider the workplace. Christians struggling with holiness off the job may struggle all the more with holiness on the job, given the significant pressures there. The manifestations are countless. An overly-critical reaction in a meeting. The quick rejection of a request for time off. A terse “hello” in the hallway because we’re too busy to probe the consternation on the other person’s face. For many of us, the salt shaker ran out of granules years ago.

And that’s tragic. When we do something at work that our co-workers perceive to be unloving or un-Godly, they feel the same way that you would feel when cut off by a little fish. “What a hypocrite!” they think. “Where’s the care? Where’s the patience? What’s with the me-first attitude?” It’s enough to make them want to lean on their horn.

It’s been said quite correctly that “you’ll meet more spiritually needy people than your pastor ever will” and that “your life is the only Bible many people will ever read.” Those aren’t clichés, they’re realities. Ours is an awesome, awesome responsibility. If the New Testament is to be believed, other people’s very eternity may be affected by how we conduct ourselves in our daily lives! Could there possibly be any more at stake? Do we really need another reason to take seriously our roles as ambassadors of the faith?

Month after month we hear of studies and stories that demonstrate Christians do indeed have human failings after all. Not revelations, of course, but these are important reminders for us to re-commit to introspection and improvement. We must, as believers, make a habit of self-examination and remain continually vigilant about our character. Then we’re to make progress, modeling Christ in all our interactions. The Great Commandment is just that – a commandment – not just a great suggestion.

Make the time to look within, because, whether you know it or not, people are watching you. Take inventory of yourself at strategic moments during each day, like after a tough conversation or after a request for your time or money. Examine yourself through the eyes of those around you and take action to grow toward the light.

And please, if you’re going to drive like a maniac, take that little fish off the back of your car.  

Michael Zigarelli is Associate Professor of Management at Messiah College and the editor of Christianity 9 to 5.