Comments on: Neighbor Love and the Considerate Traveler http://betweenthetimes.com/2009/07/21/neighbor-love-and-the-considerate-traveler/ Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:32:23 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Wesley Handy http://betweenthetimes.com/2009/07/21/neighbor-love-and-the-considerate-traveler/comment-page-1/#comment-10538 Wesley Handy Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:44:00 +0000 http://betweenthetimes.com/?p=953#comment-10538 Dr. Nelson, I know its been about 5 months since this was posted. I ran across this post through a chain of link-following on Alan Knox's blog. Being courteous in public goes a long way. It really stands out. As a former hotel manager and having worked in customer service positions for most of my working career, it is easy to spot mature loving people. They stand out. The jerks, the inconsiderate, the unloving, they are commonplace. They blend in and make life a constant dripping of hydrochloric acid on the forehead for people who deal with the public. The sad thing is that the ones, many times, who are the worst, are Christians! Perhaps its just because its hurts more from a brother or sister. But how one handles themselves in public, how they react to waiters, tellers, clerks, can be an amazing witness as well as an amazing hindrance to the gospel. How utterly foolish it is to mistreat the lowly clerks. Even if it were their "fault" for whatever set you off, how is blasting them going to change anything!!! Many times the real cause of the problem is management, and many more times than that the cause is our own personal feelings of entitlement. I try to teach my children on a daily basis (well, because its take daily reminders to get it through) to "Consider others better than yourselves." This is the gospel! We are treated better by God himself! How little is it for us to treat others better. Its like the parable of the wicked servant. How many times we (I) take our fellow servants to task over such menial things! This is convicting to write! So many times I have to go back and apologize to others! (And apologizing goes a long way too!!!) Dr. Nelson,

I know its been about 5 months since this was posted. I ran across this post through a chain of link-following on Alan Knox’s blog.

Being courteous in public goes a long way. It really stands out. As a former hotel manager and having worked in customer service positions for most of my working career, it is easy to spot mature loving people. They stand out. The jerks, the inconsiderate, the unloving, they are commonplace. They blend in and make life a constant dripping of hydrochloric acid on the forehead for people who deal with the public. The sad thing is that the ones, many times, who are the worst, are Christians! Perhaps its just because its hurts more from a brother or sister.

But how one handles themselves in public, how they react to waiters, tellers, clerks, can be an amazing witness as well as an amazing hindrance to the gospel. How utterly foolish it is to mistreat the lowly clerks. Even if it were their “fault” for whatever set you off, how is blasting them going to change anything!!! Many times the real cause of the problem is management, and many more times than that the cause is our own personal feelings of entitlement.

I try to teach my children on a daily basis (well, because its take daily reminders to get it through) to “Consider others better than yourselves.” This is the gospel! We are treated better by God himself! How little is it for us to treat others better. Its like the parable of the wicked servant. How many times we (I) take our fellow servants to task over such menial things!

This is convicting to write! So many times I have to go back and apologize to others! (And apologizing goes a long way too!!!)

]]> By: Proverbs 19:11 http://betweenthetimes.com/2009/07/21/neighbor-love-and-the-considerate-traveler/comment-page-1/#comment-6142 Proverbs 19:11 Fri, 25 Sep 2009 03:28:24 +0000 http://betweenthetimes.com/?p=953#comment-6142 WOW great advice from a peer. On the Dangers of Seminary (Pt. 6): The Danger of Becoming an Arrogant, Narcissistic, Hyper-Critical Jerk WOW great advice from a peer.

On the Dangers of Seminary (Pt. 6): The Danger of Becoming an Arrogant, Narcissistic, Hyper-Critical Jerk

]]> By: Proverbs 19:11 http://betweenthetimes.com/2009/07/21/neighbor-love-and-the-considerate-traveler/comment-page-1/#comment-6140 Proverbs 19:11 Fri, 25 Sep 2009 03:12:36 +0000 http://betweenthetimes.com/?p=953#comment-6140 I don't guess the inconsiderate Christian traveler bothers me any more than the leave me alone, don't bother me, it's my world, I'm a PHD gnostic, your a immature pagan who thinks your a Christian, kind of Christian. I don’t guess the inconsiderate Christian traveler bothers me any more than the leave me alone, don’t bother me, it’s my world, I’m a PHD gnostic, your a immature pagan who thinks your a Christian, kind of Christian.

]]> By: The Assembling of the Church | Why are Christians generally inconsiderate of others? http://betweenthetimes.com/2009/07/21/neighbor-love-and-the-considerate-traveler/comment-page-1/#comment-2097 The Assembling of the Church | Why are Christians generally inconsiderate of others? Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:03:05 +0000 http://betweenthetimes.com/?p=953#comment-2097 [...] Nelson, Academic Dean of Southeastern Seminary, has written an important post called “Neighbor Love and the Considerate Traveler.” In this post, he exhorts Christians to exhibit love and consideration towards others while [...] [...] Nelson, Academic Dean of Southeastern Seminary, has written an important post called “Neighbor Love and the Considerate Traveler.” In this post, he exhorts Christians to exhibit love and consideration towards others while [...]

]]> By: Nathan Akin http://betweenthetimes.com/2009/07/21/neighbor-love-and-the-considerate-traveler/comment-page-1/#comment-2088 Nathan Akin Wed, 22 Jul 2009 12:34:49 +0000 http://betweenthetimes.com/?p=953#comment-2088 Great word Dr. Nelson, I was recently hit over the head with this when I had the privilege of preaching from Titus. In that passage it says "show perfect courtesy toward all people" that is a demanding calling, but one for those that serve a King who always did so. Nathan Great word Dr. Nelson, I was recently hit over the head with this when I had the privilege of preaching from Titus. In that passage it says “show perfect courtesy toward all people” that is a demanding calling, but one for those that serve a King who always did so.

Nathan

]]> By: Pastor Jim http://betweenthetimes.com/2009/07/21/neighbor-love-and-the-considerate-traveler/comment-page-1/#comment-2031 Pastor Jim Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:57:59 +0000 http://betweenthetimes.com/?p=953#comment-2031 I think that the rudest parking lot I've ever been in was recently leaving a Christian concert. At least the drunks leaving the ballgames are friendly and will let you in--as long as you're rooting for the home team. I think that the rudest parking lot I’ve ever been in was recently leaving a Christian concert. At least the drunks leaving the ballgames are friendly and will let you in–as long as you’re rooting for the home team.

]]> By: Eric S http://betweenthetimes.com/2009/07/21/neighbor-love-and-the-considerate-traveler/comment-page-1/#comment-2030 Eric S Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:49:34 +0000 http://betweenthetimes.com/?p=953#comment-2030 Dr. Nelson, It is interesting how most of your points would be taken care of if we believers were displaying the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. I had to laugh, though, as I read through your suggestions. If you ever spend any time in the Arab world you would see just about all of these points being shattered. I know you are addressing believers in this post, but it made me laugh anyway. I will think about it again, and laugh, tomorrow morning when there are 6 to 8 men standing outside my living room window at 6:00am...not using their inside voices at all. Great post. Dr. Nelson,

It is interesting how most of your points would be taken care of if we believers were displaying the fruit of the Spirit in our lives.

I had to laugh, though, as I read through your suggestions. If you ever spend any time in the Arab world you would see just about all of these points being shattered. I know you are addressing believers in this post, but it made me laugh anyway. I will think about it again, and laugh, tomorrow morning when there are 6 to 8 men standing outside my living room window at 6:00am…not using their inside voices at all. Great post.

]]> By: David Scott http://betweenthetimes.com/2009/07/21/neighbor-love-and-the-considerate-traveler/comment-page-1/#comment-2019 David Scott Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:20:36 +0000 http://betweenthetimes.com/?p=953#comment-2019 Thanks for this very necessary (for me at least) reminder. My wife and I just finished a very long return trip from San Antonio; arrived at RDU @ 2:30AM. We had numerous opportunities to observe the rude behaviour of some and the graciousness of others; my wife is always in the gracious number which her husband doesn't always join! Thanks for this very necessary (for me at least) reminder. My wife and I just finished a very long return trip from San Antonio; arrived at RDU @ 2:30AM. We had numerous opportunities to observe the rude behaviour of some and the graciousness of others; my wife is always in the gracious number which her husband doesn’t always join!

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