Who is Right?

How many times have you walked into a shop and watched the attendant look away? Have you had them read the newspaper, drink a cup of coffee, answer their phone, share a joke with a colleague, and then finally notice you? When they do notice you have you felt like you are creating a problem for them?


Or have you ever purchased an item in a shop taken it home only to find it was faulty? Maybe it was not an original part? Maybe it was broke? Maybe you just got tricked? The honest thing seemed to be to return to the shop to get a replacement or a refund, but when you did you found a long list of excuses and pseudo-business policies all designed to avoid responsibility.


Or maybe to make this a bit more personal - When you are doing your daily business do you find people are a bother? I have to admit sometimes I do. After all for me isn't pastoring about preaching great sermons and designing wonderful programs? That requires time to think, discover, and organize. Why do people keep disturbing me with their problems that require me to listen, pray, and seek solutions? People are just messy. I'd rather work with ideas.


Then I hear that old business motto - "The Customer is Always Right."



This week we will continue our series From Crisis to Opportunity. We will continue to discover the habits and value of entrepreneurs who build the institutions of our community. Our topic from MINALOC's list this week will be Customer Service Mentality.


History's greatest philosophers and religions have wrestled with this issue - How do we deal with problematic people? Here are there answers:


Bahai: "Ascribe not to any soul that which thou would not have ascribed thee."

Buddhism: "Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful."

Christianity: "Do to others what you would have them do to you."

Confucianism: "Do not do to others what you do not want them to do for you."

Hinduism: "One should not behave towards others in a way which is disagreeable to oneself."

Islam: "None of you (truly) believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself."

Judaism: "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."

Plato: "May I do to others as I would that they should do unto me."

Socrates: "Do not do to others that which would anger you if others did it to you."


Though I believe Jesus of Nazareth is unique, His answer to problematic people is the same with the best minds of humanities history. We must treat others as we want to be treated. Then Jesus used an unfamiliar Greek word to explain what this meant. The word is Agape which means to love someone so much that you are willing to sacrifice your very life for them. Many Christians use this odd Greek word as their mantra of feel good relationships, but it is just the opposite. Agape means painful sacrifice. It is the type of love that hurts to give.


Wow. I wish he had not said that, but He did. Thus we must fearlessly pursue Jesus' answer to problematic people.


Will you join me in this journey?


Imana ikurinde,


Dave