Trust Me. I'm Christian.

I was driving through Maryland's ex-urbia (that quickly-growing region that is expanding west and north from Baltimore and Washington's suburbs) and saw a truck for a cleaning service that proudly proclaims that they are "A Company You Can Trust."  Between the words "can" and "trust" was a cross, set there in an obvious attempt to prove commercial confidence by nature of the business owner's Christian faith.

Of course, people in many places and many situations use religion as a badge of honor and a validation of virtue.  Many conservatives express a confidence in President Bush (despite all kinds of evidence that should shatter confidence) because of his Christian faith.  "He's a Godly man," some say.  "He prays every night.  He goes to church.  And that's important to me."

Faith has little or no bearing on the ability of someone to do a job.  Just because my plumber is a Christian doesn't mean that he's a good plumber.  Just because my babaysitter is Christian doesn't mean that she is a good babysitter.  Just because my President is Christian doesn't mean he is a good President.  What is important is that the person is a good plumber, a good babysitter, a good President - regardless of faith.  Furthermore, using faith as a marketing technique (the "Christian Yellowpages" comes to mind) wreaks of an exclusive, insular Christianity that cares only for other Christians at the expense of the broader society in which we are called to live and serve.

Comments

[proclaimingsoftly]

I saw an invitation for the opening of a business called, no kidding, "Christian Neurology." So immediately, I wondered if this doctor only wants Christian patients, only prays over the patients. Uses crosses as some kind of icons to scare the neurons into obeying, only takes money from Christians, my mind was really spinning on this one. And as a Christian, I wondered if I should be offended. Hopefully, I don't need the services of a neurologist.