"Christian" Business?

[Roadtoad]

Being a truck driver, I try to stay on top of what's going on in the industry. One of the websites I check on regularly is http://www.realdrivers.com .

A company I've been recruited by frequently is Covenant Transport, out of Tennessee. It bills itself as a "family friendly" firm, based on Christian ethics.

Unfortunately, I'm reading too much about Covenant at Real Drivers and other sites, and what they define as "family friendly" has led to more divorces in this business than I'd like to remember. Further, if a televangelist tried half of what Covenant pulls, they'd have been shut down by the FCC.

I know, much of the evidence on Real Drivers is anecdotal, until you look a little further and read what's been reported elsewhere. They're about a half step DOWN from Werner. When you hear about guys who pay hard earned cash to the lumpers, only to get nothing back from the company, when you hear about driver managers who scream at you to drive past your legal limits, and to falsify your logbook, (a sure-fire way to get yourself either a ticket, or worse, jailed), when you hear about falsified driver reports with DAC, and then see evidence of it, you can't help but wonder whose Bible they were reading.

My view is if you're going to call yourself a Christian business, you'd better be conducting yourself in a manner that screams unimpeachable integrity. Anyone else experience this sort of thing? (Man, the tales I could tell about "Christian" radio... Truth is, it's neither.)

 

[zakur]

Unless one's business has something specifically to do with one's religion (e.g. a bookstore or religious supply store), I think it odd to advertise a religion as part of your business. The other day I was behind a tow truck emblazoned with a large Jesus fish and the slogan "Christian Auto Repair."

A long time ago I started a thread here about a "Christian" business directory that is circulated locally. Unfortunately, that thread was deleted when the board was having some problems. Fortunately, I saved my original post. Here it is:

I was walking out of the grocery store the other day, and in the free literature rack I saw a copy of the "Christian Blue Pages." We've all seen the recent proliferation of the little xian fish in ads in the standard Yellow Pages, but this little telephone book (80 pages) contains a veritable school of the piscine symbols.

Interspersed among the ads and listings are the occasional bible verse and devotional phrase (e.g. "God is good!" and "Praise the Lord!). One in-house ad reads, "Honor Your Brothers & Sisters in Christ...Buy From Chirstian (sic) Businesses." Also liberally sprinkled among the listings are "Advertiser Testimonies." Here are some examples:

"I like to find other Christians quickly in the blue pages."
"I 'sowed' my advertising dollars in the 'good soil' of the Christian Blue Pages!"
"We believe in keeping our resources in God's kingdom and the Blue Pages has certainly helped us attain that goal."
"I have appreciated the opportunity for recognition as a Christian within my profession."
"It's a joy working with Christian clients because of comfort level and having same values and purpose in serving on another."
"The Christian Blue Pages is a great way for business owners to take a stand for Christ in the marketplace."
"With Blue Pages customers, we not only make a sale, but have the privilege of participating in the Lord's activity within the body of Christ!"
"We appreciate the fact that we are part of a publication which (sic) promotes Christian Businesses in the area."

Two rather large ads had the following slogans:

"You deserve a Christian physician."
"Choose a Christian attorney."

This little directory seems incredibly silly to me (although I know the publisher is probably making a pretty profit off of it).

BTW, this little outfit is on the web: http://www.christianbluepages.com/

 

[BobM]

We have a "christian" used car salesman in my area. I ask you, how is that possible?

 

[Furterfan]

I suppose that it's inconcievable that anyone would pretend to be a 'Chirstian', just to get a bit of an edge advertising?

FF

 

[Plutarck]

I'm looking for Christian whores, meself.


...kidding, just kidding. I hear muslim whores are a far better value...

 

[Roadtoad]

I suppose that it's inconcievable that anyone would pretend to be a 'Chirstian', just to get a bit of an edge advertising?

FF

Bullseye, Amigo. In the "C"R business, it was called "Fleecing the Flock."

One of the reasons I'm glad to be out of it.

 

[Plutarck]

Bullseye, Amigo. In the "C"R business, it was called "Fleecing the Flock."

One of the reasons I'm glad to be out of it.

"The more he talked of his honor, the faster we counted the spoons."

Flashback to the pre-atheistic era, I recall the biblical reference, "By your fruits shall you be known." Gives an interesting insight into the "[religion/political/national/racial identity here] business" concept - if they have to advertise it, what does that tell you?

 

[Roadtoad]

"The more he talked of his honor, the faster we counted the spoons."

Flashback to the pre-atheistic era, I recall the biblical reference, "By your fruits shall you be known." Gives an interesting insight into the "[religion/political/national/racial identity here] business" concept - if they have to advertise it, what does that tell you?

Ah, there's the rub!

Sounds an awful lot like the Robertson has Cancer thread. (Seems to me that clown is about to reap the very whirlwind he's claimed others will.)

 

[Tricky]

This thread wasn't what I expected so I will attempt to steer it that way.

If you look around, you will see lots of buisnesses advertising the fact that they are Christian. Sometimes it's subtle with just a fish symbol. Other times it is more blatent (In a small town in Alabama, there is a "Brothers in Christ Used Cars").

My question is, do you patronize those businesses the same way you would another business, avoid them, or favor them? The implication they are trying to make is that they are more honest since they are "Christian", however the subtle suggestion is that they show favoritism to Christian customers. Personally, I always make it a point to avoid these businesses. I feel if they are going to play the religion card to draw customers, they should suffer for alienating non-Christians as well. Of course, that's not much of a danger in small-town Alabama, but here in Houston, it could make a significant difference.

 

[Occasional Chemist]

If you look around, you will see lots of buisnesses advertising the fact that they are Christian. Sometimes it's subtle with just a fish symbol. Other times it is more blatent (In a small town in Alabama, there is a "Brothers in Christ Used Cars").

My question is, do you patronize those businesses the same way you would another business, avoid them, or favor them?

It depends on their prices and quality of products/services, mostly. Their religious ads don't much concern me. For example, I once rented an apartment from a "Christian businessman". His apartments were clean, quiet, and cheap. That he had Bible verses on his correspondence didn't bother me in the slightest.

Some businesses I avoid - like the car wash that gives you $5 off for bringing in the current week's church bulletin. I find that annoying - so I wash the car elsewhere.

Unless it's a situation like the car wash above, I only give the "Christian" business minor points off for wearing its religion on its sign.

 

[Roadtoad]

This thread wasn't what I expected so I will attempt to steer it that way.

If you look around, you will see lots of buisnesses advertising the fact that they are Christian. Sometimes it's subtle with just a fish symbol. Other times it is more blatent (In a small town in Alabama, there is a "Brothers in Christ Used Cars").

My question is, do you patronize those businesses the same way you would another business, avoid them, or favor them? The implication they are trying to make is that they are more honest since they are "Christian", however the subtle suggestion is that they show favoritism to Christian customers. Personally, I always make it a point to avoid these businesses. I feel if they are going to play the religion card to draw customers, they should suffer for alienating non-Christians as well. Of course, that's not much of a danger in small-town Alabama, but here in Houston, it could make a significant difference.

I think you're doing what I was hoping to do, Tricky.

Yes, I'd say you should be able to patronize those businesses the way you would others. But I also find myself asking, "If they're so Christian, why do they need to advertise what they claim they believe? Wouldn't it come out in (a.) superior service, or (b.) superior products? My experience says sticking an Ixthys on the sign out front is nothing more than trolling for suckers.

My suspicion is they can't draw others, they're stuck with the "flock." And as far as alienating non-Christians, hell yes, I think that should be considered, and considered well.