I’ve never been tracted before. Monday was my first time. What is being tracted you may ask? Tracted is having someone give you a tract so that they can lead you to salvation. Let me paint the story for you.
I was working (at Bubba Gump Srhimp Company) and got this table of two women, a mother and a daughter. I greeted them and they looked like they didn’t want to talk to me at all. I tried to be friendly, but the more friendly I was, the more turned off they were. They decided to get waters and share one entree. I knew this was going to be a bad table because anybody that does that has cheap written all over them.
I stopped by later to play a little Forrest Gump trivia with them (which is a job requirement) and I almost got them to smile once, almost. Their food came out and I kept checking up on them and made sure everything was alright, but the mother and daughter were not talking to each other at all. The table was filled with all kinds of pregnant pauses.
I dropped the bill off for them and told them that I really appreciated their business. When I came back to pick up the check, I asked them if they needed change and they said no. Then the mother hands me this tiny booklet and says that I should read it sometime when I have a chance. I told her I would and thanked her. Then I checked my tip and noticed that they tipped five percent, only five.
So here’s my thinking. Let’s say I wasn’t a Christian. What would make me want to convert to your religion after handing me this tract? Not only were they rude to me, but it looked like they didn’t want to talk to me at all. It also looked like they had about zero percent happiness in their own lives. So why choose Christianity if it makes me a grumpy person like those two? Also, they tipped me almost nothing. What does that say to a non Christian? That all Christians are cheap? Based on their actions, I would be running away from Christianity rather than embracing it. I have to be honest, I almost felt that way today even being a Christian.
Not only that, but this tract was horrible. The cover of it had 16 smiley faces on it, with one giant one looking right at you. I think it’s ironic that smiley faces were all over it because when you open the tract, the first bullet point is, “You are a sinner and don’t deserve to go to heaven,” followed by, “The only way you can pay for your sins is by spending eternity in hell.” Boy gee, that puts a smile on anybody’s face, doesn’t it? Perhaps the cover should be filled with crying babies engulfed in flames. It would be more accurate, that’s all I’m saying.
So should I give these guys credit for stepping out on their faith and at least trying to spread the good news? The politically correct answer is yes, but I’m going to say no. Seriously, if you are going to represent Christianity so badly to other people, than maybe it’s better if you stay home. I know it’s harsh, but if I feel compelled to reject their message, I can’t imagine what a non Christian would feel.
