Honesty vs. Hypocrisy
Leading up to Christmas, amidst the usual rancor regarding businesses that have gone “P.C.,” I heard perhaps the freshest argument and the one with which I personally agree the most regarding whether or not businesses choose to dare utter the word “Christmas.” In an interview on Fox News, a minister (sorry, I didn’t take note of names) explained the situation rather succinctly. “No one had a problem with the phrase ‘Happy Holidays’ until people started to use it as a substitution for ‘Merry Christmas.’ It’s okay to say ‘Happy Holidays’ if what you mean is to be inclusive of all holidays that happen to be taking place in the same season. But if you’re saying it to purposely exclude a holiday that the majority of Americans celebrate, that’s simply dishonest.” I paraphrase, but I believe that to be close to the actual words he used.
Well said, indeed! Last time I checked, pointy evergreen trees 6’-10’ in height were only used for ONE holiday, that being Christmas. So, anyone hawking them as “Holiday Trees” is guilty of that fundamental dishonesty of which the minister spoke. Honesty need not be presented offensively, nor should it be stifled by the knee-jerk offended. By logical extension, this is applicable to all parts of our lives and livelihoods. I shouldn’t have to disguise my beliefs, and you should have no expectation that my life is entirely compartmentalized. As a human, I have spiritual, political, and behavioral values… and lucky for you, too! Those beliefs affect all my actions, much to the benefit of those with which I interact.
In as much as militant secularists seek to exclude to prove their inclusiveness, there are dangers in those who act in decidedly non-Christian ways to prove their superior Christianity. There is a not-so-fine-line between acting within your beliefs in all aspects of your life and refusing to hide your beliefs versus using the name of God as a de facto signature of approval on your particular approach to business and a competitive edge against businesses that don’t share your distinct brand of beliefs. No, I’m not going to call anyone out in particular, as this isn’t directed at any one person or incident. Maybe it’s better to take the Jeff Foxworthy approach, here. “If you insist your interpretation of the Bible is the only one, and that anyone not sharing it in the running of their business or affairs has gone astray of the Lord, you miiiiiiiiiiiiiight be a hypocrite!”
I remember a conversation with a salesman I knew early in my sales career. In discussing the merits of actively finding opportunities to discuss one’s Christianity with customers, he had this to say, “I know [the boss] doesn’t agree, but what’s wrong with finding common ground with your customers? They’re Christians, and I’m a Christian, so I think it benefits me to discuss that.” I thought about what he’d said, and I replied, “Mormons, Baptists, Catholics, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and even a bunch of folks who pass around snakes would all describe themselves to you as ‘Christians,’ yet each group is pretty much at odds with each other on some pretty important things and likely so with you, as well. Does it benefit you to drill down enough to find out which group they’re in?” To refuse to exclude your spirituality from your business is honesty, and that we need to commend. To seek to exclude in the belief that we speak for God or that He would exclusively endorse our approach to business over others, including more secular competitors, is hypocrisy… not to mention an ultimately unsustainable business model. Which category describes you? Does God work through you, or are you attempting to work through God?
Jared A. Chambers
