Christianity in the Wal-Mart

Pedestrian Zone

Greg Chandler

The Walmart Corporation has perhaps changed the economic tone in America more than any other business. With its mass appeal to consumerism, it has attracted a clientele that expects cheap prices, quick service, and one stop shopping. A lesser, but still significant change can be found outside the stores of this retail giant. At each store, a series of yellow lines indicate a crosswalk for pedestrian traffic. In most locations, hundreds, if not thousands of people traverse these lines on a daily basis. Interestingly, many pedestrians have become so accustomed to the supposed safety of these zones that they walk in front of traffic without ever making a glancing pass over the shoulder to make sure all vehicles have stopped. They have come to believe that, because it is their right to walk here, everyone will stop no matter what.

Could it be that Christians, at times, adopt this same philosophy about their own spirituality? Is it ever the case that those who wear the name of Christ have come to believe that their own wishes, desires, and whims must be answered first and that everyone else must come to a full and complete stop to make sure this happens? Such an attitude stands in direct opposition to everything Christ sought to convey in His teachings and in His walk on this earth.

Consider the life of Christ on earth. As a king, he was deserving of honor from His subjects. Yet, He was no ordinary king. The Lord Himself took the form of man to come to earth. While deserving nothing less than praise and adoration, Christ came in the form of a servant king. He sought to instill in His disciples the two greatest commands: Love God and love your neighbor. This was nowhere more obvious than when He took the time to wash the feet of His disciples. To Peter’s protest, the Lord responded “if I do not wash you, you have no share with Me.” (John 13:8) The Lord sought to illustrate the kind of spirit that subjects itself to the good of others. He wanted His disciples to have a spirit that rejected standards based on haughtiness and pride, knowing that such characteristics would prevent His people from seeing to the needs of their fellow man. As a Christian, does this describe your attitude?

It is easy to find such character flaws in others. Each Christian, however, must examine his own heart to make sure he is the kind of servant of which the Lord approves. Each Christian must make sure he has left behind the spirit of pride and arrogance that would prevent providing for the needs of others and putting the needs of self last. James states that a spirit that puts the needs of self before the needs of others is illustrative of a faith that is dead (James 2:14f)

How do you stand in this regard? Honestly evaluate yourself in light of the following questions. What do your answers reflect about your status as a servant of Christ?

Do I take time to help build and strengthen faith in my brethren?
Do I change my personal plans if I learn there is a brother or sister in need?
Do I use talents given to me by the Lord to spiritually aid my brethren?
Do I believe that my desires should be ahead of others?
Do I grow angry when brethren do not give me the credit I think I deserve?
Do I believe others should seek out my opinion on spiritual matters?
Am I jealous of others who have abilities I do not possess?
Do other Christians consider me approachable?
What is my attitude when disagreements arise with brethren?
Can others see Christ living in me?

It is easy to look at such a list of questions, skim over them, and comfort one’s self into believing everything is okay. It is quite another thing to consider such ideas and then take a good, hard look at one’s own life. Where do you stand? Are you the servant Christ desires?

Christianity should never be approached like the Walmart walk way. Each member of the body of Christ must commit himself to a walk worthy of the Lord – a walk that puts the needs of others before self. This is no less than the Lord Himself did in His walk with mankind and it is no less than what He expects of each of His people.