The People of Wal-Mart

7/28/2012

A Christian friend of mine recently confessed on her Facebook page that she wouldn't be caught dead at Wal-Mart and then went on to make fun of the people that shopped there.

That was bad.

What was "badder" was that several people commented, making further disparaging comments about the people that shop at Wal-Mart.

Their comments really hit me wrong.

I think I know why. I can see myself making the same comments. Okay, maybe not the same comments, but I certainly think them.

I have Christian friends who talk about the "ghetto Target" or the "poor people's Krogers" and they talk about how they would "never" go to "those kinds of places." "Those are dirty places filled with dirty, rude people."

Then I think about the times that I prayed at the "fancy restaurant" and then was rude to the waitstaff.

I have Christian friends who would "never ride the bus" because all of the homeless, poor people who ride the bus. I hear, "I'm scared of those people. I can't stand to be around them. I can smell them before they even get close."

Then I think of times that I have ignored people I don't know and avoid people who are different from me.

As I write this post, I'm having a hard time defining who I am writing this to.

I want to say something to my Christian friends about their behavior.
I want to tell them that Jesus would never act like that.

But I can't say those things.
I have no right.
I'm just as guilty, IF NOT MORE.

LORD, forgive me.
Help me to be more like Jesus.

BE HOLY.
BE A MAN.

11 Comments

Karyn

7/28/2012 02:01:04

I don't like WalMart, but I still shop there occasionally. Yes, the "people of Walmart" photos and stereotypes are part of it, but also the cheapness of the quality, the rudeness of the workers (in general, not all of them of course), and the dirtiness of a lot of the stores. I'm guilty. But sometimes a "ghetto" store can be one to avoid due to safety factors (I wouldn't go to some stores alone, as a woman, but will go with my husband).

Jake link

7/28/2012 03:14:25

Great post. I think part of the problem is that television has trained us to view people through a one-dimensional lens rather than as real human beings made in the image of God.

When Christ was on earth, he ate with tax collectors, shared drinks with "dirty" Samaritans, and walked in crowds of poor and diseased people. We should be imitators of Christ; at the very least we should show respect to the least among us.

drwayman link

7/28/2012 03:33:00

Thanks for commenting Karyn and Jake. I'm struggling with the concepts of dirty and least of these. I'm not quite sure what those mean in relation to God's kingdom. Is a "dirty" person really among the "least?" Jesus talks about that in Matt 25. What makes me not "least?" Just because I bathe regularly, have a decent job and have accepted Christ's salvation?

Like you said, Jake, TV has influenced our culture tremendously yet this was also an issue in Jesus' day and probably in every culture since the beginning of creation. Elitism seems, to me, to be very damaging to God's character when we Christians have such attitudes.

Doug Ferges

7/28/2012 09:52:56

Personally, I don't shop at WalMart because they treat their employees poorly and sell products that are manufactured at places that are suspected of abusing their employees. I know that I struggle with the same thoughts, I often refer to the "Ghetto Kroger' but I get reminded there of the great quality of the service and realize what a knucklehead prejudice makes of me. Jesus reminds me to not judge lest I be judged.

7/28/2012 09:56:51

Doug - Thanks for commenting. "Knucklehead" is not the moniker that comes to mind when I think of you....

bjw

7/28/2012 12:39:28

Well you guys must not be visiting MY WalmartS... It is a life saver to small communities. I like it because I can pick up items from all departments instead of shopping elsewhere.
I admit my gripe the other day was I was so exhausted after 'running' to all corners of the store.. and they didn't have what I needed.. But that is rare. The things you all say may apply.. but there's a lot of good in Walmart... He began in OK !!!

7/28/2012 13:11:25

BJW - I thought Wal-Mart started in Bentonville, Arkansas, didn't it?
This post is about the sin of elitism more than it is about Wal-Mart. See James 2:1-13 for the context of this post.

BTW - thanks for commenting, mom :-)

7/28/2012 15:35:40

I understand he was reared at Kingfisher, moving to ARK
they put a new one in at the south end of Kingfisher.. neat store.
The store has to be worthy, if we're worthy to go there, I tho't. Seems it was a lot of talk about Walmart..
Elitism is so unnecessary.. and irritating..

7/29/2012 10:34:06

I didn't intend to come on wrong.. God loves us all.. sooo much !!

8/1/2012 01:55:48

Don't worry about it mom, you didn't come on wrong :-)

Tami Hardesty-Jaynes

4/30/2019 22:30:33

In the past, as a home visitor for disabled children, I entered many, many homes. Some could be considered "dirty" or frightening. Some were in drug neighborhoods. The families and neighbors came to know me...my car...my reason for coming. There were times AFTER I left, that I felt concerned, but when I was in those homes, where children lived and parents loved in the best way they knew how, there was no discomfort or fear. Just people. I have always had the lyrics, "God loves people more than anything" in my mind. I so deeply want my ability to imitate His love to increase. It is easy to love those whom we come to know. It is so easy to ridicule strangers that we see only from a distance.

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The People of Wal-Mart

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