did not care for, who is rather obnoxious, and they asked you to give them a ride to Bible study that you both attended. Now this person lives way out of your way, but you can think of no legitimate reason not to pick this person up (other than possibly the cost of gas). And you know that this person has a habit of taking advantage of people by bumming rides all the time. And this Bible study is once a week year round.
2007-04-24 05:06:56 · 28 answers · asked by judyarb1945 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Be gracious and offer to give the person a ride once or twice. Be firm and let them know you cannot continue to do so in the longer term.
If the person were not obnoxious, would you then be willing to give them a ride all the time? If so, take some time to get to know the person during the first two times you give them a ride. You may be surprised.
2007-04-24 05:11:49 · answer #1 · answered by Ask Mr. Religion 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If there is no good reason for you not to pick this person up, then you probably should. If the person is at all reasonable, they will understand that you are going out of your way to help them out and likely will offer to chip in gas money. If they don't, then you can politely suggest that they do so. If the individual is truly obnoxious and they don't find that agreable, then you can tell them to find someone else.
And for the record, being a Christian is about love and forgiveness. Nowhere in the Bible does it say that you should be taken advantage of or enter into situations in which you know you will be exploited. If you are worried about being bummed off of, then you have every right as a human being to say "no."
2007-04-24 12:12:55 · answer #2 · answered by Oddeye 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would give them a ride. Also, there are other people in the Bible Study Group. Just mention to some of them that this person needs a ride and I'm sure you could divide up the assistance.
I'm glad this person wants to go to Bible study.
2007-04-24 12:13:51 · answer #3 · answered by LittleBitOfSugar 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would give the person a ride once or twice, but make it very clear that it would ONLY be once or twice since it was out of my way.
Now, an interesting followup question is this: if this person wasn't obnoxious, would you be willing to drive him/her each week? If you would be willing to go out of your way for someone in your Bible Study who you liked (or at least, didn't find annoying), then the question is really "how can I best love this neighbor? Why am I avoiding him/her?" Loving our neighbor sometimes involves a certain degree of sacrifice but it doesn't mean that we have to cater to their every whim. Nor does it mean we have to allow ourselves to be used by others.
2007-04-24 12:17:35 · answer #4 · answered by Church Music Girl 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A bad Christian would do 1 of 2 things.
1. Pick up this person and put of with there crap rather then do the honest thing and let that person know how obnoxious they are.
2. Not pick that person up and refuse to be honest with that person about how you feel about there behavior.
A good Christian would be honest with that person about there behavior from a opinion stand point and let that obnoxios person know that you can take them this time, but you will not commit to this every week.
2007-04-24 12:20:57 · answer #5 · answered by BionicNahlege 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is nothing wrong with "bumming rides" if he can't drive. If he is obnoxious, then he belongs in the Bible study. There, he has a chance to be changed more and more into Christ
2007-04-24 15:36:55 · answer #6 · answered by Steve Husting 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Tough question. I wouldn't want to get called in by God about why I left him/her behind. That said, you could ask for gas money, or make up excuses and extra chores that would mean you no longer drive that way to the Bible study. I hope you don't stop going because of this individual. Concentrate on Christ and not on His creation. Good luck.
2007-04-24 12:13:20 · answer #7 · answered by indybrother 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
no here is what you do. you pick her/him up and on the way to study you start a conversation like "WoW, look at the price of gas" then they will look and then you say" hey i just had a thought, since we are carpooling would you mind helping paying for gas too" then they will either feel obligated to help pay for gas adn then you will be able to save some money. or they will stop wanting to ride with you. so really if you think about it; it is a win win situtation.
2007-04-24 12:17:32 · answer #8 · answered by spchil 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I actually had a similar situation a few years ago. Part of my responsibilities at the Church was to pick up a woman and drive her to Mass each Sunday. She was, as you say, "rather obnoxious." Some things are just a part of your Christian duty. When you pick up your cross and follow Jesus not everything is fun. I hope this helps. God bless.
2007-04-24 12:16:42 · answer #9 · answered by Mr Wisdom 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Give it a time limit. I will do this x amount of times. That way you will have fulfilled a request, but are not being taken advantage of. Note also that doing things like this really grates at your flesh--and that is a good thing. In the days of the Old Testament, they used to grate against the flesh by wearing sackcloth. Today, people can be sackcloth--and you know what I mean. ;)
Trust me, God will use this experience, so just be obedient for now. Just put a limit on the number of times then ask them to delegate the responsibility to someone else for a while. Why hog the blessing? ;)
2007-04-24 12:10:09 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋