What would you have done if this had been you?

[Vladd44]

Friday evening my wife and I were pulling into a restaurant. As we are driving through the parking lot there is another car coming from the opposite direction driving well into "our" side of the lane. With little surprise I noticed the driver was busy talking on his phone.

After we parked, I had every intention of asking the driver (going into the same restaurant) what was so important that he should ignore basic driving safety. But as I walked past his car I noticed a bumper sticker "If you think your perfect, try walking on water".

So as we waited to be seated (the christian driver waiting in the same proximity) I began talking about the good days ahead when we would start rounding up christians into camps. While I was not screaming or stage whispering, the size of the area could leave little doubt to him hearing.Unfortunately he chose not to respond.

As we left, I could not resist stopping at his table and saying "Next time you think your perfect, try not driving like an idiot on the cell phone". Of which I received no response either.

I must confess I don't think I would have remained silent during the time I considered myself a christian.

What was the right thing for the christian to do? Remain silent? Comment? Something else?

[McCulloch]

What? You missed the opportunity to correct his grammar?

If you think your perfect, try walking on water.

s/b

If you think you're perfect, try walking on water.

[Flail]

give it up...you can't deprogram most Christians....although it is a worthy goal.

[Confused]

Friday evening my wife and I were pulling into a restaurant. As we are driving through the parking lot there is another car coming from the opposite direction driving well into "our" side of the lane. With little surprise I noticed the driver was busy talking on his phone.

After we parked, I had every intention of asking the driver (going into the same restaurant) what was so important that he should ignore basic driving safety. But as I walked past his car I noticed a bumper sticker "If you think your perfect, try walking on water".

So as we waited to be seated (the christian driver waiting in the same proximity) I began talking about the good days ahead when we would start rounding up christians into camps. While I was not screaming or stage whispering, the size of the area could leave little doubt to him hearing.Unfortunately he chose not to respond.

As we left, I could not resist stopping at his table and saying "Next time you think your perfect, try not driving like an idiot on the cell phone". Of which I received no response either.

I must confess I don't think I would have remained silent during the time I considered myself a christian.

What was the right thing for the christian to do? Remain silent? Comment? Something else?

I wouldn't have used your comment, though it was cute. The driver likely doesn't even recall the bumper sticker enough to link it with your comment. I would however said something before even entering the restaurant. My comment would have been respectful and gone something like:
Sir, I am not sure if you are aware of the swerving you did while driving and I am also not sure if the fact that you were talking on your cellphone while you were swerving was the direct cause of it. However, I do wish to ask you one question, what in your life was so important that you had to address it on a cell phone, while driving, and risk the lives of my family while you were swerving into our lane of traffic?

[Blood On Your Hands]

Haha. that line was awesome. It sounds similar to a line i've heard which may or may not be factual "Jesus is my airbag." Although I agree with Confused that he would have no clue what you were talking about.

i assume you'd want a christian to answer this question but my assumption is that the christian would ignore it and continue with whatever he was doing.

[Chancellor]

Friday evening my wife and I were pulling into a restaurant. As we are driving through the parking lot there is another car coming from the opposite direction driving well into "our" side of the lane. With little surprise I noticed the driver was busy talking on his phone.

After we parked, I had every intention of asking the driver (going into the same restaurant) what was so important that he should ignore basic driving safety. But as I walked past his car I noticed a bumper sticker "If you think your perfect, try walking on water".

So as we waited to be seated (the christian driver waiting in the same proximity) I began talking about the good days ahead when we would start rounding up christians into camps. While I was not screaming or stage whispering, the size of the area could leave little doubt to him hearing.Unfortunately he chose not to respond.

As we left, I could not resist stopping at his table and saying "Next time you think your perfect, try not driving like an idiot on the cell phone". Of which I received no response either.

I must confess I don't think I would have remained silent during the time I considered myself a christian.

What was the right thing for the christian to do? Remain silent? Comment? Something else?

This is the proper Christian response:

"If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector." - Matthew 18:15-17 (ESV) -

[Casper]

Friday evening my wife and I were pulling into a restaurant. As we are driving through the parking lot there is another car coming from the opposite direction driving well into "our" side of the lane. With little surprise I noticed the driver was busy talking on his phone.

After we parked, I had every intention of asking the driver (going into the same restaurant) what was so important that he should ignore basic driving safety. But as I walked past his car I noticed a bumper sticker "If you think your perfect, try walking on water".

So as we waited to be seated (the christian driver waiting in the same proximity) I began talking about the good days ahead when we would start rounding up christians into camps. While I was not screaming or stage whispering, the size of the area could leave little doubt to him hearing.Unfortunately he chose not to respond.

As we left, I could not resist stopping at his table and saying "Next time you think your perfect, try not driving like an idiot on the cell phone". Of which I received no response either.

I must confess I don't think I would have remained silent during the time I considered myself a christian.

What was the right thing for the christian to do? Remain silent? Comment? Something else?

I think the man in your story did the right thing by remaining silent.
Not to excuse his reckless and selfish actions, but when he endangered your family earlier, he seemed completely oblivious to the situation due to he cell phone conversation. Likely, he had no idea what had provoked such antagonistic language from you.

To his perceptions, you just started making comments about endorsing religious oppression, and then came to his table and made some bizarre non-sequitur comment about driving on cell phones. You were clearly angry with him, and clearly held Christianity in contempt, but you didn't really give him any insights as to why, and so you probably came across as being an unprovoked bigot. He would have been completely oblivious to his own hypocrisy and near murder/injury of an innocent family. In that situation, with the knowledge he likely had, what could he have said? Instead, he remained silent and avoided any further conflict, which was probably better for him and the other diners.

However, if he had been aware of his actions, the proper Christian response would have been to apologize sincerely for such careless disregard for your family. He should then follow up that reaction by changing his driving habits to prevent such an incident from happening again.

As an aside, his bumper sticker is aimed at Christians, not non-believers. It's supposed to be a reminder that even though a believer has committed him/herself to God and tries to be a good person, our actions often fall short of our aims as we nearly cause an accident while chatting on the phone. It's a reminder to be humble and to strive for personal improvement. Probably exactly the message that driver (and the rest of the world) needs to hear more often.