What Would Jesus Do?

[ElCodeMonkey]

My "Christian" neighbors are ultimately being bullies. They called for an ordinance violation just because a yard sign was about 10' too close to the road which we merely had to move back 10' to resolve. They built an 8' by 8' giant orange wall near our property line with a "private property" sign on it just to spite us. Today, much to the eyeroll of the fire marshall, they called the police because we were open burning (entirely legally). Anything and everything we do is taken as an afront and we are just terrible and awful people. So what WOULD Jesus do in this situation? So far, it seems he would be the bully since the bullies are the Christians, but we all know that's not true. Me, despite being atheist, have been mostly pacifist in this whole endeavor. Since I own our driveway easement, I could easily put up signs they'd have to drive by every day, I could put in speed bumps, and I could even put in a gate they'd have to manually open and close with every traversal. I could plant hedges and shape them to be a guy mooning them as they drive through, and I could call an ordinance violation on their silly orange wall. Lots of ways for me, the bad neighbor, to "get back" at them. But what would Jesus do?

[Peds nurse]

[Replying to post 1 by ElCodeMonkey]

Hello ElcodeMonkey!

Unfortunately, not all Christians act in a way that is pleasing to God. I would like to say that I am not in that category, but I fear sometimes I am. I am prone to not being as patient as I need to be, nor as loving. That being said, I always remember the scripture that says to be kind to those who are unkind, it is like placing burning coals upon their heads!

Bake them chocolate chip cookies....that should do it!

[ElCodeMonkey]

[Replying to post 2 by Peds nurse]

Not a bad idea. We had considered a Christmas card with a gift card to an awesome Steak House here. Cookies would be much easier and cheaper, though I feel like it would still need an occasion like Christmas for the actual delivery. Thanks for the suggestion! Though I do constantly wonder... will this really work?

[Tcg]

But what would Jesus do?

Jesus would tell you to sell all you have, including your house, and give the money to the poor.

Of course then you'd be poor, so whoever bought your house would have to sell it and give money to you.

Then they'd be poor and you'd have to give money to them...

I'm not sure that Jesus helps much when it comes practical questions.

More of a, in my father's house are many mansions, type.

[ElCodeMonkey]

[Replying to post 2 by Peds nurse]

I suppose, given the "Private Property - Keep Out" signs put up specifically for us, we should probably do something by mail rather than walking up to their door with cookies...

[Peds nurse]

[Replying to post 5 by ElCodeMonkey]

Ahhh....I see your point! Well, Christmas cards it is! What ever you choose to do, you are responsible for your response to them. They will be held accountable for their response to you. Doing the best thing doesn't always feel good in the short run, but in the long run, the lessons we teach our children and those around us can be priceless!

Wishing you the best!

[Divine Insight]

But what would Jesus do?

Jesus would go to the public inciting crowds of protesters to follow him. And then he would sit around preaching to them about his nasty neighbors:

[13] But woe unto you, neighbors, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
[14] Woe unto you, neighbors, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
[15] Woe unto you, neighbors, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
[23] Woe unto you, neighbors, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
[25] Woe unto you, neighbors, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
[27] Woe unto you, neighbors, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
[29] Woe unto you, neighbors, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,

Jesus is our example. Follow him and you can't go wrong. Although you might end up getting yourself crucified, but that's the risk protestors always take.

[ElCodeMonkey]

Well, I guess we can all agree that "What Jesus Would Do" is not particularly useful. So perhaps it would be better stated as "What Would Jesus Have ME Do?"

[marco]

But what would Jesus do?

Knock on their door and offer a freshly made cake. Wish them well when you see them. If they ask for one concession give them two. And at Christmas, present them with appropriate gifts of affection. If nothing else, you will leave them speechless.

Both Christian and atheist get one slice of life's cake. Is it sensible to waste it in pointless feuds? Your charity may well persuade them to become atheists, since the bad tree can't have good fruit. Go well.

[jeremiah1five]

My "Christian" neighbors are ultimately being bullies. They called for an ordinance violation just because a yard sign was about 10' too close to the road which we merely had to move back 10' to resolve. They built an 8' by 8' giant orange wall near our property line with a "private property" sign on it just to spite us. Today, much to the eyeroll of the fire marshall, they called the police because we were open burning (entirely legally). Anything and everything we do is taken as an afront and we are just terrible and awful people. So what WOULD Jesus do in this situation? So far, it seems he would be the bully since the bullies are the Christians, but we all know that's not true. Me, despite being atheist, have been mostly pacifist in this whole endeavor. Since I own our driveway easement, I could easily put up signs they'd have to drive by every day, I could put in speed bumps, and I could even put in a gate they'd have to manually open and close with every traversal. I could plant hedges and shape them to be a guy mooning them as they drive through, and I could call an ordinance violation on their silly orange wall. Lots of ways for me, the bad neighbor, to "get back" at them. But what would Jesus do?

They are not Christian.
They behave this way because of jealousy and envy.
There must be something about you and yours they like but are not. There must be something about you and yours they do like but they cannot attain for some reason.
Take them or him to your backyard and beat the crap out of him and do it in the name of Christ and Christ's love.
Tell him after why you did it. The reason you did it?
To get their attention and their respect. If after they don't give you what you got coming to you of Christ in them, then they are not Christian. And say so, too.