Why do Christian drivers...

[Streakn1]

Seems to me, for someone who hauls VERY important freight, Streak sure has a short fuse when it comes to the [perceived] shortcomings of other drivers. So much anger!
And I still can't figure out how a tailgater could be threatening his [Streak's] safety, anyhow. I mean, worst case, he rearends you - how does that constitute a bigger threat to you than to him?
I don't get it.

Cheri, on any given day I have MILLIONS of dollars of frieght on my deck. It is my responsibility to safely and legally transport that frieght for my customers. I (we) do that with a 100% no claims record. I can be as angry as I wish and imagine teaching the idiot that's tailgating me an imaginary lesson, but as long as my customer's freight makes it safely from point a-b, thats what counts. My customer's freight will always be safe but I can't control what the other driver may do.

Example: 11/1/10, I-80 westbound, Milton,PA entering a well marked construction zone, we enter construction zone, traffic suddenly slows to a stop. Sixth truck to our rear is suddenly rearended by the T/T that had been tailgating him past few miles. Offending truck immediately erupts into a fireball and proceeds to burn both trucks to the ground. Thank God we and the other four trucks behind us were able to get away or this would have been much worse. We alone could have lost millions. This accident never had to happen except for the stupidity of one careless driver. Wonder why I have such a pet peeve about such actions as tailgating especially when I've seen the same times before?

 

[cheri1122]

I've always thought that being a good [Christian] person is like being very smart, or brave, or kind: you don't need to say that you are. If you do feel the need to say so, it's because you really aren't.

 

[dieseldiva]

I've always thought that being a good [Christian] person is like being very smart, or brave, or kind: you don't need to say that you are. If you do feel the need to say so, it's because you really aren't.

Exactly.....Ye shall know them by their fruits

 

[Dreamer]

Turtle,

I know some of that is true, but that makes it all the more important for those who LIVE the talk.. to be careful of the example we set. I may never change the worlds opinion of Christians as a whole, but it is my responsibility to do my best to live in such a manner as to make sure I don't contribute to that bad perception.

Those stereotypical " Examples" just make me sad over the amount of damage they do.


Dale

 

[Streakn1]

Well I guess... but to me what's the big deal, it's their truck, they can put stickers all over it as long as they don't cause anyone to get hurt by their actions while putting them stickers on.

By the way, how many of you seen any devil worshipers with their religion's symbols plastered on the truck? Would you criticize them for speeding or cutting people off?

Guess it would have to do with what their docturine says and what they preach.

 

[cheri1122]

Streak: I consider the freight on my truck to be as important as yours, and I have never had a damage claim, either.
The example you gave is a one that most of us will never see - hardly a risk to get bent out of shape over, IMO.
Tailgaters ARE annoying, but slowing down is an easy way to persuade them to move along, so why stress over it? The ones who make sudden, impulsive lane changes constitute a much greater danger, in my book.
And the ones who get really angry over little things, too.

 

[xiggi]

Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that one out! Speeding is intentionally breaking the law. Plastering ones truck with Jesus/God emblems and slogans is identifying ones self as a christian. So we have a christian driver intentionally breaking the law. Simple physics, or is it they just don't know how to use the cruise control and read and obey speed limit signs?

That in no way shape or form makes them breaking the law in the name of God as you claimed. Seems to me your attempting to place people who are proud of their faith in a different class than average drivers. That is why this entire thread is off base.

 

[Streakn1]

Streak: I consider the freight on my truck to be as important as yours, and I have never had a damage claim, either.
The example you gave is a one that most of us will never see - hardly a risk to get bent out of shape over, IMO.
Tailgaters ARE annoying, but slowing down is an easy way to persuade them to move along, so why stress over it? The ones who make sudden, impulsive lane changes constitute a much greater danger, in my book.
And the ones who get really angry over little things, too.

No matter what the value of one's freight, it is ALL important and ALL should be handled as if it were priceless in my book. My comment is in no way meant to demenish the importance of anyone's freight. My point was to help one understand more my reaction and feelings related to when I'm being tailgated. The delicate nature of jet engines in transit being what it is, it would not take much of an impact from another vehicle to our rear,etc to render said engine(s) un-servicable. Granted I'm going to become more angry or stressed when I get a tailgater. I also have a vested financial responsibility in the freight I haul if it is damaged during transit on my rig. I don't get angry over little things, but I do get angry when some idiot chooses to put my safety and freight at risk. Tailgating does exactly that.

I have tried tapping the brakelights and slowing down. Not all go around but rather stay behind and bully. Those are the ones that need to be taught a lesson IMO!

 

[Streakn1]

That in no way shape or form makes them breaking the law in the name of God as you claimed. Seems to me your attempting to place people who are proud of their faith in a different class than average drivers. That is why this entire thread is off base.

This thread is very much on base. But for the sake of arguement let me rephrase it by saying Those christian drivers that intentionally break the law while advertising God and/or their faith in God all over their truck do so thus placing God and what God stands for in a negative light in the eyes of the public. I do not believe this is what God would want, especially from a pronounced christian. I assume you are a christian yourself Xiggy and would you not agree?

In closing, I will be the first to say there are good law bidding christian drivers out here in the trucking industry. Many are my friends. Many of those friends know and understand my feelings on this issue and agree. Christians that truely follow Gods laws are the ones for the rest of us to look up to. And if all of us could follow these laws, maybe the world really could be a better safer place!

 

[xiggi]

I do not believe this is what God would want, especially from a pronounced christian. I assume you are a christian yourself Xiggy and would you not agree?

I believe God understands that people are not perfect.

I may be off base but I feel for some reason when you see a person professing their faith via lettering or something you read it as saying "I am a christian who makes no mistakes and am perfect." I see it as saying "I am a christian and do my best to live a Godly life, when I do fail I will do my very best to recognize that and be better" Every person faces challenges and will sometimes fail.

To answer your question I consider myself a spiritual person not necessarily a practicing Christian.

 

[dabluzman1]

Why do Christian drivers choose to display religious references to their faith such as "Jesus is Lord" or "God is not a curse word", etc if they are not going to obey the laws of the land? Does it not state in the bible that believers in God are to obey the laws of the land as long as they are not in conflict with God's laws?

So, why then is it that you see sooo many T/Ts with these religious markings plastered on their sides speeding (10mph plus over the posted speed limit) and breaking other laws of the road?

Am I as a non-christian or maybe someone sitting on the fence deciding to become a christian supposed to look up to and respect them as followers of God? Check it out for yourself and see just how many of these christian drivers break the law.
Is this the kind of witness and example God truely wants the non-believer to see? Do you as a christian driver obey the laws or do you bend them regularly as so many of the other christian drivers seen out here do?

Year ago my southern baptist pastor told me I could not be a true christian and drink socially as I enjoyed doing. I told him that as a christian is it not good witness and a testimony to God on my part if I as a christian can drink socially and maintain rather than ending up in a drunken stuper in front of everyone? Especially since I was a christian. The pastor wasn't about to buy my reasoning! LOL

To this day I drink, still believe in God, and thank him for the wonderful spirits provided me!!!

Well at least it wasnt a complaint about a Christian wizzing in front of your wife.

 

[Dreamer]

U.

This thread is very much on base. But for the sake of arguement let me rephrase it by saying Those christian drivers that intentionally break the law while advertising God and/or their faith in God all over their truck do so thus placing God and what God stands for in a negative light in the eyes of the public. I do not believe this is what God would want, especially from a pronounced christian. I assume you are a christian yourself Xiggy and would you not agree?

In closing, I will be the first to say there are good law bidding christian drivers out here in the trucking industry. Many are my friends. Many of those friends Pknow and understand my feelings on this issue and agree. Christians that truely follow Gods laws are the ones for the rest of us to look up to. And if all of us could follow these laws, maybe the world really could be a better safer place!

Now that was well put Streakn. The intent is the difference. If you dont mind,I am going to quote this in my class Sunday.

Dale

 

[TJ959]

Why is it that people who are not christians want to make up the rules for the people who are? Whats up with that???? People are very flawed even christian people. I know there are a few people out there who think they aren't flawed and are perfect but they probably aren't christians even if they think they are. This is just the opinion of an old semi-retired chubby guy but I guess I'm entitled to one too.

 

[cheri1122]

No matter what the value of one's freight, it is ALL important and ALL should be handled as if it were priceless in my book.

This is what I think, but you always mention how special your freight is, right?
My comment is in no way meant to demenish the importance of anyone's freight. My point was to help one understand more my reaction and feelings related to when I'm being tailgated. The delicate nature of jet engines in transit being what it is, it would not take much of an impact from another vehicle to our rear,etc to render said engine(s) un-servicable. Granted I'm going to become more angry or stressed when I get a tailgater.

I still think your anger is disproportionate to the actual risk, is what I'm saying.
The risk to you [and your wife] is minimal, and the freight is insured, but you're perceiving tailgaters as a much greater threat than they actually are. If you some day react in that fashion, it will be very ugly.
I also have a vested financial responsibility in the freight I haul if it is damaged during transit on my rig. I don't get angry over little things, but I do get angry when some idiot chooses to put my safety and freight at risk. Tailgating does exactly that.

I have tried tapping the brakelights and slowing down. Not all go around but rather stay behind and bully. Those are the ones that need to be taught a lesson IMO!

I don't tap the brakelights, just keep bumping the cruise down, until they pass. I've never seen one who didn't, but if the moron wants to stay behind me, it's HIS problem, not mine.
One day, you're going to blow a gasket over it, if you don't calm down, is all I'm sayin.
Drive your truck, not theirs.

 

[greg334]

But then TJ, your post begs the question what is a Christian and who gets to decide that?

I consider myself a follow of God, and Jesus but also I believe in if one is to follow the basic rules and commandments God wants us to follow, then one is a follower of God. I don't want some religious leader who I know God didn't speak to tell me I am wrong or you are wrong.

But on the other hand, many feel threaten by others when questioned and many take a different approach to religion as if God himself has come down from the heavens and commanded them to tell others what he is thinking.

The truth is that God has yet to tell us what is the right religion and he and only he has that decision making power. Until then we all worship in our own way and if that means as a person you interpret one way and I another, then there is nothing it wrong with that, we can disagree but we can never ever say either is wrong with hard cold evidence.

From my point of view, the entire thread is complaining about a perceived notion that there is some defining standard that we must adhere to in order to be called a Christian.

Oh the other thing that seems to get me about some is that Christians do not have the corner on compassion, respect and a bunch of other values we link to them. Killing people who disagree with Christian leaders was a value for centuries but it seems that most Christian religions have grown out of that value. Other religions, like Buddhism for example also espouse almost the same exact values, sometimes even (how dare I say this) practices it a bit better than the subject at hand. I think that Jesus knew about those other religions (especially Buddhism) and in part came to understand them and incorporate them in his enlightenment of the Jewish religion but more importantly didn't directly say they were bad.

 

[AutonomyRex]

This thread makes me think many got their plastic Jesus in the mail today.

I am wondering why this is not/ or has not been put in the Soapbox forum??????

 

[greg334]

I am wondering why this is not/ or has not been put in the Soapbox forum??????

Maybe the same reason that others have not been moved into appropriate forums

 

[highway star]

As a non-christian driver

As for me, I call myself neither christian or non-christian,

LOL... A bit confused?

 

[chefdennis]

Christians are also sinners, we all fall short of "perfection" daily...that is why God is a "forgiving" God...

 

[panthercub]

Maybe the bumper stickers were put on by the owner of the trailer, and have nothing to do with the driver.

45 years of church, and no pastor/preacher has ever tried to teach drivers' education. Maybe driving and being a Christian are two completely seperate ways of life to some people, and don't think being bad at one makes them bad at the other. If I see a truck with "Christian" markings on it, and I see him speed, or tailgate, or read a book while driving, I consider him a bad driver. If I see a truck with "Christian" markings on it, and I see him flip off a motorist, or hear him swear at the fuel desk attendant, then I think he is a bad Christian. Or I think his fleet owner is a Christian and might not be pleased to hear about his driver's behavior.

Or...Someone put those stickers on the truck, so that if they screw up, the drivers around him won't flip him off because they don't want to offend the driver with all the Christian bumper stickers on his rig.