Airline pilot asked Christians to share their faith with other passengers

WHNT ^ | 2/8/2004 | Associated Press

[yonif]

New York-AP -- American Airlines says one of its pilots asked Christians on his flight to identify themselves and discuss their faith with non-Christian passengers.

Airline Spokesman Tim Wagner says American Flight 34 was headed from Los Angeles to New York on Friday when the pilot asked Christians on board to raise their hands.

The pilot told the airline that he then suggested that other passengers use the flight time to talk to the Christians about their faith, and added that he'd be available for discussion at the end of the flight.

While the pilot had just returned to work from a weeklong mission trip to Costa Rica, Wagner says, "It falls along the lines of a personal level of sharing that may not be appropriate."

He adds that American Airlines' personnel department is investigating the matter.

[Texas_Dawg]

Incredibly inappropriate. I would have complained if I was on that plane.

Really? I would have just laughed.

[Texas_Dawg]

I'd feel uncomfortable if the pilot was Jewish and exhorted the Jewish passengers to proselytize in this manner.

Really? I would have just laughed.

[missyme]

I am sure if he was an Homosexual Pilot and asked all the homosexuals on the plane to talk to the passengers on the plane who weren't he would be praised!

[Androcles]

Whether the beliefs he shares are sexual religious or social is completely irrelevant.

When I buy a ticket I am purchasing transport from Point A to Point B. I do not expect the pilot to share his thoughts on religion, sexual behaviour, politics or any similar issues regardless of whether I agree with those beliefs or not. If one of my employees started using the workplace to spread their beliefs I'd take issue with that as well. He's paid to fly not to preach.

That said, I have no bar with him using his status as an airline pilot to add charisma to his preaching outside the workplace on his own time. (They're one of the few professions that still have a certain amount of mystique, especially to the young and impressionable).

[ExSoldier]

" I would have just laughed."

Well, on reflection maybe that was a poor example. I have to chortle when I bring up this image of a little Jewish guy with yarmulke and a beard earnestly gesticulating with his hands and saying in a New York accent: "Listen, I'm telling to you...SUCH A DEAL...."

[Guenevere]

#20..probably you're right...

My take, is he, and I'm assuming it was a 'he', was on a spiritual 'mountaintop'...(the kind you reach WITHOUT drugs)...

.and just wanted to share.

I guess in this day & age, anything out of the usual, is TOO unusual.

[im4given]

as a Christian this pilot was doing what the lord has called us to do. witness to all nonbelievers and share them the way, the truth, and the life.

[tiamat]

No kidding! LOL!

[tiamat]

HAD he asked for Wiccan or told everyone to praise Allah, I STILL would have refused and told him that it was innaproriate!

[governsleastgovernsbest]

LOL!

[Central Scrutiniser]

And if this Christian pilot was psychotic and was hearing voices and attributing them to God, how would you feel about flying with him?

[governsleastgovernsbest]

I'd feel uncomfortable if the pilot was Jewish and exhorted the Jewish passengers to proselytize.

I know you were just offering it as an example, but you should be relieved to know that the scenario is an extremely unlikely one.

Not only does Judaism not promote proselytizing, it mildly discourages, though does not prohibit, converts. My understanding is that Christians proselytize out of a belief that only those who have accepted Christ can be saved.

Jews believe that Christians who lead a good life can also have eternal life. Therefore there's no need to convert people to Judaism.

[tiamat]

Thank you

[SunnyUsa]

as a Christian this pilot was doing what the lord has called us to do. witness to all nonbelievers and share them the way, the truth, and the life.

Wow - I can't imagine too many people keeping their jobs if they choose to preach to people who didn't ask for it, and might be offended or scared by it - especially by an airline pilot who's got their lives in his hands.

If anyone pulled that on me while I was doing business with their employer - I would complain loudly and hope they were straightened and encouraged to find a job that had that in the job description.

[tiamat]

im4given wrote:

as a Christian this pilot was doing what the lord has called us to do. witness to all nonbelievers and share them the way, the truth, and the life.

---

Dude,


I know this is your way, but it is STILL off-putting to some of us.

I don't fly well anyway. Someone comes over during a flight and starts to kite Jesus at me, I'm gonna feel scared and threatened.


Is this what your G-d wants?

[Texas_Dawg]

I know this is your way, but it is STILL off-putting to some of us. I don't fly well anyway. Someone comes over during a flight and starts to kite Jesus at me, I'm gonna feel scared and threatened. Is this what your G-d wants?

Good point. Christ has called us to spread the Good News, but not just for the sake of doing so. He clearly expects some tact to be used in doing so, otherwise it is likely the person is simply doing something just to win some spiritual "brownie points" as opposed to truly caring about the salvation of the people he is spreading this Good News to. Assuming what we are told here is the extent of the story, this pilot clearly could have used better judgment... for his sake and that of the people to whom he was wishing to witness.

[KangarooJacqui]

That's a shame. I used to LIKE flying American Airlines.

But you wouldn't catch no QANTAS or Air New Zealand pilot doing that, at least not intentionally...

(Although possibly the last words of the captain of the Air NZ DC-10 that crashed into the side of Mt Erebus in Anatractica, 1979, killing all 240-odd aborad, was "Oh, Holy Sh...")

[KangarooJacqui]

At least he didn't say: Say your prayers and kiss your A** goodbye.

That was my first thought on reading that article, too. But I knew someone would have beaten me to that punchline... *sigh*

[tiamat]

Hey, Dawg!

And it's not even a "Willie Green" thrread!

What the Dawg Man says......

tia

[KangarooJacqui]

Anatractica = Antarctica

(sorry, folks. I did take geography in school, and spelling, but not typing... and boy, does it show sometimes!)