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Do Not Bear False Witness Against Your Neighbor: The Surfer Boy and the Receptionist

By Rachael McNeal
The ninth commandment illustration, Siarhei Tolak / Shutterstock.com
The ninth commandment illustration, Siarhei Tolak / Shutterstock.com
Jul 31, 2013
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"And God spoke all of these words…You shall not give false witness against your neighbor." Exodus 20:1, 16

Several months back I overheard a conversation in an office waiting room. A young, 20-something guy entered the waiting room with his board shorts on and his windblown hair haphazardly tucked beneath his backwards baseball cap as though he’d just come in from surfing – not uncommon in the beach community of Jacksonville, Fla. He strolled confidently to the receptionist and asked her a question about the availability of a person he wanted to see, made an appointment, and it seemed his business was done and he’d be on his way. Instead he asked the receptionist where she was from, if she liked her job, and then talked about the weather. He then began to tell her about a Bible study he was leading and a little about his faith journey – for the longest time he felt lost, was starting to get in trouble, then he found Jesus, was born again, and began to set his life straight.

After sharing his testimony he asked the receptionist, “What religion are you?" 

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The ninth commandment illustration, Siarhei Tolak / Shutterstock.com
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