I heard a knocking sound coming from outside my house and when I opened the front door, I found a guy nailing a sign on the wall of my porch. He grinned at me and said, “Hello, neighbor!”

“What are you doing?” I asked.

Still grinning, he said, “I just think neighbors should get to know each other! I just love to bring people together as friends so I’m advertising for the Friendly Neighbors Association!”

Even though I knew he’d probably take offense I replied, “Um… What are your values? People of completely different beliefs can’t get along.”

With a happy shrug he exclaimed, “I disagree! I think we can be friends no matter WHAT we believe! Isn’t it cool the way we can disagree like this and still get along?”

Not wanting to assume anything, I asked, “Um…are you an atheist or a Christian?”

“Atheist,” he said. “I used to be a Christian until I found out how closed-minded and hateful religious people are. But that doesn’t matter! In fact, showing Christians how much they have in common with atheists is my favorite thing to do!”

I opened my mouth to replay and was quickly cut off.

“If you don’t want to be my friend, I completely understand. You have the right to call the police and stop me from putting up signs on your property. Whatever you want, I totally support! I am just inviting everyone who visits your house to come on over to mine.”

Before I could ask why he thought my friends would be interested in getting to know him, he hammered a yard sign into my lawn that read, “COEXIST” then turned and said,

“Well, I hope you have a fantastic day, and I’ll see you again tomorrow or whenever you’re outside conversing with someone else. Please remember, you can put up a privacy fence at any time if you don’t like me promoting myself to your family and friends. No hard feelings! It’s all about being a thoughtful neighbor.”

(Malachi 3:13) “You have said harsh things against me,” says the Lord. “Yet you ask, ‘What have we said against you?’

You have said, ‘It is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the Lord Almighty? But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly the evildoers prosper, and even those who challenge God escape.’