I’m on “trustee duty” at church today and I am pumped up! It’s Community Relations Week at church and my work on the water line by the road should provide ample opportunity for me to “relate” to people as they pass by on the sidewalk!
Hey, here comes a young couple now! My big chance! Remember, first impressions are everything… “Hey, guys! Accept Jesus as your Savior or get ready to take the heat!”… (cold stares…) Gee, wonder what their problem is?
Oh! Here comes someone else! “Hi there, sir! Go to Church or go to hell!” (man spits expletive and walks quickly past…) Okay, that effort seemed less than effective…
Wait, here comes the new family from next door (I believe someone mentioned that they may be atheists) Hmmm… Oh, I know! “Hey, you all! God does not believe in atheists, therefore atheists do not exist! Hahahaha!” (family turns around and walks the other way – they look… well, angry…) What is wrong with these people???
Alright, one more try… Ah! Here we go… “Hi! Try Jesus! If you don’t like him, the devil will take you back!!!”. (lady scowls and looks the other way…) I just don’t get it…
Okay, now snap back from Storyland. I imagine you’ve caught on by now. I encountered the first slogan of the four above on a church sign as I drove to work a couple of mornings ago. The other three are popular sign slogans currently being displayed at numerous “real” churches!
Now - can someone, anyone, please explain to me how this is in any way a positive witness to our community? Does common sense not tell us that these and any number of other similar slogans would very likely result in offense? Is this flavor of slogan meant to be funny? I think it is obvious to the unchurched passer-by that the slogans are not meant to be funny to them. And, if not to them, then to whom? Other Christians?
Again, please tell me that we are not promoting and supporting some sort of neighborhood-church inside-joke network at the expense of non-believers!? In truth, I believe we are. Does it seem that we are making light of the spiritual state of non-believers? It does. Are we offending and turning away literally millions of souls that pass by the front court of our houses of worship? I think we can be certain of it. Put yourself in their place - read the signs from their perspective - see if you don’t agree.
Can the church sign be a positive community relations tool? Of course. But PEOPLE, we have to THINK! We have to consider the real-world effect of the messages that we place on what is often our point of first contact to prospective visitors. This practice is out of control and one-upmanship is driving it further and further toward alienating those whom we are called to minister to. We are way, way off base on this one!
Bottom line: Churches - STOP this foolishness! Wake up and STOP this petty and misguided pursuit to be perceived as clever at the expense of the non-believer!
Good thoughts. Church signs are the first thing people see when they drive up, so it's important to get it right. Not sure why churches feel the need to be funny or clever on their signs. Let be informational - most of the time that's what people want to see. They want to know when the services are and if any special events are coming up.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Brent. Occasional (rare?) use of humor on a church sign doesn't bother me (although I feel that it is certainly overdone). But, when the humor belittles the unchurched, as I feel it often does, that's a problem. I agree with you, church signs should first be informational, welcoming and inviting. ~mark
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