Be honest.

Do you ever get the feeling that Jesus would never choose to hang out in the places we’ve built for him? Do you ever feel like Jesus’ message of radical love, mercy and forgiveness has been drowned out by the voices of judgment, condemnation, and stagnant ritualistic religion? Do you ever get the sense that the church was never meant to be about helping itself, but about helping the world? Do you ever get the nagging feeling that Jesus never intended the church to be comfortable and controlled, but instead an untamable movement that challenges the way things have always been done? Have you ever longed to be a part of a community that isn’t afraid to experience God in new and creative ways? (Yeah, us too.)

Friday, February 27, 2009

sign


Came across this letter the other day. I think most of us have some kind of an opinion on this. Let me know what you think. After reading it, ask yourself, "How did Jesus communicate his message to people? What method(s) did he use?" Would love to hear from both Christians and non-Christians on this.



An Open Letter to all Church Sign Maintainers... by Drew Moser

To all the maintainers of church signs--

Stop it...please. I'm pleading with you. Stop the silly, ridiculous 'bad theology in a nutshell' sayings on your church signs. I can't tell you how often I drive by your churches and cringe. As a pastor, I'm embarrassed that my colleagues would spew such trash on the one thing that you want everyone to see. "The messages make you think," you'll no doubt say in defense. My reply: "Yeah, they make you think...they make you think about why people don't go to church."

It's not that communicating via sign is wrong. Just do it the right way. Don't put cheesy sayings on them. Stop replacing phrases that including or talk about the 'sun' with 'son'. It's lame and played out. Stop replacing 'sold' with 'souled'. Our being is not a transaction. Stop condemning people to hell via sign message. It's cowardly and spiteful. Oh yeah, I almost forgot. Stop telling me that "God is my copilot." I don't have a plane, and I don't know how to fly one. All you're doing is fueling the fire for antagonists to mock us, and you're building a wall instead of a bridge of thoughtful reflection and dialogue. Instead of the word junk, put something on there that truly makes people think. You could use a difficult passage of Scripture, a quote from great theologian, a thought from a member of your congregation. Mother Teresa alone has enough quotes worth posting to cover your sign for months. Or maybe you could use a quote from a recent movie, or a pithy sentence fro m a classic fiction novel, or a lyric from a song. Don't pander down to the same book that you all own that gives you second rate stuff. Seek excellence in all you do, including your signage.

Maybe if we spent more time exploring the deep mystery and wonder of humanity, created by God, in His image, we'd have a better idea of how to reach one another with love and truth. Maybe, just maybe we'd have a better idea of how to use our signs to probe deeper into the human soul.

Unfortunately, our signs are a reflection of the state of theological formulation in way too many church congregations: simplistic, watered-down, and oozing with cheese. If the church is truly a mission outpost to the world, let's stop reducing the mysteries and wonder of God to painful puns and poor plays on words. Let our signs communicate something deeper; something more. Let's allow our signs to represent Christ and His church as he has called it to be. Hold the cheese and people might not want to vomit all over your sign when they drive by it.

So, my challenge to you, Mr. or Mrs. Church Sign Maintenance Person...take more time and consideration into what you communicate. People read those signs and respond. They just might not respond in the way we hoped.