This blog is about the dumb sayings churches put on their signs. The one on my mind right now is the one I saw on the way home from a friend's house. It read: "One man can make a difference: Jesus did." (emphasis mine -- but you can't really read the statement without the emphasis logically going anywhere else)
Okay. At first glance, that's a nice saying that's meant to make you realize the importance of one single person in the grand scheme of things. But, to me, what's bothersome about that is that one could theologically conclude from that sign, that the difference the average person can make is possible on the same level that Jesus' difference was.
Well, Theology 101 is that "Jesus is God and you are not." So the suggestion that a person can make a difference similar to the one Jesus' made is arrogant and sinful.
Now I get the point of the sign and you do too, but it's the ensuing conversation that is likely to come from reading that sign that is harmful to that church. Most likely, no visitor is going to start attending that church because of their sign. In other words, a statement like that is just as likely to fall on ears (or eyes) that are going to mock it than those that will be inspired by it.
Right before I got home, I saw a sign at another church that wasn't that bad: "Living life in light of eternity changes one's values." Not bad at all. If I were guessing from other signs posted at that church, then this sign is relevant to something the church is studying or discussing. The only disservice a sign like that does is that it is not possible for that thought to be elaborated on. There's the catch -- maybe you'll be intrigued by the sign and want to find out more information. Okay, I can live with that. That church isn't trying to be cutesy, they are trying to be philosophical.
Well, so is the other one, albeit at a much lower level of thinking. So what happens when a well-meaning congregant puts an easily-mock-able philosophical quote on their sign?
Aspire to inspire before you expire.
Sour Grapes make lousy wine.Forbidden Fruit produces many jams!
The Easter Bunny didn't rise from the dead.
Come Inside for a Faith Lift. (puns are the worst!)
Crack The Bible ... Get High On Jesus
Without the bread of life you'll be toast. (ready? groan.)
Thank you to http://www.rulezone.com/dumb.htm for providing a vast collection of these.
Here are some I remember from the three neighboring churches we lived next to in Joplin, Missouri:
Think you aren't important? Stop making your car payment.
No one looks as good as they do on a resume.
There are several notable others, but I'll have to verify them with Kayla before I state them here.
Kayla and I's joke as we would drive by one of those dumb signs was that we were going to start going to church there immediately! (all sarcasm intended)
When I was looking for a website that had a collection of "dumb church signs" (there were 2, 050, 000 hits, by the way) I ran across this gem: http://www.churchsigngenerator.com/
This website lets you make your own church sign, then save as a jpg and share with all of your friends.
I made this one based on a church bulletin announcement I once heard about:
1 comment:
Make more funny faked signs @ www.signgenerator.org or make other graphics on http://www.txt2pic.com (buttons, logos, scrapbooking, banners, photocards, headers, etc).
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