Church Signs: Not always uplifting

Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Church signs. You know them. You drive by probably at least ten a day. They usually have something witty or relevant. Things like "You think it's hot here, wait for the afterlife". Or, "Like Ted Drewes, we make great Sundays". Cute, pithy, and full of cliches and silly humor.

As much as they can be uplifting or funny, they can often be mean or depressing. Examples of this were plentiful during last years Gay Marriage Amendment in Missouri. And I have come across many that make me wonder if they are really effective marketing tools or just a tool of evil.

For example, a few years back I was be-boppin' down the St. Charles Rock Road. I was stopped at a light at McKibbon right in front of the First Baptist Church of St. John. I had a great view of their church sign which read: "Poverty and Laziness are First Cousins".
That evening I called and left a message on their preacher's phone. Keith (the preacher, who I knew prior to this phone call) called me back that next day. We had a good talk about the message that sign sends. Poverty has many causes and occasionally that is laziness. More often it is a woman who lost her husband and has many children to care for. Poverty can also be caused by a devestating illness to the many millions in our country who are uninsured or underinsured. To say that poverty and laziness are directly related is an insult to the people they could minister. This church is right on a bus line and many minimum wage/below-the-poverty line workers would see that on a daily basis. Is this the message of the Southern Baptist Convention?

Well, tonight I saw another less-than-uplifting message. At the Stephans United Methodist Church (Charlack) the sign read "A life without love is worthless" Well, I can just imagine some lonely soul driving by there, agreeing, and being pushed right over the edge to suicide.

What is wrong with "Sunday School at 9 AM, services at 10:15"? It really wouldn't offend anyone and would actually be more likely to get folks in the pews.
posted by suzyjax on 7/25/2006 06:30:00 PM > 0 comments

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