I read this article yesterday in Time magazine about an ad battle brewing in London between Christians and Atheists. Here’s a portion of the article.
The word of God is on the move in London — literally. Beginning Feb. 9, three separate Christian groups will launch advertisements on more than 200 of London’s buses to convince pedestrians of God’s existence. “It may be unpopular and unpleasant, says David Larlham, the assistant general secretary of London’s Trinitarian Bible Society, a group that distributes bibles worldwide, “but there is a whole lot of truth in the bible that people need to get to grips with.” His organization has paid $50,000 to display posters on 125 of London’s red double-decker buses that quote Psalm 53: “The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God.”
The move follows a month-long campaign by atheists, agnostics and other non-believers that saw 800 London buses plastered with a less God-fearing slogan: “There’s probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.”
Listen I don’t want to be critical of this Christian group. I can only hope they’re doing what they feel is right.
But I have to wonder. Don’t you think we could take the $50,000 and find a more effective way to convince non-believers of God’s message other than trying to compete with them in an ad battle?
This reminds me of when we tried to boycott Disney instead of engaging in a conversation or picked up picket signs at the abortion clinics instead of developing relationships. Do these tactics ever bring about true life change? Does throwing up a bus billboard in response to another billboard in any way inspire anyone to really want to follow Christ?
Any thoughts?
Pete,
I agree with you. For some reason, I just can’t picture Jesus picketing nor waging an ad war with the Pharisees. His response was all about people, yet for the most part He addressed the individual need of the moment and those around were blessed.I’d never say God can’t use each situation, maybe He will use that bus ad to cause someone to think. I hope this makes sense!
Jesus and his disciples were involved in the lives of those around them-trying to meet their many needs. The attention was paid to the gospel due to the effect it was having on the lives of those touched by their reaching out to them. (NO PAINTED SIGNS needed)
I doubt it would have been as effective had Jesus just held a sign that said “You need to stop your sinful ways. God loves you…He really does.”
The ad campaign is not a bad thing, but it will never change a life.
I understand a “better use” for the money, but what if there are people out there saying there is no God, but not really believing it. they are saying it because they want to be popular with their friends, or their parents pushed God on them and ………for so many other reasons. What if this campaign is life altering for them? What if they seek him out because of it. What if this is how God is going to reach them. I find this somewhat different.
I have to agree that there are much better ways of spending $50,000 to spread the word of God, but as a Brit, I can also vouch that the slogans have prompted a lot of discussion and argument (particularly amongst those of my friends who are still at uni via FB and the like) so I guess I don’t know really. Its a lot of money that could’ve been put to much better use, but if it saves even one person for the Kingdom, is it a “waste”??
x
@beautiful intellectual, I think that’s a very fair question.
Sometimes picketing and boycotting is safer…we don’t have to air our dirty laundry, just try to help someone else clean up theirs! Relationships are hard work – perhaps that is why they do so well to bring people into closer relationship with Christ…it simply cannot be about us!
Like the song…”It’s all about You-ooo, Jesus!”
I’m not crazy about the idea of $50,000 being spent on an ad slogan for a bus. But then again, how many times do churches spend a thousand bucks a pop to send a flashy mailer out to the community to “advertise” a new sermon series? or Christmas or Easter service? Or what about when churches spend $5000 to build a “set” for the stage as part of a sermon series? It may look great and be a great addition to the series, but I don’t know of anyone who has come to know Jesus because there was a cool set on the stage or some great lights in the auditorium. Just a thought. . . but I just don’t know that we can be the judge of how they spend their money when we, the church, spend our money in some crazy ways all in the name of sharing Jesus.
Great thought provoker for this Wednesday. . .
I’m going to disagree just a little. We have it on the authority of scripture that God’s word will not return void, Is. 55:11.
I think this is a little different than boycotting Disney.
I have doubts about the effectiveness of calling people “fools” in our culture, even by the use of a Bible quote, and it couldn’t be more out of context! I would have preferred a more positive message.
I also doubt that the non-believer message of “there’s probably no God” would be particularly effective. That’s a weak slogan. Perhaps they really are fools. If they are fools, why is the Christian group copying their behavior?
Even in our age of bus billboards, television and internet advertising, the most effective marketing method remains word-of-mouth. It’s also surprisingly cheap.
I was thinking the exact same thing. Surely they could find a better use for $50,000. On one hand you could spend $50,000 to tell people they are fools. Or you could use it to, say, help renovate a school. Or feed some homeless people. Or…well the possibilities are really endless.
I guess they could use it to pay people to go slap atheists right in the face. It would probably have the same effect.
I go back and forth to be honest. On the one hand, I think it is a huge waste. On the other hand, there has got to be some response. Not necessarily in “retaliation” but just in the sense of we know where you stand, but there are others who feel differently.
Yes, I believe the $50,000 could be used in a much more powerful way than to get in a public argument with those who do not believe.
I like what James 2:18 says, “…Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.”
I don’t believe an atheist would ever be convinced that there is a God, by simply quoting a verse to them that they already don’t believe, especially one calling them a fool. However, by living that faith out and allowing them to see the real life change that Christ offers, I believe they become open to the truth and curious as to what is different in our lives.
For Example…Our church has been reaching out to a single mom of 4 kids in the community where we are planting our new church. She lives in a tiny single wide trailer, heats her home with an open stove, has no car, walks 2 miles to the local laundry mat where she works, Etc. We have been working on a “demolition weekend” where we are going to help repair & refresh her home, we’ve helped her create a resume to get a better job, and we are planning on spoiling her and her kids for a weekend while we fix her home up (or replace her trailer all together). Our community pastor was simply sharing our plans with her co-worker yesterday, and the lady broke down in tears and was amazed at the love being lived out by the people of our church. She immediately opened herself up to what he had to say. He could have went in and called her a fool for not believing, but I wonder what the result would have been? I think our actions are speaking louder than our words in this case.
I guess I weigh in on the side of it seeming a little silly for the Christians and the atheists to wage a publicity battle. But I suppose if it causes people to ponder and discuss, it might turn out to be “cheap at twice the price,” as the saying goes.
I have two older brothers who are atheist, and it looks like my oldest son is more or less an agnostic, much to my dismay. I’d rather have people praying for them than spending money trying to convince them they are wrong. Prayer and love are the most powerful forces in the world, not money and ad campaigns.
agreed, there probably is a better way to steward that money.
but…scripture is God revealed in word and is living. a lot of eyes connected to seeking hearts will see those buses.
In my small group (Christianity and Documentaries), we watched Missionary Positions last week. It is about xxxChurch.com. In it, there is a confrontation between Pastor Craig (who has a booth at the LA porn show) and another Christian who is protesting the show, yelling at the people going in and out “you are going to hell!”. While what the guy was saying is true, Pastor Craig was trying to explain that what he was doing wasn’t helping; that they were on the same team – trying to reach people for Jesus. The other person attacked Pastor Craig, saying his site was no better than the porn sites.
The group tended to side with Pastor Craig. Mary Carolyn raised the point that the other speaker has just as much right to say what he wants to say and it wasn’t right for Pastor Craig to tell him to be quiet.
The discussion boiled down to this: whatever we do, we need to do with love. Did the screaming pastor love those people as much as Pastor Craig? We don’t know. We do know that the people passing by made fun of him and thought he was a jerk.
It is the goodness of God that brings people to repentance (Rom 2:4). He does the saving; we don’t. I know I often forget that.
Bumper stickers, bus ads, banners on your blog may not be that one piece that brings someone to Christ, but they may be that starting point in a conversation. We as believers need to be ready to answer those questions about our faith.
It is about relationships.
Random additional thought:
Bible passages probably are not going to change the minds of those who don’t believe in God, are they. I mean, if they don’t believe in God to begin with, then the Bible does not have the authority for them that it has for believers. Don’t they just think the Bible was probably written by well-meaning but deluded zealots?
I mostly agree with you. I mean, I think those sort of things CAN be good for starting conversations. But if they DON’T, then it’s just a waste – or even worse, damages our credibility as witnesses. I get so frustrated when Christians boycott things and throw fits about things (Harry Potter comes to mind), because it often makes us look crazy or uneducated or both. This is a tough issue…but like I said, I mostly agree with you, Pete!
The choice of verse strikes me more than the money. Why not take the opportunity to share God’s love rather than to seem petty and judgemental? I’m not saying we should never respond or adapt to the world but we should stick to our “playbook” and share God’s love and the gospel with people. There were a number of “christians” walking around a parade here in Tampa this weekend with signs condemning people and telling them thety are going to hell. It just makes me sad. Love people. Engage people. Build a relationship with them because that is what we were designed for, that is what God desires for us and that is how lives are change. Pity so much money, time and effort isn’t directed to deliver a positive message, regardless of whether on signs or buses.
On the surface it certainly seems like S50,000 could have dug a lot of water wells….but we don’t know the prayer or the hearts of the people who made the decision to implement this campaign, do we? Let’s pray for their success.
Christians are much better at articulating what we are against rather than what we are for…loving others as ourselves. It is easy to forget the simple reason we are here.
@Chris Sullivan, Good point. The money doesn’t bother me that much. I’m all about seeing us use financial resources to move the Kingdom forward. I just have a feeling we get killed in this ad battle. They’re design and slogan, while completely untrue, looks and sounds a lot better than ours.
Nobody’s mind has ever been changed by reading a billboard. This is a waste of money for these groups and actually does the opposite of what they want.
@Tommy, you are a wise man. Much wiser than I am so I’m going to stop and think about your statement for a few minutes.
“God is a Concept by which we measure our pain.” I saw this a s someone’s “Religious Views” on Facebook. Interesting, huh??? If God is our measure of pain, then what is our measure of joy?
@Tommy. Great response, but how big a return? We’ll never know in this lifetime and I hope you’re right. I can only cringe at all the non-believers who’s non-belief will be further solidified simply by being annoyed. If I were them I’d be thinking, “Can’t you do something useful with that money rather than try to outdo the opposition in a public arguemnt?” Reeks of pride. I only know this ‘cus I spent so much of my life there.
If the billboard has a Bible verse on it, that’s great for us- but why would non Christians care about what a verse in the Bible says. They don’t believe the Bible the way we do. I think it’s so debatable because most of us aren’t in that country- who knows what speaks to them. We can only hope and pray that it’ll help some people come to know Christ.
For less than $500 you can clothe/feed/provide healthcare/educate a child through Compassion for ONE YEAR…that is, 100 children would be taken care of for one whole year! To me that would make more sense…but who am I to judge…
Usually, I would agree, but I know Christine. Christine was a stripper with a drug habit. She was on her way home from the store one day when her boyfriend called and in a frantic voice told her not to come home. (Turns out the cops were about to break down the front door and take him and his thousands of dollars in drugs to jail.) Christine spent a few nights sleeping in her car. She said she was at her end when she said, “God, if it’s not too late, I need to know.” She was driving down a street when she passed a sign at a church. It said something bizarre that none of us would ever put on a sign. I don’t remember the exact words, but it said something like, “In case you’re wondering, it’s not too late.”
Christine gave her life back to God and has never turned back.
The reality is, maybe those ads won’t touch 99% of the people who see them, but what if it impacts 1? What if the Lord has prepared someone to run right smack into that ad? We don’t know how the Spirit works. In my opinion, instead of questioning them, WE SHOULD PRAY FOR THEM.
Yes, relationship is necessary, but how do you make relationship with everyone who has a chance to see them? Maybe, we should pray they build strong relationships with those who are touched by the ads. As I said, we have no idea how God has prepared the hearts of people who see them, and I know we all agree $50k is a cheap price to pay for a soul.
Okay – I love this post…But my comment today is on a completely different subject…I just need some extra prayers and I know I can count on all of you here for them!
A friend and biz associate is potentially passing at any moment…He is an amazing Christian and he and his family are trying to prepare for this sad time in their lives…David has Pancreatic Cancer and so it has been slow and fast and nauseating and painful…they have reached a point where there is not much else they can do for him.
So I am simply asking for prayers that God will look after him & his family especially now…Thanks for all of your prayers!
@Jerri Phillips, Isn’t it amazing how God can use anyone and anything. Regardless of our motives.
@Allison- I’m stopping to pray for your friend and associate right now!
Not to be a repeat but it is hard to swallow that someone would put that much money into billboards and I will follow up with “if only one person is saved through this message it was well worth the money” HOWEVER my qualm is “really, out of the whole Bible this is the verse chosen?” There are some pretty amazing things being said in the Bible and they pick this one…sounds more like a “now what?” instead of a “I really want them to be convicted by this strong message from God.”
And Allison….praying here also.
I generally don’t like it when Christians REact to something in the world. I think we should be leading and the world REact to our ACTions. I would have much rather tried to figure out what the church in England was doing RIGHT that caused the non-believers to REact with the bus ads. With that knowledge, I would ratchet up that ACTivity instead of following them.
Bravo! I would ask that they follow it it up with some nice lovey dovey quote, but bravo for stepping into the ring! I like a little controversy, it gets press.
Agree with Tommy. When the word of God is displayed, people respond. How many, how few, who? That is thinking beyond our thinking. In the Dallas area right now, multiple thousands of dollars are being spent on a billboard campaign called I AM SECOND. http://www.iamsecond.com
The stories I have heard from the man that put up the money, makes all that money worth it. There are always ‘better’ ways to spend money, or is there?
I think you are right on, I’d say the very same thing.
I have another verse that contradicts the very verse they put on the buses:
“Don’t judge those outside the church, but judge those inside.”
Basically, we aren’t to judge non-believers for not believing, because they have no reason to believe. But we are to judge those who are in the church and might not be going the way God intended, through encouragement, love (tenderly or strongly)…
But then, I wouldn’t even think about telling them to change the verse to something else, because I think, as you said it, they could have used that $50,000 dollars for something more effective…
And, one thing I might add, it is right to be critical in love towards the Christians who are putting those verses on the buses; we need to be able to judge them in love, to keep them accountable to what God purposefully intended… in the right way…
Great post man!
stephen
@Stephen; Very interesting.
@Alison – Praying for your friend and those who are affected by the situation.
Nice look at what is going on over there… it is not an easy answer though as my impression is God is dead in Europe at this point. Many things you can look at as to how it got that way but last I looked, those big cathedrals were echo chambers, nothing alive and moving. Maybe a $50k bus sign is the way to bring that back… I am guessing not, but who knows.
When you look at all the ways globally we can use $50k there are so many things, and yes, none of them on the top of my list would be dueling it out with the atheists, maybe agnostics
Yes Pete, I could DEFINITELY find a better use for that $50,000. If they could just send the check on over to me, that would be great.
BTW bro, LOVE the new blog. ANNE ROCKS.
Pete;
They are coming to our city soon. I posted some stuff on my blog about it, and just finished writing an article for our newspaper about how we as a church want to “handle” the situation.
Thought you might like to read the article
If so, you have my email 
I don’t know what it’s like over there with billboards. Over here church billboards get bad rep…and for good reason…99% of them are stupid. People either see some sad attempt at being relative by a cheesy sign that says “jesus is the rizzle for the sizzle,” they see terribly condemning signs, or they see some sort of commercial sign trying to make the church look like this cool trendy place. The culture is different over there though…so it’s hard to say. Hopefully they aren’t the dreaded “we need to talk. -God” signs…whew
@Allison- Prayers for your friend.
@Jerri- You are so right! Luke 15:3-7:
3Then Jesus told them this parable: 4″Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
If one person is saved does the cost not become irrelevant?
Ben
I’d have to say you’re probably right. “Unpopular and unpleasant” is definitely a good describer, and that’s the main reason I believe the campaign won’t change anyone’s hearts. While I applaud this group’s stand on the truth, I have to wonder, did they miss out on the fact that the message of Christ is a gospel of love? Tossing a billboard all over the buses of London looks conspicuously unloving to me.
I don’t think it’s effective. It’s just like one day I was driving past the Masonic Temple and there was a man dressed as Jesus with some big sign condemming them. Ridiculous.
I think we need to do everything we can, most do not do anything. If it has started conversations in the city it was worth the money. Now it is a test of relationships. Can they handle the conversation?
I’m totally with you. Being from the Uk – a ton of us went ‘well there you go….a marketing campaign that is bad as some of the Christian ones’.
And now, we’re doing one that’s even more pants.
Cos the thing is, it’s all very well saying it’s ‘this christian group’ but as Christians are a minority in the UK, that’s just going to be taken by our country to be ‘all Christians’.
Grrrrrrrr.
I think that doing the bus slogan thing is a GREAT idea “over there” right now….since it’s all over the news… and the people are really receptive to the bus slogans right now…. it would be a graet great time to utilize that form of marketing
BUT only if they used it wisely… Putting up a picture & plea for compassion intl (etc.) to inspire people to give…. or if they chose a verse like John 3:16…. Jeremiah 29:13
SOO not a good idea to “battle” — in a battle there is always a loser — therefore – we lose either way. we don’t want to make others feel like they lost. and we don’t want to lose.
P.S. I really don’t think anybody would feel called to seek Jesus/ God after being called a fool by His supposed followers. So these christians aren’t trying to win souls are they? They are trying to “win”. To prove something? To show they aren’t afraid to play. They aren’t ashamed….
that’s a lot of money to spend to try to prove you aren’t ashamed and that you can play.
They need to rise above the game — by choosing a message that would turn people to Him & His Love.
OR not play at all.
question:
Is saying “…but who am I to judge” kinda like saying, “bless his heart” after ya slam somebody? ;>) just kidding around…I say it all the time.
While it is true that there is no price too high to pay for a soul, what about the other souls that may have been won if a more effective means of communicating the gospel was used? It seems from the comments I have read here, that this may have, at least, stirred conversations in the UK, which is a good thing. Perhaps if they were going to use the same media, the bus ads, they could have used the same wording for a better effect: “Meet Jesus and enjoy a real life!” Obviously, I’m don’t write slogans, but hopefully, you understand my thought. The atheist’s ad offers a good life. We, as Christ followers, have the best life there is. We can offer that, not ridicule.
Although this may not be the tactic I would find most fulfilling of God’s calling to be good stewards of our money, I do have to admit that it has drawn much attention as even I, someone living amid the cornfields, have heard about it on Christian radio stations. And thus – they are getting the word out.
Yes – there are probably far more personal avenues in which to implement the money into the non believing society, but…I also have to think the message is getting out to a vast number of people.
So – although this is likely not the best idea for US cities, I think in it’s local, it’s effective.
We could always try dropping bricks from airplanes with a message attached – as someotimes non believers seem to just need a good knock aside the head! Probably not effective either though…
Good ponderings,
Thanks!
Katy
@pete as you know better than most, what God directs us to do does not always seem to make sense. Gideon gathering his army is a good OT example. If we try to analyze what God may or may not have directed another group to do we are just spinning our wheels. I have enough trouble trying to figure out what He is telling me.
I agree with the notion that on the surface it might not seem like the most financially prudent thing to do but I wasn’t there when the Word came down, or didn’t come down, from above.
That’s what gets me about church budgets too but that is a topic for another time.
Does anyone remember that quote from Ghandi when he said “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” I don’t know what exactly inspired that quote, but I imagine as an outsider (non-Christian) that may be my response after reading that verse plastered to the side of a bus.
If my math teacher had told me outright that I was a ‘fool’ (idiot, simpleton) because I couldn’t grasp the concept of long division, I probably would have quit school and never attempted to understand it again.
His salvation is a gift to us, not even a matter of intellect but of faith.
In the immortal words of the Veggietales, Tale of the Snoodle “A gift that is demanded, is no gift at all”. God’s word will always stand, but when it’s used in a campaign to sling mud at the opposition I think no one wins.
Knowing how advertising can really reach so many people – $50k on an ad campaign really can go a long way to reach a lot of people and make them THINK – touch their hearts – plant the seed – we never know…
I guess it all depends on what the ads say… are they full of love and kindness vs. scare tactics and judgement? If so, then wonderful!!!! If not, then perhaps it’s wise to rethink how the money is being spent.
I do agree with you. The only thing I would add is that IF they are going to do these ads on the buses (which isn’t necessarily a bad idea), then why not spread a message of love rather than one of hate. By that, instead of calling people a fool for not believing, why don’t they post a verse about how much God loves us. Perhaps it could be of God saying “I will never leave you nor forsake you” or “Come to me all you who are heavy-laden and I will give you rest”. It reminds me of “Bull Horn” by Rob Bell. If you haven’t seen it, check it out.
Great article. I think engaging people in a conversation 1:1 is a better way to get some results! After all we all know churchmarketingsucks!
St. Paul tells us there are many gifts coming from the same spirit. I think some people are going to be reached in different ways as well. I have been reading the blog of a former atheist, and many of the people who read his blog are atheists currently. Each of them seems to deny God differently. Each of them claim that belief in God is unreasonable, but when I read their comments, my heart breaks for them. I don’t know if bus ads will reach any of these individuals, but I have been praying for them. I hope the bus adds reach at least one of their disbelieving hearts. I also hope people try to reach them in other ways as well.
This is something I heard yesterday that really stuck with me:
The true way to evangelize someone is to act in a way that causes them to ask, “Why do you care?”
If we Christians would make relationships our top priority, we wouldn’t have to put so much money and effort into evangelism. Or decorating buses.
(By the way, that statement about true evangelism was in answer to my asking how Compassion’s program is able to work in Muslim countries like India. We don’t “evangelize” in the literal sense. We care for the kids and then the parents ask why.)
Pete, judging by the response today, you’ve hit on a great topic.
Because marketing and outreach is what I do, I would offer this. Someone once told me that I’m not to consider myself anyone’s last chance to hear the gospel. I am only one cog in the great wheel of God’s workings and therefore my input with the truth at some point in a person’s life is likely a “single point of contact” out of many.
From a (crass) marketing perspective, billboards, bumper stickers, radio and TV ads all fulfill a similar function. They are one more “point of contact.” Further, these tools serve to ratchet up the visibility of an issue and get people talking. The is good for believers and those not yet reached as well, because these conversations tend to lessen the fear-factor and get people talking more comfortably about spiritual stuff.
They should probably roll over and do nothing. They should probably say nothing when the laws change also that make free speech and owning Bibles illegal.
They should just roll over and do nothing… until eventually that’s all the law allows them to do: nothing.
I think you’re dead wrong. They answered back in the same manner the message was stated to the people.
You know what you think?? You think manipulation has more power than the Word of God. You think that you are greater than God’s Word. You think that you can wheedle and seduce and socially and emotionally manipulate people into being “Christians”. Listen. Jesus said, “Let them hear in the law and hte prophets. If they hear not the law – how will they hear me??” or something close.
Listen, if they don’t hear the Word of God – why should some listen to your emergent personality driven self-centered manipulation that rejects Jesus Christ and declares your personality and “coolness” and how “hip” you are more powerful??
I think you’re really, really on thin ice — and I’m not sure the ice can bear the burden of your inflated ego.
There’s some humblin’ for ya – if you’d like to take it.
God bless.
1,
I am constantly amazed how those that are always right never use their real name. That’s so cool.
@I didn’t use a name,
Thanks for the humblin’. God knows I can use it. Like most of us I do wrestle with ego and pride.
I will say you are dead wrong about saying I value “manipulation” over “God’s Word”.
You’re dead wrong about our rejection of Jesus Christ.
You can come on here and we can argue, debate, and disagree all you want. But I will not let you put words in my mouth.
Pete Wilson…WOW! you continue amaze me. You totally restore my faith in the “church” in pastors, and in humanity. Finally, a pastor who GET”S IT! Where have you been the last 40 year of my life? The only way to bring about true life change is through building relationships. It’s what Jesus did and it is what we were created for. “They will know us by our love”. Keep it real Pete you are the real deal!
It is very sad when people drop an insult, disquise it as a Godly rebuke by ending it with “God bless”, but don’t sign their name.
I’m just sayin’…
@ I
Why are you so angry?
Hey. I can’t sleep so I gonna throw my 2 cents in. I would not now, nor would I ever consider myself in the “emergent” crowd, but I would consider myself a recovering hard line evangelical. Ask me why. (Why katdish?) Because I put aside the considerable stack of recently published books by Christian authors from both sides of this emergent versus evangelical debate and went back to the Gospel of Christ. I have been pouring over Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. First without commentary, later with commentary and cross-referencing other parts of the bible. What struck me this time around is how dire Jesus’ warning is to the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, and how often I am tempted to sit back and point out specks in everyone else’s eyes. But I refuse to do that. I’ve wasted too many years of my life sitting on the sidelines for Christ, thinking that I don’t have to do anything because my salvation is not in question. Here’s the thing: If I am not compelled to help “the least of these”, to speak the truth in love, and to “be the good news before attempting to share the good news” then how can my words possibly have any integrity? James said “Faith without works is dead.” I take this to mean that if my faith in my God and Savior does not compell me to go about His business, then maybe I never really got it in the first place. Say what you will about Pete Wilson. But I diagree with you about his motivation being ego driven. (I have made the same mistake myself.) I think Pete is driven by a love of Christ and a real compassion for the lost. If you don’t get that vibe from him, that’s your perrogative, but why do you have to comment anonymously? If you stand firm in what you say, may I suggest you use your name? Comments with names attached to them, for me, show a certain conviction to the words contained therein.
@katdish, well said. There is room in Christ for debate, in fact heated debate. Ask Paul and Barnabas. We have to put our NAME and our concerns out there otherwise it means nothing.
I also really like your reading approach. While all scripture is worth our study and understanding when I get in a spot where things are fuzzy or confused in my personal life I end up back in the gospels especially John, personal favorite.
I used the read Christian authors and think to myself, “So that’s how it is” now I read them and say, “So that is how God has dealt with them and what He has revealed to them” I have been so blessed by so many authors but their words do not represent the fabric of faith but a thread in the fabric of faith.
Hang in there 1, we love ya man……….
There’s a guy in our town that just spent $35,000.00 (no joke!!) to find his lost dog. Poster, reward, ads etc. It seems poinless to me, esspecially when I hear of a friends son suffering with cancer (he’s 6) and the family needs funds to help him and support themselves etc.
Sometimes people thing about making themselves noticable, rather than making an actual impact. Personally, I dont’ see bus signage making an impact. It more brings recognition to the church, but I don’t think it will bring people through the doors.
Had the church put something funny on the bus, that would have brought me to their church…
This is the type of thing that drove me crazy when I was in my searching years.
I was raised denominational and came out feeling a bit beaten up.
While searching I kept getting “invited” places but then beaten up once again for the time I had taken away searching.
What stood out to me most during this time was the way churches promoted themselves. When really trying to figure out what I needed to do in my life, it was sometimes offensive. In fact, the Disney piece came out about the same time, totally set me off. Especially as a former Disney employee and huge fan.
I might well be wrong here but I think being Christ like has a lot to do with just being loving. Opening your arms to those who are different. Helping those in dire times who do not believe. Living by example.
No need to beat people over the head with billboards or ads.
@1 Bless your heart.
I think you have to find what builds community in whatever place you find yourself in. When we visited Europe we met up with some amazing missionaries that actually worked in a printing shop and they said that they do a lot of handing out literature and stuff like that. I asked about how it was received and they said that they get more phone calls and emails from the free books and stuff people read then some of the other whatevers. I don’t know though. I think that relationships are key and we gotta work on community. That is essential. But maybe a million people are there staring at the wall of the bus/train everyday and since that culture is a bit different, it is making some sort of difference. I dunno….
kristiapplesauce’s last blog post..community?
Misto blog…