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Friday, September 01, 2006
Bad Advertisment
Crummy Church Signs made me think of another way we might misrepresent Christ. I once wanted to put a fish on the back of my van; I thought it would be a great “advertisement” for Christ. After hearing someone’s argument against it, I decided not only that I didn’t need to “advertise”, but that this particular form could very well turn into negative advertisement. I, like everyone else, am not perfect. Sometimes I travel above the speed limit, I often talk on my cell while driving, and occasionally I might cut someone off. And although it may be by accident, might someone see my Jesus fish and assume that because I am a Christian I think I am better than them or that I think I can do whatever I please?

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posted by Tiffanie Lloyd at 3:55 PM ¤ Permalink ¤


9 Comments:


  • At 9/01/2006 04:14:00 PM, Blogger Janice

    Well, I'll go one furhter, I occassional yell at other motorists, make faces...etc. I live in a fast paced area and I am often short on time and that combined with an anger management issue -- well, so I'm with you, I decided long ago that it wouldn't be good for me to have that on there.

    but going one step further I had to ask myself why put it on there in the first place? Is it going to share the gospel with someone? Show them the love of God? Or is it just our way or finding one another so we can get that warm and tingly feeling iside seeing 'one of our own'.

    I dunno.

    Do we need an "I'm a christian sign' hanging on our chest?

    I'm a christian, he's a christian, wouldn't you like to be a christian too. Be a christian, get a bible and a sticker, be a christian..."

    Oh, sorry - lapsed into song there.
    :0

     

  • At 9/01/2006 04:18:00 PM, Blogger Unknown

    I totally agree! Great thought! We wear our opinions on the bumper of our car, but most of us don't go around wearing signs, pins etc, on a daily basis, expressing all of our opinions. I don't know about you, but what has made me careful in this area, is I tend to immediately form an opinion about a person in a car just based on what is plastered on it. The more reading, the more my opinion goes down. I know I am not supposed to judge, but it just sort of "jumps" into my head! I never have been one to plaster the back of my car with anything. I would rather people get to know me then judge me based on the back of my car.

     

  • At 9/01/2006 05:15:00 PM, Blogger Julie

    this makes me laugh... basically because I'm one of those plaster my car with bumper stickers type people (and yes I also have the t-shirts and buttons). I've only been flicked off once and most of my bumper stickers might annoy the religous right more than anyone else. As for the driving thing - it has made me a much much nicer driver to remember that my car says stuff like "Blessed are the Peacemakers" and "Love Wins"

     

  • At 9/01/2006 07:45:00 PM, Blogger Unknown

    Well Julie, I like those, but don't see them often. :)

     

  • At 9/01/2006 09:28:00 PM, Blogger caz

    On a road trip in college the girl driving cut someone off on the highway which led to a lot of honking and an upset driver. Her complete valley girl response to her passengers was..."don't worry, I don't have a fish on my car!" It was a really funny comment, and I have never put any Christian bling on my car since!

    I understand why people do, though. In this culture where we don't really have good community and relationship, I think it is just one way that some feel they can reflect who they are...so they can feel truly known.

     

  • At 9/01/2006 10:05:00 PM, Blogger Julie

    part of it is letting people know who I am. since I live in the suburbs and exist in christian circles people make assumptions about me (usually that I am a conservative republican evangelical submissive materialistic patriot). the bumber stickers that proclaim that I'm pro-peace, care for the hungry, a feminist, and a LOTR fan brand me as something other than the norm.

     

  • At 9/02/2006 05:27:00 PM, Blogger Julie

    yes... most of mine come from here

     

  • At 9/02/2006 11:48:00 PM, Blogger Sally

    I agree, I don't have a fish, but I do have a Make Poverty History sticker... so many good conversations result by people asking about that!

     

  • At 9/04/2006 10:52:00 AM, Blogger Charlotte Wyncoop

    I don't have a fish on my car, or anything else besides dirt! I just always thought they'd be hard to get off...

    But, I think it could be very easy to say (like I have to myself) I don't want a fish, etc because then I'd be accountable for my actions or reflect badly on the faith. Yet, part of me says: Hey wait, doesn't my house, clothes, type of car etc also send messages? Why not add deliberate messages? Why not set an example of what we could be or would like to be? Why not counter the bad ads with some good ones, so the people accusing others of hypocrisy can't draw a clean line in the sand?

    Still not sure I'd bumper sticker, seems hard to get off...

     
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