doesn't work for me

in our old school neighborhood we are just a few blocks away from a cluster of churches and daily erin & drive by them. one church actively sends messages over it's church signs. being down the street i drive by a few times a day. some signs i like, some are more information, some celebratory (someone got baptized), some cliche, some are annoying, some make no sense to me.. the most recent one makes me ill.

since i was away with the youth workers convention i missed when they actually put this one up. so i saw it yesterday morning when i headed off to church. it made me so ill, i decided to take a picture and stew over it. healthy practice, i know.

instead of a doctorate thesis, i give you the cliff notes of why this particular one makes me ill.

• "God grants liberty".. now this could be a semantics thing, but within the context of the greater quote. the liberty spoken of is an american democracy concept. before that though, God grants freedom and life through Christ, God blesses, but there is no mention of "liberty" especially the liberty eluded to in this quotation. God works through the individual, where they may be given liberty from a sin or hindrance, but as a nation..?
• "to those who love it".. i will be the first to say that i love the liberties and blessings this country avails me to. however, this liberty is a nation state concept, not a God concept. i do believe the great commission is to make believers of all nations, not nations of believers.. big difference. plus, does my love of liberty (or democracy) become idol in nature, something i am worthy to die over versus the call of God?
• "are always ready to guard and defend it".. this brings about so many conflicts. yes i wish we could live with Christ centered pacifism, but that is problematic for me. a defense or a "just war" understanding i can get behind. but who is the decider of when we need to "guard" or "defend?" certainly not me. why do we need to be "always on guard.. ?" does not that constitute that someone is going to steal away our stuff? doesn't Christ call us to live in the world, but not of the world? being of the world (american context) is one where we collect and protect stuff. we do not fight to protect God, we fight for american democracy & american interests. let's be honest with that, it is okay, but do not coat it with some other cover so people feel our defense is God anointed. this is also not to say that individual soldiers cannot be found doing the work of God, but as a whole

you can tell a lot about a church from their sign. i am hoping these folks feel inclined to change this one sometime soon. i am going to be home much of this week with the holiday and hope to not see it every time i leave or come back to the neighborhood.

Comments

[Scott]

Isn't it great that we live in a country where people can express all kinds of opinions?

[gavin]

it is.. doesn't protect me from how i feel about it though.

[Art]

Very well stated, Gavin. I agree totally. I see (and hear) those sentiments far too often.

[Art]

I meant that I hear the sentiment like ON THE SIGN far too often, not the sentiments in your post. I liked those.

[gmw]

A sign like that has me endlessly shaking my head. This sort of attitude and genuine belief has made me quite interested in the subject of American religion lately.

The absurd irony is that congregations holding the sort of belief system represented on that sign are generally regarded as conservative when that couldn't be further from the truth. The most basic reading of the NT reveals that these sorts of theologies are as liberal a reading of the NT as one could imagine.

[gavin]

art & guy, i know what you mean.

[CrummyJoel]

I'd like to use that one on my blog. With proper linkback, of course. Is that OK?

[jeff]

That sign in horrible. In other words, God only stands up for those who stand up for themselves?

[John]

I looked at the sign pictured and thought to myself "Um, where is that in the Bible?"

Of course, our own Declaration of Independence (written by a Deist) says that we have inalienable rights to life, liberty, and happiness given to us by the Creator.

It's a nice sentiment, and as a libertarian I like hearing people say it. It's just not Biblical.

I remember, back when I was an atheist, reflecting on that sentiment from the Declaration of Independence and saying "If there were no God it would be necessary to invent one just to create the concept of divinely-granted civil liberties."

[John]

you can tell a lot about a church from their sign.

Not necessarily. You're assuming that the pastor has control over what is put up on the sign. Don't assume that the theological implications of church signs are pastorally approved.

[mmichele]

the church is called the OLD HICKORY CHURCH OF CHRIST! That is exactly the kind of sign I would expect from Old Hickory.