This church sign just struck me as wrong.

[annsni]

I get the idea of having cutsie signs outside the church but I'm definitely not into them.

That said, this one was one that I saw and for half a second thought it was cute but then realized that it didn't set well with me.

"Church parking for church attendees only. All others will be baptized."

Have we diminished baptism so much that we joke about it like this? Is there any possible way a Baptist church (of which this was) would ever consider baptizing anyone who just parked there? I know they wouldn't so why post that on their sign.

I guess I just didn't get the "humor" in it this time.

 

[just-want-peace]

Well m'friend, I'm with you on this one!
'Course in today's society there is a lot of humor(?) that I find "not humorous"!

 

[Matt Black]

I agree it makes light of the ordinance/sacrament/whatever you want to call it. We may disagree about what baptism 'does' but I think we all agree that it's important and not to be used in a humourous manner.

 

[Doubting Thomas]

I agree it makes light of the ordinance/sacrament/whatever you want to call it. We may disagree about what baptism 'does' but I think we all agree that it's important and not to be used in a humourous manner.

Indeed it shouldn't.

 

[Baptist4life]

Well, to lighten this thread up, I've seen a couple church signs I thought were funny.


"Services start at 9:00 am. Come early before all the back pews are taken!"


"Free trip to Heaven.....details inside!"

:thumbs::thumbs:

 

[12strings]

the worst I've seen: (this was at the height of the Toyata Auto recalls):

"CARS ARE NOT THE ONLY THING THAT CAN BE RECALLED BY THEIR MAKER"

 

[Salty]

I suppose there are two ways to look at this
First, it is a humorous way to ask non-attendees from parking there - lest their vehicle be towed.

Second - as you stated - it could diminished baptism as an ordinance. (BTW - it is not a sacrament -as it is NOT part of salvation)

So, Ann - here is the one million dollar question. If you had just moved to the area - would seeing that sign - would that keep you from visiting the church.

I see a similar thinking going on in a thread about Jeopardy

Bottom line - at the moment, I would be in the camp of the "first" reason I gave. But will keep it open for discussion.

 

[salzer mtn]

a lot of churches in my area has gone over board putting up what they call tid bits to make people think as they drive by. One church close to me has one out now that say's, if your not satisfied with your first birth, try the second birth. Imo if they would just put up scripture it would accomplish more than tid bits.

 

[annsni]

So, Ann - here is the one million dollar question. If you had just moved to the area - would seeing that sign - would that keep you from visiting the church.

It wouldn't KEEP me from the church but it certainly would bump that church as a possible church to look at in the early weeks. I'd personally judge that church as kind of shallow if they go to kitchy signs.

 

[Revmitchell]

It wouldn't KEEP me from the church but it certainly would bump that church as a possible church to look at in the early weeks. I'd personally judge that church as kind of shallow if they go to kitchy signs.

What's a kitchy sign?

 

[Salty]

a lot of churches in my area has gone over board putting up what they call tid bits to make people think as they drive by. One church close to me has one out now that say's, if your not satisfied with your first birth, try the second birth. Imo if they would just put up scripture it would accomplish more than tid bits.

A Scripture reference may work for someone with some Bible knowledge - but otherwise, the tid bits may actually work better.

A scientist could give the symbol AU H20 - but if you have no knowledge of the Periodic Table of the elements, you would not know he was saying gold water. And how many non scientific minds ( like me) would even look it up. The only reason I know of the example I gave was because of the election in 1964.

 

[Salty]

So, ____ - here is the one million dollar question. If you had just moved to the area - would seeing that sign - would that keep you from visiting the church.

I would invite anyone to answer the question

 

[Alcott]

That kinda compares to a sign I once saw by a drive-thru animal park...
NO TRESPASSING-- VIOLATORS WILL BE EATEN!

 

[salzer mtn]

A Scripture reference may work for someone with some Bible knowledge - but otherwise, the tid bits may actually work better.

A scientist could give the symbol AU H20 - but if you have no knowledge of the Periodic Table of the elements, you would not know he was saying gold water. And how many non scientific minds ( like me) would even look it up. The only reason I know of the example I gave was because of the election in 1964.

God uses scripture to convict the conscience when the holy Ghost applies it to a heart. Isa 55:11 So shall My word be that goeth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void but it shall accomplish that which i please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto i send it.

 

[annsni]

That kinda compares to a sign I once saw by a drive-thru animal park...
NO TRESPASSING-- VIOLATORS WILL BE EATEN!

See, that at least will be honest!

 

[annsni]

What's a kitchy sign?

Those signs that are cheesy signs that churches put up. I don't mind putting a message on the sign but some of them are a little over the top and I consider this one of them.

 

[DiamondLady]

Our church sits on a four lane divided highway. We're a small church, and often our sign is the only outreach to those driving by at 50+ mph. Our sign may read anything from "Smile, ruin the day for a grouch" to "Abortion kills babies" to "God made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve" to He is Alive! or a scripture verse. Our sign has been featured in our local newspapers several times, including one of our pastor kneeling in front of our sign the week it said, "John 3:16. Do the Teabow."

On the Sunday before this past Thanksgiving, we arrived at church and found this:

A drunk driver took out our sign at 2AM that morning. It's taken some wrangling to finally settle with his insurance company but our new sign is on its way. Our first sign will read,
"New Sign Courtesy of Alcohol. Don't drink and drive."

I can not tell you how many people have asked what happened to our sign. How many comment how they miss the messages. A church sign is a HUGE witness to the driving community.

I happen to LIKE that sign. Why? Every Easter Sunday evening we have to hire police to guard our parking lot. A neighboring family has a huge reunion...complete with drugs, alcohol and usually in the thousands attending. They use our parking lot and church grounds as an extension of their reunion if we do not hire the police. You can see why I would think it funny. Park here and we'll baptize you!

Church signs....the opportunity to pass along a memorable message in 10 words or less.

 

[salzer mtn]

Some peoples mind set is this, If the church house burns down, the devil did it. If the beer joint burns down, God did it.

 

[Salty]

Some peoples mind set is this, If the church house burns down, the devil did it. If the beer joint burns down, God did it.

That would be great to put on a church sign!!! :thumbsup:

 

[Gregory Perry Sr.]

I Can't Resist!

Well...I started to by-pass this thread but couldn't resist it. I am the guy in our church that is blessed to be our "minister of signage". It seems I adopted the job of posting all the marquee messages on our the roadside marquee sign our church has. It is a nice brick enclosed 4 x 6 two-line lighted permanent sign. My Pastor only stipulated one thing about what is posted there...and that is that I post only things that are Biblically-based or relevant (or scheduled Church events) and to avoid the humorous, corny, or "tongue-in-cheek" stuff you see on a lot of church signs. He has given me free license about what I can post. I do pray about what goes on that sign that it would have a positive and spiritual impact on the people that see and read it whether they be members of our church or folks just passing by. The biggest challenge I have is that I only have TWO LINES to work with. It has been challenging to say the least to express significant thoughts that will be a challenge and blessing in just that little bit of space. God has blessed thus far in the 3-4 years I have been doing this. I'm thankful to be able to serve Him.

As an example of the kind of messages posted...note the following that was on our sign back in December for the Christmas season:

THE ROAD TO CALVARY
PASSED THROUGH BETHLEHEM (on one side)
&
CHRIST WAS BORN TO
DIE FOR YOUR SINS! (on the other side)

Two lines makes things more difficult but not impossible. I pray no one would EVER have cause to "cringe" by what they see on our sign. God Bless Ya'll.

Bro.Greg:saint: