Posted by Helen on: 08.15.2006 /
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I drive by this church sign all the time. I usually look to see what it says. The photo is of the current message (which is also on their home page). I usually understand the metaphor but this one confused me. I told my children about it. They knew it was a metaphor but one said “If God knows everything, why doesn’t he visit when we are home?” |
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I called the church to ask about the metaphor. I told the person who answered what my child said. He laughed. Turned out he was the pastor. (I think it’s neat when the pastor answers the main church number. I’ve never belonged to a church where that happens.)
This is a real sign but you can have fun making up your own with the church sign generator.
Comment by: jim
1I would welcome anyone who is interested to take a few digital images of church signs and post them here ( with Helens permission of course)
I want to create a coffe table book called
Church Signs that would simply be real chruch signs with a question underneath each one
What does this say to you?
If this was translated into common english what would it say?
If you are not a Christian how does this sign make you feel?
What do you think “Everyone Welcome” really means?
Why do they need to put up a sign saying “Everyone Welcome”
and so on….
Comment by: jim
2To answer your question as to what the purpose of this sign is
Thats simple
To make people feel guilty for not thinking about God more often
What else could it possibly mean?
Why do they think this is effective?
Because they have learned to equate feeling bad about ourselves with making God feel good about us.
Kind of sick I know but is there another interpretation
Comment by: NCxian
3It could be something to remind folks to try to live in the moment–you know, like practicing being “present”, not distracted? Maybe they are doing a sermon series on spiritual disciplines?
Comment by: Helen
4NCxian, it didn’t occur to me that it might tie into a current sermon series.
Jim, whatever the actual effects of the sign comments are, I expect the church’s intention is similar to Off The Map’s - i.e. to encourage followers of Jesus to be more like him.
Comment by: Helen
5I’ll post church sign pics that people e-mail me at Helen at off-the-map dot org. (You need to put that address together - I didn’t because that makes it too easy for spam robots to pick up)
Comment by: Paul
6Could it mean that God often visits us even when we are outside of the home i.e. don’t just sit on your keyster, get out and meet me on the street? workplace? person sitting next to you on the bus etc????
Comment by: Mike O
7Could it be saying that God wants to spend time with us, but we’re too busy? When my wife wants to spend time with me but our schedules are all crossed up, she’s not trying to make me feel guilty, she misses me. And I miss her. And sometimes we just have to stop running around all distracted all the time and just hold hands.
Comment by: Mike O
8I like Paul’s, too … “but most of the time we are not at home (when he visits us).” I realize that’s completely different than what I just posted, but I can see it that way, too.
Comment by: jim
9Comment by: Helen
10I told my Dad about the sign and he said, “A lot of people probably think it’s the other way round - i.e.
Comment by: Keith
11Jim,
IMO, you’re right. This sign is designed to make people feel guilty. By the way, you can borrow my perceived authority anytime (and without interest). Thanks for being honest about these things, as always.
Comment by: Keith
12Jim,
I appreciate the coffee table book idea. When you get the time, I would love to see you follow through with the idea. It would serve as a nice springboard into conversation about how Christians communicate with others. Could use one in my living room … thanks, as always.
Comment by: Theresa
13It reminds me of a story that used to go around in Christian circles, something about running around doing this and that for Jesus and there was Jesus all this time sitting in the living room waiting to have a heart to heart conversation with you.
I like Helen’s dad’s answer the best.
Comment by: Helen
14Thanks, Teresa. I really liked my Dad’s answer too!
Comment by: Paul
15Helen, just to clarify re your Dad’s thought if we’re out visiting God and he’s out visiting us no wonder we’re not at home and vice versa?
Makes me wonder if the answer is meeting God half way on the journey from my place and his place instead?
Comment by: Helen
16This morning I drove past the church with the sign for the first time in a few weeks. Today it said “God doesn’t want your best; he wants your all”.