Posted by Helen on: 09.09.2007 /
Five Reasons To Pry Off The Fish Symbol
by Steve Sjogren
Steve Sjogren is the senior leader-pastor of Coastland Tampa Church, a church that is planting a cluster of churches that are outwardly focused. Free weekly coaching is happening several days each week for several types of leaders. For more information on this check out Serve-Others.com.
During your weekend services, do a spot check before you speak. Tally up how many vehicles sport some sort of Christian symbol. Usually churches that are seeing many come to Christ and have an internal book shop that sell these things have a high percentage of people who sport these on their vehicles. Enthusiasm to declare Christ is magnificent, but there is no worse way to do this today than by putting a symbol on your vehicle.
- The Message of The Scriptures is Repeatedly “Prove your faith by your integrity, consistency - that is, not flash, but essence.”
For those who are fans of car symbols, has the presence of a symbol of any sort at any time ever once opened the door for a conversation for you? I was at one time that likely candidate for the one with the most stickers per square inch on a vehicle - with 27 stickers. One could easily come to Christ by driving behind me and “reading” my car for ten or fifteen minutes. But during those five or six years of bumper stickers, never once did anyone ever ask me a single question about Jesus.
- THE TRUTH: Traffic Conditions Are Beyond Your Control, Period. Thus You Will Tick People Off With Your Driving On A Regular Basis No Matter What…
Enough said.
- The Primary Push Behind Such Symbols are Marketing Companies
Think about that for a minute. They make money on us. Some of those companies are ultimately led by believers. Many are not. As Jesus followers we are being taken advantage of.
If you are a leader, encourage your people to put their money where their passion is. They are obviously excited to let the whole world know they are now Christ followers. A symbol is perhaps the very worst way to make that known. The natural, biblical way for that to transpire is to treat people differently (the fruit of the Spirit will naturally flow from us - Gal. 5:22 - not by trying, but by relaxing and allowing him to be himself through us).
- As We Drive With Symbols On Our Cars, Not A Single Positive Thing Will Come of This
The reality is when negative things happen, regardless of life, traffic conditions, etc., you inadvertently propagate negative stereotypes regarding Jesus followers in general. If you take three or four trips from your house each day, it is likely that each week, you are sending out a negative vibe regarding Jesus’ people several times. Even is you are a car safety instructor, this is inevitable. Life, driving, etc. is just that way these days. Drop the symbols!
- One Word: WHY?
I would love to hear just one good reason as to why one would sport a symbol on a vehicle in today’s world, all things considered.
During the Jesus movement days of the late 60s and early 70s this was a spontaneous idea that was a fun, even beautiful thing. Times have drastically changed. The Church has taken so many hundreds of major, high profile hits in its integrity, we don’t need to reproduce a local version of what is happening on TV.
One exception to the bumper sticker deal - when a city wide, multi-church thing is happening such as Greg Laurie’s Harvest Crusade, absolutely pass out the stickers WITH the caveat to your people, “Please drive in an especially civil way for the next month before this event…” Then on the very next weekend specifically mention from the pulpit “Please remove the stickers today - God love you!” (BTW, vinyl cling window stickerless signs are far easier!)
This article was originally posted in The Church Report. It’s reposted here with Steve Sjogren’s permission.
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38 Responses to "It’s Time To Remove Christian Symbols On Cars"
Comment by: Andrew
1 09/10/07 2:44 AM | Comment Link |Does this relate to “missional” tattoos too?
:)
Comment by: seekingsomething
2 09/10/07 4:11 AM | Comment Link |I liked this article and especially liked:
I wouldn’t just pose this to Christians though, but to any adult. When I was a teenager and a Christian it was fun to have car stickers, and especially fun, when en-route to a Christian event to look out for other cars with the same promotional sticker in the car. But as an adult? Eeeuw!
I’m not sure it’s the biggest thing in the world to get worked up about though… I mean, though the author may be right that no positives will come out of displaying the stickers, it doesn’t necessarily mean that negatives will come out of it either. Each to their own. :)
Comment by: joe
3 09/10/07 4:48 AM | Comment Link |I don’t think it is any big deal.
More important is how to get Christians out of their cars altogether.
Comment by: utech
4 09/10/07 6:57 AM | Comment Link |I think tattoos are different in that they are more likely to lead to conversation with someone, especially given the fact that your not going 65 mph when you are showing off a tattoo.
Comment by: Jim Henderson
5 09/10/07 6:59 AM | Comment Link |I like what Joe said
I don’t think it is any big deal.
More important is how to get Christians out of their cars altogether.
Comment by: Paul
6 09/10/07 7:00 AM | Comment Link |Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land that the LORD swore to give your forefathers, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.
Nope… nothing about putting them on your car in there.
Comment by: Stephan
7 09/10/07 7:15 AM | Comment Link |Reason #2 is all I need. I’m sure somebody behind me is going to think I am a jerk, whether or not I deserve it (I do). If he thinks I’m a Christian jerk, I’ve not done anyone any favors.
Comment by: Andrew
8 09/10/07 8:01 AM | Comment Link |Utech … phew! I was worried I was gonna have to get mine removed.
Besides that, it has been effective in ways no fish sticker ever has. :)
Comment by: Randy
9 09/10/07 9:00 AM | Comment Link |I wonder if we could extend the exhortation to t-shirts as well?
I’m all for shirts that make people think a little, but the “in your face” turn-or-burn, cutsie scripture laden evangelistic assault-wear seems to have an even more serious negative potential. I mean, it is harder to ignore or avoid the shirt than a car on the freeway (people generally move more slowly). And it seems to communicate, “Go ahead…make my day,” or, “Ask me about my shirt and I’ll wreck your day.”
Not that I have a strong feeling on this, mind you…
Comment by: Helen
10 09/10/07 9:09 AM | Comment Link |Thanks for your comments so far on this article by Steve Sjogren.
I like joe’s comment too.
Andrew, I can well believe your tattoo interests people more than a fish sticker!
Especially now Randy’s brought up T-shirts, I’m going to say this before Eliza does :) - last year we had a discussion here started by her about Bumper Stickers and T-Shirts.
Comment by: Charlie Bucket
11 09/10/07 9:22 AM | Comment Link |I bought my car used from an older lady who took good care of it, and who had perhaps had a fish on it since it was built in 1983. I would never put a fish on a car that didn’t have one, but the car came with the fish and now I would feel bad taking it off. :-)
I know there would be a sun-faded fish mark on the car still, and people might see it and know there USED TO BE a fish on there. What does that mean? This guy wanted to make sure I know he’s NOT a Christian?!?
Do you see the dilemma here?
Comment by: Doug
12 09/10/07 10:32 AM | Comment Link |I don’t see any valid reason about not having a fish on my car. Its small and yes I have had positive reponses to it. Do I get out and evangelize, yes. I have people ask me about Christ. When I have that on my car it can plant a seed that may bear fruit. When I speak words into someones life I don’t know what happens. Its up to Christ to water and touch that persons heart. If I have planted one little seed, I say Praise God… God’s blessing on you… Doug
Comment by: Steve S.
13 09/10/07 3:53 PM | Comment Link |Sticker or no…
I think we would all agree that following Jesus should be a deep thing. I am one who steers clear of outward signs, precisely because they detract from the understanding of the deeper reality.
My friend is planting a Church in Santa Cruz (they don’t like Jesus there very much!) when he was interviewed for his job they asked him, “Are you gonna try and convert everyone here? Are you gonna preach at everyone?” His response was, “My lifestyle speaks for itself.” His employers liked that…
Comment by: Emergent Brethren » Do You Have a Christian Symbol on Your Car?
14 09/10/07 4:32 PM | Comment Link |[...] http://conversationattheedge.com/2007/09/09/its-time-to-remove-christians-symbols-on-cars/ [...]
Comment by: Helen
15 09/10/07 5:54 PM | Comment Link |I remember a discussion on IIDB (non-theist discussion board) from back when I used to read it a lot, asking what reactions people have got from having secular bumper stickers on their cars.
Good/bad reactions to secular bumper stickers
Comment by: Friendly Atheist » Taking the Christian Symbols off the Car
16 09/10/07 7:57 PM | Comment Link |[...] I’m (pleasantly) surprised to hear a Christian urging other Christians to remove the religious bumper stickers and symbols from the back of their [...]
Comment by: Jedipunk
17 09/11/07 5:06 AM | Comment Link |In my state, they have “In God We Trust” on the license plate. While it is not THE STATE plate it is the one everyone chooses.
Comment by: Doreen A Mannion
18 09/11/07 11:56 AM | Comment Link |It’s always humorous when someone cuts me off on the beltway, then I look and they’ve got a fish on their car. HWJD - how would Jesus drive?
Comment by: Brendon
19 09/11/07 12:41 PM | Comment Link |I’ve seen some pretty cool bumper stickers so I don’t see why not. Just because it’s some pastors opinion doesnt mean it really matters.
Comment by: Nicholas
20 09/11/07 2:22 PM | Comment Link |I personally use anti-christian stickers on my car, because I live in the bible belt. I feel I have to balance out the aweful stickers. No one works for jewish carpenters in Alabama. I can guarentee it.
Comment by: Kathleen
21 09/11/07 5:52 PM | Comment Link |I saw a birthday card once that said “Birthdays are like bumper stickers: You enjoy other people’s, but don’t want one of your own.” I quite enjoy bumper stickers of all stripes. (I’m a sucker for a good pun - or a not-so-good one - so I suppose I’m the bumper-sticker-maker’s target market.) I find the vast majority of bumper stickers amusing/thought-provoking whether they completely agree with or don’t at all. I like that a Jesus fish says “I believe in God and I’m not afraid to tell people” (because in my experience, belief is more likely to be judged than non-belief), but I laughed out loud (in a good way) the first time I saw a Darwin fish. I like the message behind “My boss is a Jewish carpenter,” but I would quite appreciate a bumper sticker that said “This is Alabama. Trust me, no one works for a Jewish carpenter.”
I also like the much-maligned “Son Rise” phrases. It’s a pun! Son=Sun, get it? Maybe my opinion shouldn’t count for much? ;-D
Comment by: Helen
22 09/11/07 6:22 PM | Comment Link |Nick wrote:
LOL Nick :)
Comment by: Eliza
23 09/11/07 6:38 PM | Comment Link |Aw, Helen, you beat me to it ;-)
I haven’t been around much lately, the slavedrivers haven’t let up at work in a while.
But, what a coincidence, I started thinking about this very subject right after I left work today…and was cut off by a car with a fish and a crucifix on the back. (I had ample chance to contemplate these symbols, as the driver of said car chose to drive 15 mph below the speed limit, after being in such an all-fired hurry to get in front of me).
This experience did not make me feel like asking the driver to witness to me.
Comment by: Al Zorn
24 09/11/07 8:36 PM | Comment Link |Perhaps it would be better to have small fish stickers to put on our rear view mirror. When I’m tempted to drive in a way that would not be a good reflection on my savior I need a reminder more than I need to advertise.
Comment by: Jim Henderson
25 09/11/07 9:29 PM | Comment Link |This experience did not make me feel like asking the driver to witness to me.
I miss Eliza
Comment by: Helen
26 09/13/07 9:46 AM | Comment Link |I miss Eliza too. :(
Al, I like your idea that we put something where it will remind us to behave appropriately rather than proclaiming to others something about us which our behavior isn’t necessarily living up to.
Comment by: Bill Cecchini
27 09/13/07 12:13 PM | Comment Link |@Al…
Love it. I need those fishys too!
I personally feel that many stickers have an adverse effect. They produce the opposite of the desired affect. Let me explain:
A non-Christian is driving behind a Christian who has a “Get saved or be microwaved” or a “turn or burn” sticker. Heck, even a “1 cross + 3 nails = 4given” sticker. Tell me, does the non-Christian look at the sticker and say, “Wow…good point…I better convert to Christianity!!!” NO!! They sigh and say something like, “Christians…always trying to convert me.”
Love. Serve. Give. That is how we share our faith with the world.
I believe it’s time for Christians (myself included) to step it up. Bumper stickers don’t change the world - passionate people do.
Comment by: immortalpilgrim
28 09/13/07 7:27 PM | Comment Link |I have to admit I am a pretty aggressive driver. Remember in high school we learned about “defensive driving”? I never really got that. I think driving is like football. I have the ball, thus I am on “offense” so I drive “offensively”. Which is why I don’t have any faith identifiers on my car. LOL.
I think the best place to put a Christian bumper sticker is on the inside of my eye lids. Would serve as a great reminder.
Comment by: Rachel
29 09/15/07 12:12 PM | Comment Link |Well said, Steve! I completely agree!
Yes! Please!
Comment by: Subversive Influence » Blog Archive » Random Acts of Linkage #27
30 09/22/07 4:52 AM | Comment Link |[...] Sjogren absolutely gets it right on one of my pet peeves… Five Reasons To Pry Off The Fish Symbol from your car. He doesn’t mention the lunacy or hypocrisy of slapping a Jesus-fish on the [...]
Comment by: The Upward Way Press » Blog Archive » No Fishing
31 09/23/07 5:34 AM | Comment Link |[...] Five Reasons to Take the Fish Symbol Off Your Car by Steve Sjogren. [...]
Comment by: Robin
32 09/23/07 9:09 AM | Comment Link |My husband banded ALL bumber stickers from any of our cars. He esspessally dislikes the christian ones. But what was interensting to me is when he started to fly fish he broke his own rule and put a
ST CORX decail in his window and then when he bought a Harley he put a decail in the window of his car for that. This was not to “lead anyone” to St Corx fishing rods or to “lead anyone” to buy a Harley it was to connect himself to the outside world to anyone who had that common intrest. This is what t-shirts, tattoos, neckaces “bubmer stickers” do. They help us connect with other christians in the world who we have never met and we atomatically know that they are in the same kingdom as we are.
Comment by: Rachel
33 09/23/07 1:12 PM | Comment Link |That’s a good point, Robin. I guess my main concern is that Christian bumper stickers, etc. also let nonchristians know that we are NOT in the same kingdom and that we do NOT have something common. That isn’t the message I want to send. I just want to develop authentic relationships with all kinds of people without having an agenda. And I think putting “Christian advertising” on my body or my possessions would communicate an agenda.
Comment by: Helen
34 09/23/07 2:27 PM | Comment Link |Robin, I see what you mean about fish helping Christians connect with each other.
But it’s a bit different from other kinds of decals, because a St Corx decal doesn’t mean “If you don’t buy a St Corx fishing rod like me you’re going to hell”. As Rachel pointed out, the issue is what fish say to people who aren’t Christians, rather than what they say to other Christians. Given how negative that message can be, I don’t see that they are justified even though it might be nice for Christians to see them and think “he/she is one of us”.
Comment by: Steve S.
35 09/23/07 6:32 PM | Comment Link |Why in the world does it have to be “one of us, or going to hell.” It seems like somehow this is the wrong way of looking at people…
Comment by: Helen
36 09/23/07 6:46 PM | Comment Link |Steve, I agree but that is how some Christians view humanity.
Comment by: Steve S.
37 09/24/07 7:13 AM | Comment Link |The only response I can give is, “not on my watch.”
I know that Christainity has in some instances become a state-religion, pacifying the status-quo and serving to maintain Americana. …but not in my life, or in my city, not if I can help it…
Comment by: Helen
38 09/24/07 9:48 AM | Comment Link |Steve, thanks for doing your best to discourage that viewpoint.