HELL YEAH!!!!!

You mention a sense of humor, but I ask why it is that you find the billboards to be funny? I need not outline my list of reasons why I find them to be pretentious, self-righteous, and presumptive, but I’d like to know if you understand the harm done by the actions of Christians and the actions of the church as a whole. If we Christians consider our “marketable” traits of goodness and love to be solely for the sake of salvation of lost souls, then we are ourselves are our own worst enemy.

If thats an idea you flat-out disagree with or don’t understand, I fear I may be quite presumptuous myself, but I would guess that you haven’t spent much time among non-Christians.

I don’t mean to sound harsh or even negative, only asking to hear your perspective, whether that be wide or narrow, because obviously the issue of love is a serious one for Christianity’s truth.

Thanks again for the comment.

The whole point is to look at yourself in relation to God’s love for you. Everybody has to walk their own journey when it comes to faith in God.

For some of us it takes a black and white billboard to get our attention; for others it’s hardtimes, illness, separation, whatever. I’m glad for now, for me, it’s the billboards – I’ve experienced enough of the other for awhile.

Lighten up, be kind to others, and smile, smile , smile – you’ll be amazed how much easier it all is.

And speaking of Star Wars, don’t you know that the Holy Spirit is in those movies? Its the Force! For that reason, I don’t think the HS would have a preference.

“I don’t like democrats.” – God

Or “The Red Sox or better then the Yankees.” – Jesus

Or “I think The Empire Strikes Back was a better film then Return Of The Jedi” The Holy Spirit.

And so on. However, I must say that where so much of Christian marketing is just bland and uninteresting this ad campaign is at least engaging and controversial. I mean look at all the comments here alone.

you should TOTALLY plan your visit to tx around…oh i donno…october 18th…then you can shoot my wedding!!!! :)

my returns will be on your “protesting in front of the church” blog. give me a little while…i’m at work ;)

LOL! Speaking of typos… that should read what your grandfather had to say…not day.

-Mike

Second, in regards to what your grandfater had to day, “who are you to question God’s command. The Bible doesn’t say, tithe IF the pastor is being responsible with the money….the Bible says tithe. PERIOD.” Where is that in the scriptures?

-Mike

correction…because i CAN’T….

sorry. thanks.

subversive church: i hear alot of anger and maybe ill feelings toward “the church” today in your blogs. i have taken some time and gone back to read some of your other posts. i do TOTALLY agree with your feelings on the “megachurch” syndrome…it does SEEM to feel so good and be more a “get butts in the seats” type organization other than let’s tell the people america how it really is whether it feels good or not. i have been in both church settings. the “feel-good” mega church and the “make you wince inside every sunday” kinda of truth. while i agree with you on the method, i have a hard time accepting the concept of picketing in front of the church because you feel that the effect is not acceptable. i have seen alot of changes in people at my work, family members, ect from going to mega churches and really plugging in. they are learning about serving, getting outside of themselves and learning how to love and reach other people. so it seems hard to say the church isn’t working. perhaps its a different purpose than YOUR’S! not necessarily wrong. not necessarily right. different. while i do understand and see COMPLETELY the “American Christianity” phenomenon/un-love/”feel-good” mentality of many Christians…i do NOT understand any circumstances think ALLLLLL of these people are not clearly following exactly what they have felt the Lord has impressed them to do. If they are not…God will judge them for that…it will be made light of…because that’s how God works…He will shed light on darkness. and it’s about trusting that God has maybe got a bigger agenda than what we can see. believe me…i spent years being angry at church. how is fair that i can barely afford ramen, and my pastor shows up to church in a corvette every sunday? it started making me feel like…why should i tithe then?? obviously, the church is doing fine if the pastor’s salary is that nice. voicing my concerns to my grandfather (who is also a pastor of a small church in east texas), he rebuttled, and i have never ever ever forgotten his words. “who are you to question God’s command. The Bible doesn’t say, tithe IF the pastor is being responsible with the money….the Bible says tithe. PERIOD.” the point (getting there…sorry) it’s not up to me to say whether or not the “church is wrong”. it is MY job to do MY JOB as a believer. if i feel so differently about the way it needs to be done…i can start my own church and do it the say i think is right. however…how can i question what God IS doing in many churches around the nation…around the world because i can see the full picture that God is putting into place. i know tithe is not “a marketing tool”. it’s just about letting God be God. the billboard to me represents the ability to GO INTO the culture and try and get attention to pull people out. where do they turn? who do they call? i don’t know…but AT LEAST THEY ARE LOOKING!! it’s a seed…its a thought…it’s an interest…and i believe God can work from that. subversive…don’t you think if God got their attention with the billboard, He could most definitely lead them to the EXACT church in the yellow pages? think outside the box!!! think about what God CAN do…not what the billboard CAN’T do. you both are basically stating that we shouldn’t use tools (like billboards…and internet i might add) and promote “American Christianity” because God can’t use it….

again…i’m sorry this is so long…

amos…side note…this is really fun…i have been chatting with whit about you possibly making a little journey down here to tx. i told her…we should all sit and chat over coffee when you ever get here. ANYWAY…back to the fun…billboards…i think it’s just as easy for a non-Christian to stumble on this blog and be turned off by Christians as to drive by a billboard…or a church…or a specific person…or a cup of coffee…i don’t know. i think the devil can use alot of things to turn someone off…just like God will use anything to call them. i truly believe in the deepest part of my heart…that God inspects the heart of the “well-intentioned” Christian and will take their mission and use it to be a powerful message for many. Christians and non. yes…i do believe God reaches out to already believers JUST as much as the non. and if that’s who God touches through it (a believer) then his purpose was fulfilled.

ps. i’m still standing by the fact that many of the billboards could be more tactful and “loving”. HOWEVER…i think many people (christians and non) will scrutinize it and tear it apart…instead of promoting the true character of God which is not only LOVING, accepting, aching for you… yes…but also, just, and jealous, and at many times very angry and hurt. i think the people that get turned off by it…WANT to find a reason to be turned off…that’s honestly what i think. and no matter how you tried to reach them…they will still try to find a reason to be turned off.

shpew.