fishers, surfers and casters

One of my students found this photograph and sent it to me a while back. Unfortunately it got caught by a spam filter so I only got it just now. Sorry bud.

Catchy slogan, yet another attempt to scare us into going to church, or at least trying to prick at our own fears of not going to church a “ignoring God”. Man, it’s 5am here, I’m sure that didn’t make sense.

This sign appears out the front of a certain Baptist Chruch on the road from Shepparton to Bendigo. The second time I drove past I felt the urge to take this photograph, just to share with you.

For one, apart from perhaps high schools sarcasm, I think puns are the lowest form of humour. I mean like anyone can make a play on words. Sometimes humans need the power to filter all word plays before deciding to place one on a huge friggin billboard outside their community’s houses.

And secondly, what this poster says about this community’s ideas of evangelism, mission and relationships with the community is that even the lowest form of entertainment must be good enough to get your attention. It says nothing about what they believe, apart from the fact that only kneeling down by your lonesome will get your closer to God. Not reading the Bible, not sharing your faith story with others, not trying out new experiences of the world, not even drugs. Just bending over repentantly will get your there.

Which basically means if we treat our audience like idiots who only respond to punny lines will we ever make a difference in the world.

Or maybe I’m just sick of churches at present, especially ones throwing themselves in my face. Sorry. End rant.