Unfortunate Church Signs

The other day a link came across Twitter that collected the “Top Ten Unintentionally Sexual Church Signs.” They were all the sort of sign that is often seen today, trying to be funny but meaningful. The problem is, in the context of the dirty mind that had collected them, they were really offensive. It could be argued that the church can’t be blamed for how their sign is going to be misread, but unfortunately they can be.

The biggest problem with a church sign is that it exists in the first place. They are the visible expression of so much that is wrong with current and traditional ways of doing church. Instead of simply being church when they are gathered together, or going about life making disciples as Jesus directed, churches today are all about attracting “customers.” After all, you need to attract wallets to support those expensive gathering centers and the professional witnesses.

If you are going to insist on having a sign to use as an attractional tool, consider the audience. You need to know how the culture to whom you are advertising thinks. You need to know the way they think. (If you really did that though, you might just get rid of the sign.)