Signs Along the Way

We often notice church signs as we drive along. You know the kind with a big space for a temporary message to be added? We’ve been travelling quite a bit on two lane highways and back roads the last few weeks - we’ve been in four states to supply preach, visit family, attend the ordination of friends, continue the call process, and now to prepare to move – and much of that travel has not been by interstate. But there have been lots of churches along the way with these signs.

Sometimes, the messages on these signs make us smile; sometimes they make us think; sometimes the theology is troubling; often they become the topic of our conversation as we drive along. We are actually relieved that Becks Lutheran doesn’t have one of these signs, so we won’t become responsible for creating appropriate messages for one of those signs any time soon.

Some of our favorites recently include: You can’t alter your past but you can take your past to the altar and Even a fish can stay out of trouble if it keeps its mouth closed. Of course a perpetual favorite – which seems especially encouraging at this point in our journey is God won’t lead you anywhere he won’t keep you.

But I must admit, the one that caused us smiles and laughter as well as some more serious thought and conversation this week was one that read: Sign Broken – Message Inside. Clearly the sign wasn’t really broken, as the lettering was visible. But it did beckon to everyone that read it to come inside and hear the word of God proclaimed.

The signs are all there to get our attention, of course, but shouldn't they also invite us inside to hear the Good News? Could we expect any more from a message on a sign outside a church?

What’s your favorite sign message?