I Wonder About Signs

MrsPages and I consider ourselves students of church signs. You know the ones; they usually have some sort of pithy saying, or the date of the Bible Camp or perhaps some scripture on them in those big plastic removable letters.

We theorize that you can tell a lot about a church by what’s on the sign outside. The church we used to go to had scripture on it, a different verse every week. It was usually a statement about Christ, either prophetic or from the letters. We thought that was powerful and made an important statement.

We were at a different church discussing the pending purchase of a sign like this, and we suggested that scripture was the best thing to put on it. We were met with horrified looks and a clear statement that scripture would simply scare people away. We needed a witty saying. Like maybe “Seven days without prayer makes one weak.” Or maybe “Sign broken, come inside for message.” Or “Prayer is the ultimate wireless connection.” Or the classic “No God, no peace. Know God, know peace.” God’s public presence reduced to a crummy witticism. Sigh.

So, back to the point: We were driving to our friends’ house for church this morning when we passed this beauty. I had to stop and take a picture. I would have likely had to stop even if I didn’t take a picture, because I was hyperventilating.

Now, in a non-Christian setting, I can maybe see the point of this saying. Faults make character. Imperfections make one interesting. Arguable, but a valid opinion.

But in a Christian setting? I’m blown away on two different levels:

First off, Christ himself is faultless.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. (Hebrews 4:15)

If Christ is faultless and faultless people are lifeless… connect the dots to read the secret message this sign is presenting.

Secondly, even if we make the assumption that the sign can’t be referring to God, it’s still saying something contrary to scripture. And not just a passage or two. The themes of our becoming righteous, pure and faultless through faith, and of Christ presenting us as blameless and faultless before God are listed many times throughout the Bible. I would go so far as to call them cornerstones of our belief.

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy… (Jude 1:24)

…yet now he has brought you back as his friends. He has done this through his death on the cross in his own human body. As a result, he has brought you into the very presence of God, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault. (Colossians 1:22)

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe. Philippians 2:14-15)

Our God became a faultless man. We are instructed to become faultless. Christ will present us a faultless people before God. But apparently we will be completely lifeless. A church sign said so.