Apr 22 2008
Questionable sign?
[WYFF]
The sign in front of a small church in a small town is causing a big controversy in Jonesville, S.C. Pastor Roger Byrd said that he just wanted to get people thinking. So last Thursday, he put a new message on the sign at the Jonesville Church of God.
It reads: “Obama, Osama, hmm, are they brothers?”
Byrd said that the message wasn’t meant to be racial or political.
“It’s simply to cause people to realize and to see what possibly could happen if we were to get someone in there that does not believe in Jesus Christ,” he said.
Read about it here.
[From me]
Why? I think every church sign should be taken down unless they are posting information about upcoming events. Usually the signs have stupid sayings that unbelievers don’t understand or offends them. This sign is way beyond acceptable. Sad, tragic, & sounds unChrstian!
What do you think?
[HT] Chris Knight
{Edit} Bret is correct and although I think the sign is wrong, I have judged and have changed the title accordingly. Sorry Bret and Pastor Byrd.
15 responses so far
He needn’t have bothered: it’s a very debatable question as to whether we have “someone in there” who seriously believes in Jesus Christ TODAY.
Chris Knight’s last blog post..Tonight we watched LICENSE TO WED
http://irregulartimes.com/index.php/archives/2008/04/22/jonesville-church-of-god-osama-obama-tax-exempt/
I absolutely agree with you K! You know what I smell? A 501(c)3 (looks like it wants to give me a copyright sign for the “c”. So let’s just say an investigation into their tax deductible status) problem brewing for this church. Want to see more bonehead signs. Check out http://www.crummychurchsigns.com. Some will make you laugh. some will make you cry. Some will make you want to claim you are not associated with people like that.
Bill’s last blog post..Are We Expecting Too Much?
*sigh* ugh. *DOH!* and a myriad of other hand-slap-to-the-forehead sayings. you already know how i feel about church signs.
BTW, kevin, have you ever noticed what happens when you put a “g” in front of obama? i’m just saying…
adam’s last blog post..earth day @ caribou coffee
Wow! Adam,
I never thought about that. You know the last time Bama won a NC was when a dem was in office. The Cowboys won the SB too.
Kevin Bussey’s last blog post..Bonehead sign of year–maybe decade..
And just how does Pastor Byrd know that Obama doesn’t believe in Jesus Christ? It’s awfully presumptuous to assume you know the heart of someone who’s a church member (and regular attender) when you’ve never met.
Texas in Africa’s last blog post..oh my word
Adam and Kevin, I have a friend who claims no AU fans will vote for Obama exactly because of what happens when that G gets in front of Obama.
Kevin, I’m happy to report you’ve got one right.
Do you wonder what would happen if someone were to post a counter sign, “JesUS/USama - are they brothers?” A lot of people are taking stupid all the way to 11 today.
Ed Darrell’s last blog post..San Jacinto Day in the rearview mirror
Do you wonder what would happen if someone were to post a counter sign, “JesUS/USama - are they brothers?”
Dear Ed,
I couldn’t help myself…
http://theknightshift.blogspot.com/2008/04/church-sign-well-never-see-in.html
It was too good an idea to pass up!!
Chris Knight’s last blog post..A church sign we’ll never see in Jonesville, South Carolina…
So stupid on so many levels. What an embarrassment.
Neil’s last blog post..Hyperbole gone mad
Kevin and Chris:
I would strongly enourage you both to minimize or eliminate if possible, your judgement upon your bretheren. The original post, written by you Kevin, declaring the church’s sign as being Un-Christian is a direct judgement and codemnation of the brother.
“You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. 11It is written: “`As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, `every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.’” 12So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. Romans 14(NIV)
Kevin you have judged your brothers, who simply asked a question on their church sign. IS Obama a muslim?
If asking a question in regards to one’s faith is equivalent to being judgemental, then how are we to go about witnessing? I mean, dont you ask where a person stands on faith, prior to witnessing, i.e.: have you heard the Good News, do you beleive in God, are you an aetheist, are you a muslim, etc.?
It is impossible for a question to be a judgement or codemnation without placing a premise within the question. An example here would be: “How many times does Obama face and pray towards mecca in a day?” This provides the premise that he is a muslim. The sign does not imply anything, it simply asks. You on the other hand. have judged these memebrs if the church as Unchristian.
Kevin, your assertions of “the boneheaded sign of the year” have done nothing to lift up your brothers.
Instead of edifying, uniting and emboldening your brother, even if this were a weak moment for them, you have chosen to ridicule them and cast allegations at them you dont know to be truthful.
“But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak. “10For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; 11And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
12But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.
1 Corinthians 8 (King James Version)
Chris and Kevin, your are sinning upon your brothers in Christ over non-essential items. Believe it or not, differences within the church are okay, however, your judgement of the brother and your condemnation for them asking a question on a sign are NOT okay:
“No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval.” 1 Corinthians 11:19(NIV)
My prayer for you Kevin, is that as a leader in our church, you seek His wisdom, His guidance on issues pertaining to strengthening your brothers and sisters in Christ, verus, what you have done with this posting.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqo_ntSTGyo
Bret,
I changed my title. Point taken. I still think the sign is wrong and very un-Christ like. In my disgust, I did judge and that was wrong.
Kevin Bussey’s last blog post..I realize how fragile life can be…
Thanks Kevin.
It’s O-BAMA! YEAH!!!
And this sign is way over the top! It’s wrong on so many levels. TOTALLY REPULSIVE.