Honk If You Love Anti-Christian Bumper Stickers
— Wednesday, February 16th, 2011 —
To get to my favorite coffee shop here in Louisville, I pass a lot of bumper stickers intended to make people like me angry. One of them says “Born Okay the First Time.” Another says “If You Don’t Like Abortion, Don’t Have One.” And, of course, there are several of the Darwin fish, those metallic signs with the early Christian symbol sprouting legs.
These bumper stickers have spawned an entire industry in American evangelicalism, countering these arguments, with “right back at you” ridicule. I understand the temptation, because some of those bumper stickers used to rile me up too. I would roll my eyes and think how stupid the argument was in front of me. Why does the Wicca devotee really need to tell us, “My Other Car Is a Broom”? Why does the anti-procreation guy have to announce, “My Labradoodle Is Smarter Than Your Honors Student”?
But, it seems to me that Jesus never seemed all that outraged by ridicule. Yes, Jesus would engage, and banter back and forth with his critics. Yes, Jesus would sometimes use some pretty stout sarcasm. But Jesus never seemed to be personally offended. Even when his critics suggested he was demon-possessed (Mk. 3:22-27), Jesus simply turned the conversation around, saying, in effect, “Come on, do you really believe that? Satan vs Satan?”
Why does Jesus seem so relatively free of outrage? I think it’s for the same reason Jesus didn’t verbally spar point-by-point with the Sanhedrin or Pontius Pilate. Confident in his Father’s future vindication, Jesus didn’t need to be seen, in the now, to be right. How different that is from our typical contemporary Christian polemics.
It is hard to argue with political scientist Alan Wolfe’s contention that the “culture wars” as we know them are mostly an illusion. The heated rhetoric of evangelicals in the political and media spheres, Wolfe asserts, is often directly related to the ineffectual nature of Christian distinctiveness in our own living rooms and pews.
Of evangelical conservatives, Wolfe writes: “Their inability to use their political power to lower abortion and divorce rates, instill a sense of obedience and respect for authority among teenagers, and urge courts and legislatures to give special recognition for Christianity’s power role in American religious life creates among them a perpetual outrage machine.”
Don’t get me wrong. I am not saying we shouldn’t confront culture. Jesus did, as did the prophets before him and the apostles after him. If we are, as Jesus said, “fishers of men” then we’ll understand that the eco-system in which the fish live matters. But we defend the gospel; not ourselves. We confront culture willing to be, as Paul said, “wronged” and “defrauded” (1 Cor. 6:7).
We know our ultimate vindication comes later. We need not then respond back to unbelievers with sarcastic barbs and slickly packaged campaigns. We have the right to religious liberty, and we ought to protect it. But we don’t have, and we shouldn’t want, the right to be free from ridicule.
My outrage at the Darwin fish in front of me often has little to do with persuading the Darwinist that there’s a more excellent way. Instead, sadly, my zeal is motivated by the very same factors that cause me to bristle when someone bashes the New Orleans Saints or tells a Mississippi joke. I consider it to be an attack on me. When that is my response to revulsion at the gospel, that becomes satanic.
We ought to be willing to be ridiculed and scoffed at because our audience isn’t this present band of spectators. We can listen to our “opponents,” love them, and bear their objections with patience precisely because we are convinced the gospel is true.
I am not outraged when my children wake at night afraid of a goblin in the closet, because I know there’s no goblin. Our “opponents” aren’t children, but we aren’t threatened by Darwinism or hedonism or nihilism or any other proposed alternative to Christianity for the same reasons.
Yes, I’ll talk to my non-Christian neighbor about how not even he really believes the universe is random and meaningless and amoral. I don’t rage against my son as “stupid” for crying about the goblin. And I don’t rage against my unbelieving neighbor’s unbelief. He’s held captive, as I was, to a mind-blinding snake (2 Cor. 4).
So let’s stop being irritated with unbelievers. Let’s pray to see those Darwin fish and witchcraft bumper stickers in our church parking lots as our neighbors seek to ferret out just why we don’t seem to believe in the survival of the fittest or the sovereignty of the ego. There are some things more important than whether we’re proven right, things like truth and hope and grace and, above all else, love.
47 Responses to “Honk If You Love Anti-Christian Bumper Stickers”
Trackbacks
- Combing the Net – 2/16/2011 « Honey and Locusts
- We Have Nothing to Fear « Gairney Bridge
- » Honk If You Love Anti-Christian Bumper Stickers! Karis Blog
- Rules of Marriage, Christian & Culture, Spurgeon, and Exodus « Him we proclaim…
- Forward Progress » Blog Archive » Jesus Didn’t Take It Personally
- Around the Blogs 2/17/2011 | Servants of Grace
- Bumper Sticker Wars | Calvary Baptist Church
- Link Love | Dean Inserra
- More Upset by Darwin Fish or By a Lost World? | Gospel Prism
- Darwin Fish and Happy Holidays! « huiothesian: adopted as sons
If we are irritated with unbeleivers, then they will sense it, and then they would never listen to us. If people do not like you or trust you, they will not listen to you. If you rude and obnoxious and contending with people, then they will shut you out before you even speak. Instead of having a discussion, you will have an argument.
@Jeremy Statton, That is a good point about the “feel” of the argument even apart from the words used.
“I consider it to be an attack on me. When that is my response to revulsion at the gospel, that becomes satanic.”
Good reminder of something that’s too easily forgotten.
@Tyler Wittman, thanks Tyler. I forget it often, I’m afraid.
The young man from Mississippi came running into the store and said to his buddy, “Bubba, somebody just stole your pickup truck from the parking lot!”
Bubba replied, “Did you see who it was?”
The young man answered, “I couldn’t tell, but I got his license number.”
My spiritual gift is the development of other people’s patience.
@Bart Barber, I couldn’t help but laugh at that. But I’ll remember it. Didn’t Jesus say something in the Sermon on the Mount about “Forgive But Retaliate”?
So, this is my first visit to your page, and I have to say it will not be my last. A friend of mine had a link to this article on his Facebook page, and your title caught my attention.
I greatly appreciate your reminder of the importance of God’s command to love others. Romans 13:8-10 comes to mind; “love fulfills the law”. Anyway, thanks for reminding me that my enemy is not the unbeliever who has no choice in how he “sees” truth, but the father of lies.
@Rev. Hal Jones IV, thanks Rev. Jones. Blessings to you in your ministry. Rom. 13:8-10, what a reminder!
Thank you Dr. Moore for this wonderful reminder that we do not battle against flesh and blood, but against powers and principalities. It is a lesson I struggle with as well - sometimes even within the life of the church.
Bart, now THAT’S funny!
A Grateful Packers’ Fan,
WesInTex
@Wesley Massey, Wesley, don’t encourage him! It’ll only make him do it more! LOL.
@Wesley Massey, and, and I mean this in all Christian love, Geaux Saints.
I really appreciate this article! I’d often probably been laughed at by Satan when I used to “argue” my way through evangelism in the past. How clumsy I am with the gospel! How irresponsible! I’m glad the Lord is gracious and merciful because I’m sure I would have received a few “F”s at being loving, patient, but ready for the defense in sharing Christ.
The goblin in the closet analogy is great! I think I will try and remember that the next time I’m confronted with someone’s spiritual blindness.
@Skegee, Be encouraged! We’re all fumbling our way through this, as did even our first fathers and mothers, according to the gospels and the Book of Acts.
A timely word amidst the rancor of our times and often between the factions within Christianity (those who make tertiary doctrines primary dividers).
I greatly appreciate your insightful self disclosure that: “My outrage …. has little to do with persuading …. my zeal is motivated (because) … I consider it to be an attack on me.”
Our emotions, like rage, are great windows in to the condition of our souls, and when rightly understood can lead us humbly to the Cross.
Thanks for your post and your honesty.
@Rob Gibson, emotions as windows, very good point. Thank you for blessing me with that.
Dr. Moore,
I thoroughly enjoyed your insightful comments. I have long searched for the wording to describe my discomfort with outraged Christians.
In a Jan. 6, 2011 column published by The Christian Post, the president of your seminary, R. Albert Mohler, Jr., similarly addressed the issue: “There is nothing so short-sighted and unhelpful as Christian insecurity.”
Why do we as Christians feel like the unbelieving clerk at Wal-Mart must wish us “Merry Christmas” instead of “Happy Holidays?” What purpose is served forcing a biblical worldview onto a pagan culture that doesn’t believe the Bible? We often fall into the trap of trying to “defeat” the culture, instead of win it. Great blog, Dr. Moore.
@Jason Wilkerson, You are exactly right. I once heard a Christian woman eviscerate a Wal-Mart employee for saying “Happy Holidays.” Yikes.
Right on target. Thanks for concisely and truthfully fleshing out this issue!
Great article, Dr. Moore, but you didn’t ask the most pressing question of them all — what IS your favorite coffee shop in Louisville? ;)
What about Acts 14:3-4, How much time should we spend here, they performed miracles and still they were divided. Should we consider our use of time, and sow the seeds of the Good News on the best ground we can find in the best way we can, and leave the convincing to the Holy Spirit? I have spent considerable time with lots of people to no avail,(years), then some latch on like a leech in minutes; anybody have the answer here??
@clay lowenfield,
Wonderful question & great passage to reference!
I think you hit the nail on the head when you asked about leaving it to the Holy Spirit. I think that is exactly what we should do. After all, we never save anyone, we are only the messengers.
I attended a service once where the minister passed out a hand out with some verses and an outline. He said for us to memorize this handout. He said that he had saved a number of people with his method. He is also, however, and unfortunately sadly mistaken. If they were saved, it is because God gave them grace & they believed the gospel. When the Corinthians were bragging about their faith, I am of Paul & I am of Apollos, for example, Paul tells them that they (he & Appollos) are merely men. Paul says that he planted, Appollos watered but God made it grow. This is our role, we plant and or water and someone else may come along and do the alternative but God will make it grow according to His will. Irrespective of what we have, Paul tells us not to boast and asks us what do we have that we didn’t receive and if we received it, then what are we bragging about?
Continue to be faithful to God & His word.
God bless you in your efforts,
Wade
Dr. Moore,
I think you nailed it with this;
“…we defend the gospel; not ourselves.”
Our confidence shall lie in Christ! Amen, Dr. Moore!
With my confidence in Christ, my identity is there as well. I don’t always get offended with attacks that are designed to get “people like me angry.” I do, however, get angry when I see the truth mishandled, abused and molested. Jesus showed considerable anger when he said;
“You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
Jesus’ words in this statement are more than harsh and when you consider to whom he said them to; Israllites, the bloodline of Abraham - a chosen nation He had set aside for Himself. It’s not wrong to have anger as long as it’s righteous anger. It’s righteous anger when the things that make you angry are the very same things that would anger God. I’m not saying for us to be furious with non-believers and rebuke them from street corners but I am saying that when you have a heart after God, the things that angers Him are the very things that anger you as well.
You are right, we should pray for the people that anger us out of their indignation that they have towards our Heavenly Father for we once had the same enmity towards our Lord. You do realize, however, that this means we should be praying for the wicked of the wicked, don’t you? Who really would have had a heart to pray for Hitler? How many of us have prayed for Saddam Hussein, Osama Bin Laden or that pedophile that lives down the street from us?
Just some things to consider for your edification.
May it all be for His glory,
Wade
Thanks for the insightful article!
The first time I saw the Darwin fish with legs on the back of a car, I laughed. I genuinely thought it was funny. Someone was thinking and making his point. What made me really angry was the person driving in front of me whose bumper sticker said “Jesus is coming soon” and then at the red light gave the finger to the driver who had cut her off. I think I would have a more enjoyable evening sitting in a bar with the displayer of Darwin Fish than somewhere else considered more holy with Finger Faith.
@Ken Davis, Now that’s a story I’ll remember for a while!
You know I’ve often found the people with the anti-Christian bumper stickers to be fun to talk to and often even “seekers of truth”, if they’re not too in love with being antagonistic for antagonism’s sake. For me their “jabs” are much more clever than the vast majority of signage I see on the cars of many folks claiming Christ.
Per your title - I’m more apt to honk in approval of a justifiable barb aimed at the caricature of Christianity that so many people see - because that’s what we show them. It should be called out. I might even applaud between honks! However, my hope would be to sit down with them and talk about the significant differences between the Jesus who is, and the one we present publicly.
For this reason, I struggle far more when I see a pro-Christian message on a bumper than when I see an anti-Christian one. It’s a lofty thing, as it were, to claim to represent Christ “in passing”………and requires much, much less of us than representing him “in person”.
I think that sometimes as evangelicals we can be known more for what we don’t believe rather than what we do. In being so reactionary against everything going on in a secular society, the gospel can easily go unnoticed and drowned out.
Sloganizing via bumper stickers and the like from Christians is generally a losing strategy, in my view. Christianity is a faith of depth; it requires a good bit of effort and engagement of believers to come to know God through His word, to feed ourselves continually with the Gospel, and to develop a sound understanding of the riches given to us by God. Without the instruction of God through His Word, we quickly wither as we revert to worldly thinking and behaviors that will expose our shallowness when tested.
I am coming to believe that true “boldness” in proclaiming Christ comes far more from the outward manifestation of biblical mind-renewal that the Holy Spirit gives us as He illuminates Scripture to us, than it does from t-shirts and stickers. Not to point at the adornments as being bad in and of themselves - but I have a hunch that most commonly they are a counterfeit and shallow expression of boldness, often emphasizing a particular attribute of God to the exclusion of others, and often even conveying unbiblical views of God.
If we were devoted to our Master half as much as the world is to theirs, I suspect we wouldn’t have half the hang-ups that we seem to struggle with; one of which you have nailed down quite accurately!
What a great article, and one that clearly resonates with so many, myself included!
Like another commenter has said, this is my first visit to your site, but won’t be my last!
Thank you so much for this post! It dovetails nicely with a study we are doing at our church, Tim Keller’s “The Reason for God.” The biggest thing I am learning is to a) be a better listener and love people more, and b) God doesn’t need me to defend Him.
I once saw a bumper sticker that said, “Honk if you ARE Jesus.” I confess, I laughed.
I’ll admit to having been rubbed the wrong way by some of these stickers as well, but one purpose they do serve is that they give you something to think about, in terms of our apologetic, when sitting at a stop light. If the same bumper message was told to you in conversation, would we have a Scriptural answer readily available to give to the person?
Good article! Really resonates with me because I’ve seen so many brethren (including myself) act this way. I like how cool Jesus is in the face of criticism.
It seems to me we have responded to the world’s criticism using the same worldy methods they use - shrillness with shrillness, anger with anger, and so on. This turns into a shouting match (metaphorically… but sometimes literally!) where each side is yelling so loud neither one is hearing the other.
I wonder how much more effective we would be if we spoke the truth confidently in love toward others, without showing our insecurity with outrage. Maybe they wouldn’t listen anyway, but at least we’re acting more as our Lord desires us to be.
Dr. Moore,
Recently, I read an article by Roger Nicole titled, “Polemic Theology” that is in concert with you. Thank you for your post on this. I want to lead my congregation to have enough confidence in Christ to engage the culture in love, not in spite. I will certainly pass along your admonishments. Thank you.
Thanks for the insightful post! Always refreshing when Christians speak and act biblically.
Trackback: http://huiothesian.wordpress.com/2011/02/18/darwin-fish-and-happy-holidays/
Many times I am reminded that “lost people only do what lost people do.” We cannot become angry at people who are only doing what they do because of their very nature. They are spiritually dead. We were once too. Instead of being angry with them, we ought to have compassion on them. Not just compassion that feels sorry for them, but the kind of compassion that Jesus expressed in Mark 1:41…the compassion that moves us to do something. If you don’t like what lost people are doing, then don’t argue with them, live out the gospel in front of them and share it with them.
What a refreshing perspective! In today’s world where people blast their opinions all over the web and their bumpers it seems easy to become increasingly irritated, but I’ve recently been convicted that any “outrage” on my part is really a distraction from Satan. If I’m judging and criticizing others I am wasting precious energy that could be used growing closer to Christ and loving others. Oswald Chambers stated, “Take to God the things that perturb your spirit. You notice that certain people are not going on spiritually and you begin to feel perturbed; if the discernment turns you to intercession, it is good; but if it turns to criticism it blocks your way to God.”
From now on when others’ viewpoints or bumper stickers irritate me I will pray for them and continue to love as Christ loved.