Christian Chaff
Vacation Musings
by Clay Staggs
Well, it has been a long time since I’ve had the chance to sit down and put up a post. However, this week, that should change. I’m at the beach this week, and will hopefully have the time to do some things that I really enjoy, and blogging has turned out to be one of those.
So, to start the week off, here’s the view from my balcony at sunset this evening:
Anytime you travel any distance, you can’t help but run across a couple of church signs of the type that Bryan Bond was so fond of, er, critiquing. We passed by a large community-type church this morning. Later in the day, we saw a billboard for this church that had its name and slogan. I’ll withhold the church’s name, but the slogan was “Bringing good people together.”
Ordinarily, it would be easy enough from our reformed perspective to ridicule this, and normally that’s what this post would be about. However, I’ve started reading a book that has given me a bit of perspective about why the slogan is so bad.
The Board at Riverwood Classical School (on which I am honored to sit) is currently reading a book entitled Widsom and Eloquence. The authors’ thesis, borrowing from Augustine, is that to truly make a difference in a disbelieving world, Christians must be not only wise, but also be eloquent, so as to enable them to persuasively communicate their wisdom to that world.
Now, consider the church’s slogan, “Bringing Good People Together,” in this light. Is it wisdom communicated eloquently? Perhaps that’s too much to ask from a billboard (which begs the question of using such a thing anyway), but, leaving that aside, I assert that this is neither wise nor eloquent.
It’s not wise in that it’s contrary to the plain teaching of scripture:
As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”
Romans 3:10-12. Also, I’d argue that it’s not particuarly eloquent. What fraternity, sorrority, country club, alumni association, or any number of other social organizations wouldn’t say the same thing? What if you don’t happen to feel like all that great a person? Should you pass this place by? It may qualify as catchy in a mass-communications sense, but that’s not the same as eloquence. I fear that the church has bought into earthly advertising ideas as a replacement for true communication and persuasion.
I’m sure that some will read this post and think that it’s not particuarly brimming with wisdom or eloquence, and maybe that person is right. However, as an aspirational standard for Christians, I think it’s spot-on.
Posted by Clay Staggs at October 8, 2006 07:27 PM
I think your idea of wisdom and eloquence Toward an unbelieving world is right on the money. The sign you mention has a lot to do with self satisfied self righteousness instead of trying to reach anyone who is needy but that’s fairly commonplace among church signs, etc.
I must however, take issue with you posting that sunset picture. You caused the sin of envy to arise in my heart!
The photograph reminds me of the Perfection of Wisdom and Elegance as He is so evidently reflected in the elements it displays. How perfect and beautiful the works of His hands. I’m glad He’s given you all time to absorb some of His handiwork away from the “maddening crowd.” You will, no doubt, return to us more wise and eloquent for the time spent there!
Spot on, my fine chap. What convicts me further is that, yes, we don’t have a church sign…but we have dozens of other things that scream our “wisdom” with the marketing techniques of our American/Western culture.