Bumper Sticker Theology
Bumper sticker theology is something I have often thought of and been frustrated by. I have often thought of blogging on it but just never seemed to get around to it. I do understand that there is only so much room on a bumper sticker and things need to be short and sweet. I understand most want it to be something catchy. I have noticed thought that often times what is displayed on the bumper sticker usually is not Biblically accurate. Sometimes I think that the messages are even directed more at other Christians with whom they disagree rather than truly trying to share the Gospel. (I know there are some good ones-not a blanket statement here.)
While I was skipping through blogland the other day I came upon a posting on this very topic. I think that some of the struggles I have with bumper sticker theology was addressed in the article so I want to share it with you. Matt Kaufman does a good job of addressing this in his short blog post, Of Bumper Stickers and Bad Theology.
Please leave me a comment and share your thoughts on this topic. Are any of you frustrated with Bumper Sticker Theology too?
Tags: Bumper sticker, Christianity, Theology Posted in Christianity
August 23rd, 2010 at 8:28 am
Oh how this subject is so near and dear to me. My entire family, (parents, sisters, and their families) are wrapped up in a heretical gospel that in a nutshell says that if you don’t believe the Lord Jesus is returning on a specific date they’ve calculated “from the Bible” that you aren’t saved. This has led to as you call it Bumper Sticker Theology- I love that term. Their vehicles are plastered with posters, bumper stickers, even their license plate sports the date. When they get out of the car, they’re wearing “bumper sticker” t-shirts.
The entire situation just breaks my heart on numerous levels,(there is so much more to this, additional heresies- I won’t bother to get into it), but to stick to the main point, tract distribution and bumper stickers does not a true Christian make. We need real live relationships to exhort one another and to be “an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” You just don’t get that dropping a tract & going about your life.” And it’s not the pattern for discipleship that Jesus set for us either.
August 24th, 2010 at 2:40 am
Matt said it better than I ever could, and it the very reason that I don’t do bumper stickers. The message is either diluted or not present. I’ll stick to my Friday thoughts to share the Gospel in what I hope is a loving way.
August 24th, 2010 at 7:00 pm
I completely see what you mean and agree! And I thought his post was well written, too. I personally don’t like bumper stickers at all. They’re.. I dunno.. trashy? (There. I said it.) Though I did have a little magnetic icthus for a while.
I feel the same way about a good portion of Christian t-shirts. There are plenty I like (though admittedly most of them have actual scriptures on them instead of cute quips.) Otherwise, you have to be very clever to come up with a good one liner that doesn’t in some way sound contradictory or mis-interpretable. It’s like Kaufmann said – why don’t you just stick to the verse. No improving on that anyway.
As far as the theology itself goes – reducing God and Jesus to little one liners (which I’ve heard happen in sermons & churches) is just as bad. I once had a pastor who followed every analogy with “Obviously, ever analogy breaks down at some point….” It was predictable but it showed his commitment to pointing out that out and not being misunderstood.
MamaArcher
Twitter: MamaArcher
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August 26th, 2010 at 7:35 am
@Amber @ Classic Housewife, Oh, the Christian t-shirt….that is a whole other blog post…coming in the near future!
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