ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
July 26, 2026
I’ve noticed many people sharing images on social media of various billboards displayed by Christian groups. This has reminded me of a time early in my marriage when Donna and I would visit her parents in Arkansas. During our trip, there was a place where we approached a rather steep incline on the highway, and we couldn’t see what lay beyond the ridge. Right at the top was a billboard that read, “If you die, are you going to heaven or hell?” The placement was really good as it made you a little nervous to drive over that hilltop. Yet I don’t believe those sorts of signs change very many minds. In the case of the billboard in Arkansas, there was a phone number you could call, and all I could think about was some poor person who tried to write down the number, crashed the car, and died. Morbid humor aside, Christianity has spent unimaginable amounts of money on fear-based signage, including Christian artwork from the latter part of the Middle Ages that was gruesome and terrifying. All though it might have kept people following the rules, I don’t believe much of it truly changed hearts. At the end of the day, Jesus told us to love one another, offer mercy and kindness, walk alongside the marginalized, and to do so with a servant’s heart. A life seeking to resemble the life of Jesus is what changes hearts, and it usually doesn’t cost that much money… maybe a little bit of time
Holy Gift and Sacred One of the Universe, we continue to look for ways of representing the life, teachings, and self-giving love of Jesus. Putting all things aside, show us how the greatest impact often comes from a simple act of kindness, compassion, and grace. Continue to encourage and guide us. Amen.
