Hullabaloo in Kalamazoo: Billboards Confront Strip Club Patrons with Bible Verse on Lust
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Mon, December 15, 2008
- Viewed 496
- (98) comments so far
There. I got your attention.
Did Jesus condemn sin? Absolutely.
Does the Bible tell us right from wrong on sexual matters, lust, and the sanctify of life? Yeppers.
Did Jesus treat people in the same way these signs do? Never?
How did Jesus treat the woman at the well? Or Zachaeus? Or the rich, young ruler? Or the prostitute? Did he carry a sign or rent a billboard? Did he immediately condemn them before talking with them?
All of the above signs will lead you to a website called JesusChrist1st.com, which, I’m quite sure Jesus would not recommend.
How did Jesus act when meeting the adulterer or the fornicator or the pervert or the prostitute? That seems to be the first question we should ask ourselves. Then we should try to treat them as Jesus would, and minister to them as Jesus would.
Question for you… WHAT IF: Signs like this actually turn more people AWAY FROM Jesus than lead people TO Jesus? I, for one, think they do. I wonder, in eternity, if people that use this form of evangelism will be cheered for the tens they have impacted FOR Christ; or judged for the thousands they have turned AWAY FROM Christ.
What do you think?
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It's all happening in Kalamazoo, MI:
A billboard next to Deja Vu (An adult entertainment club): "Anyone that looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (Matthew 5:28.
Another billboard outside a Planned Parenthood, "How is an unborn baby not a human being?" (Jeremiah 1:5)
And yet another outside two bars known to have gay and lesbian customers: "Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman: that is detestable." (Leviticus 18:12)
Could it be that the people who read these signs will never accept Jesus because they want no part of a Jesus is just as condemning as these signs?
Comments
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Wendi Hammond on Mon, December 15, 2008
These folks need to order a case of WWJD bracelets. I think these signs do turn people away and I hate it that many will lump all of us into the billboard group. I wish I knew how to solve that problem.
Wendi
Peter Dodge on Mon, December 15, 2008
This just adds to my continued point. The church is stepping outside of it’s purpose. Some get off on this unbiblical tangent of preaching something other than the love of God through Jesus. These are the trappings of a judgemental legalistic distorted church. We don’t NEED to preach what sin is or isn’t. We need to preach the gospel. I believe that this sort of thing grieves the Holy Spirit. Where in the Bible does it say that the church is the one who convicts and draws people to repentance. Not one place. The high and mighty pompous hypocrites in the church are not preaching what Jesus preached. They are preaching a false gospel. They have it backwards. Jesus saves, then he cleans. We don’t need to preach what sin IS. We know what it is, God has written HIS law on the hearts of man, and God doesn’t need the church to step outside of its boundaries. The Great Commandment, The Great Commission, Preaching the Good News of Jesus. That is the churches PRIORITY. Anything outside of that, especially to non-believers is outside of God’s will. Some have this mentality that we can disciple people first before they receive Christ. Backwards thinking and a false gospel. They are probably sending more people to hell than Oprah, and both make me sick.
Brian on Mon, December 15, 2008
Too often many would gladly help pay to put up a billboard, but not dare dirty their hands by working with a stripper, help pay the expenses and care for a unmarried pregnant woman, or work with a homosexual. Such ministry is hard, messy, but if you can PERSONALLY lead them to a change, it would mean much. We need to seek innovative ministry.
On the flip side, if the billboard kept a man out of the strip club, saved the life of one unborn child,or helped one gay person realize the error of their ways, would it be a worthwhile venture?
CS on Mon, December 15, 2008
“Signs like this actually turn more people AWAY FROM Jesus than lead people TO Jesus?”
I disagree. I believe that these people are already turned away from Jesus, and these signs are in some effort to try to awaken their consciences from their slumber.
In some of those examples above (woman at the well, adulterous woman, Zacchaeus), those people were convicted of their sins and showed repentance. The rich young ruler, on the other hand, got hit with a serious dose of the Law by Jesus Himself, and he walked away crying because his wealth was an idol. Jesus had no reservations about using the Law directly in an in-your-face way when appropriate, too.
The people who are going into these establishments likely have seared consciences as it is, and are not convicted of their sins. And while we should demonstrate love to them, it’s okay to have them face their sins this way.
Some of my evidence:
-On condemnation. John 3:18.
-“They know what they’re doing is wrong already.” Proverbs 21:2.
-On Jesus being direct about sin. Matthew 5:28.
—
CS
Jim Hughes on Mon, December 15, 2008
Thanks for the post and making me think. Seems we like “cute” billboards and bumper stickers that reinforce how we’re doing better than someone else is at whatever, including avoiding certain sins. But if we really analyze the message being sent, we recognize that we’re in a bad place ourselves and have some repenting to do.
Joseph Louthan on Mon, December 15, 2008
Ugh, we suck.
Rev.K on Mon, December 15, 2008
In a time when man doesn’t want to hear about his/her sinfulness, and the church not wanting to rock the boat this discussion fits right in… a problem with many christians today is the fear of the people and the watering down of sin… and then many wonder why many believers are powerless…
What kind of love are we really showing to our brothers and sister if we fail to warn them about their sinful lifestyles?
When we speak of Jesus method of ministry we must also take into account that Jesus was both man and deity… Jesus didn’t water down these people sins… in fact He told them to go and sin no more…
With the way ministry is today, Jesus wouldn’t have used half the things we use in our worshipping God… (Light shows, big screen TV’s, drama skits…just to name a few…)
The question was raised, “Did He condemn them before talking to them?” in this case, nobody isn’t condemning… it’s the Word of God that’s convicting…
I minister in a Urban City where liquor stores, go-go bars, regular bars, night clubs, prostitutes, drug dealers, gang bangers and the like are within the vicinity of the church… all of these different establishments use bright leon signs and the like to advertise their businesses… why can’t I use a sign to warn them about the sins they’re indulging in? I don’t know about you, but I see the end result of the sins they committed… i’ve ministered to countless of men who lost their families behind going into go-go bars…and they wished they had been warned before they went in… I’ve ministered to countless of men and women who spent their pay checks, rent money and food money in liquere stores and to the drug dealers… as a result many of them lost their homes and their children to dyfs… and they too wished they had been warned… as Christian disciples we’re to warn the world of her sins… not pat her on the back in it…
We’re called to be watchmen… God likened the work of Israel’s prophets to that of watchmen, stationed upon the wall of a city, watching and warning of approaching danger. Israel was brought to judgment for her sin because she failed to heed the word of God which these watchmen spoke (cf. Jer. 6:16-19; God described His prophets to Israel and Judah as watchmen who had been sent to warn them of the dangers of their sin: “Also, I set watchmen over you, saying, ‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’ But they said, ‘We will not listen.’” (Jer. 6:17) 7:21-27). Both the Assyrian and the Babylonian captivities served as divine judgments against a disobedient and rebellious people who rejected the warnings of truth spoken to them by God’s watchmen. When the prophets (who should have been warning Israel of her sin) refused to issue God’s warnings, He described these watchmen as “blind, they are all without knowledge; they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; dreaming, lying down, loving to slumber” (Isa. 56:10)
the apostles and prophets were inspired men, through their work of revealing and confirming the gospel, engaged in the God-given work of watching for the souls of men. Based upon the example of this apostolic work, Christians are entreated to “therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears” (Acts 20:31). As the apostles preached the gospel to the whole creation, they acted as watchmen upon the walls of Zion, warning of sin and announcing the way of salvation. Their work as watchmen has not ceased, for as we hear and heed the apostolic teaching, we benefit from their work as watchmen. These watchmen of God continue to function through the God-given word they preached. “Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.” (Col. 1:28; cf. 2 Tim. 3:16-17)
When we use God’s Word to warn the nations then and only then would we be doing the work of an evangelist and making full proof of our ministry… but if we fail to warn the world, their blood would be on our hands…
Rev. K
Marv Plementosh on Mon, December 15, 2008
I agree with CS - and CS correctly interrupted scriptures. Everyone needs a class on hermeneutics.
I would like to see your data on the people it turned away. I propose this - what if it actually made people think of God for a moment before they went in committed adultery and or murder.
The churches job is to equip us so we can confront sin. Not in a hateful spiteful manner which those signs do not. Simply state the truth as Jesus did and let the hearer decide what they will do with it.
I have another question. For all you that oppose these signs what are you doing to combat abortion, strip clubs and sin? Details…
Lex on Mon, December 15, 2008
It’s a delicate issue, and one I’ve been struggling with lately - especially regarding abortion and the Christians/Catholics who like to stand outside clinics to pray or protest or talk women out or whatever.
On the one hand, I agree with CS and I’ve heard that side of it before. If the Church did nothing, would the silence be a form of validation for these behaviors? Maybe it should be a little difficult to get into an abortion clinic or a strip club. Maybe people should be forced to think about what they’re doing.
On the other hand, the gospel is about forgiveness and love. Jesus was mercy and grace to sinners, and harsh to hypocritical religious people. That’s an important distinction.
On the first hand, I’m an example of someone who was faced with this kind of “Christian” response and I hated it. It pushed me further and further from wanting to ever go to a church again, but years later I’m a student ministry pastor. So if we say these things are too condemning and they’re pushing people from Christ, are we limiting the power of the Holy Spirit? It’s our job to preach the truth, and the Holy Spirit’s job to draw men to Jesus.
It’s more complicated than Yes or No, I think.
Dane on Mon, December 15, 2008
“You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
From the first mention of Jesus in the New Testament, His identity and mission is connected with dealing with the sin problem.
The Law, says Paul, is weak because it gives no power to the sinner. It necessarily points out sin but gives no power to overcome it.
Grace, if given to those with no real knowledge of their sin is also powerless in a sense. It cannot empower you to overcome something you will not admit is a sin!
John the Baptist, Jesus, Peter, and Paul all preached repentance as a first component in “the Gospel”. Just do a quick word search. If you skip repentance you do not pass Go and you do not collect $200.
When the issue of repentance is forgotten or avoided, you will not see the Holy Spirit’s power and presence (Grace in demonstration) respond to such pseudo faith.
But we must never forget. Jesus not only reproach the cities where He preached, because they would not repent, but He wept over those cities. And those who came to him broken and aware of their sins He always warmly embraced with no condemnation.
Rev.K on Mon, December 15, 2008
many of us today are a bit confused as to our purpose… it’s not our job to attact men/women into our church buildings, it’s not our job to draw them…our job is to preach the Word… Jesus said, “if He be lifted up, He’ll draw all men unto Himself”… notice Jesus didn’t commission us to draw crowds but to preach Him… when we start focusing on who feelings we’ll hurt, who’ll be offended, or who’ll be turned away… we already lost our focus… we’re to plant the Word… and allow God through the Holy Spirit do His work… and sometimes we won’t see the end result of the words we plant… one plant, one water but it’s God that gives the increase… brothers and sisters, don’t be ashamed of preaching God’s Word… He said if we be ashamed of Him before man, He’ll be ashamed of us before the Father… I don’t know about you, but I rather have Jesus liking me then man…
Rev. K
Cindy K on Mon, December 15, 2008
I would rather see a sign that read something like:
“Jesus Forgives” or “Jesus knows you and still loves You” Than the signs quoting scripture that the enemy /will/ turn to condemnation.
They already know they are sinning. I believe that the reminder that they are loved no matter what would do more to convict, than a sign that gives the enemy the opportunity to condemn.
It is the love of Jesus that saved every one of us. I’d rather approach anything that I do in a positive way. The Holy Spirit will convict, that’s not my place.
And from a personal standpoint, it was that Love that brought me to God. I knew I was living in sin, and I thought I was too terrible to face God, I didn’t believe that Jesus loved me any more. It was the realization that he loved me no matter how awful I was that turned me around and brought me back into the light.
Love. That’s what changes hearts. Finger pointing just confirms what the enemy is saying to those living in darkness - that they are worthless and God has turned his back on them.
Wendi Hammond on Mon, December 15, 2008
CS – Zacchaeus, the adulterous woman, the woman at the well; none of these people gave any indication of repentance until AFTER their encounter with Jesus. Please find me one example where Jesus used this type of “in your face with no relationship” method.
No one who opposes these billboards is suggesting we skip the repentance step. I’m simply suggesting that it is an encounter with a person, a human being that will draw people to grace, and an understanding that they desperately need
These billboards resemble the methods of the Pharisees (put the law out in front of everyone) than it does the methods of Jesus.
Wendi
Cindy K on Mon, December 15, 2008
Rev. K said:
“brothers and sisters, don’t be ashamed of preaching God’s Word… He said if we be ashamed of Him before man, He’ll be ashamed of us before the Father… I don’t know about you, but I rather have Jesus liking me then man…”
I agree! http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/smile.gif And there are MANY scriptures that refer to the love of God.
How about the commandment that Jesus said was the most important?
If I love my neighbor as myself I’d rather present the Gospel to them in a loving fashion, rather than as a slap in the face.
Dane on Mon, December 15, 2008
Our problem is we try to separate what God and the gospel never separates. Justice and mercy, holiness and love…
Jesus was often very staight with sinners. He told them if they did not repent that they’d perish just like notable sinners.
Jesus denounced entire cities. Jesus said, “If you’ve lusted…you’ve committed adultery.” He did this not to condemn people but to help them realize they were already condemned because of their sin.
My wife got saved years ago listening to a hateful guy preach the law on a university campus. In her religiosity she argued with the guy (who was telling the sorority girls that their sleeping around was fornication and that fornicators go to hell).
She told him that if people simply believe in Jesus that they get forgiven and go to heaven. that’s what she beleived. But it this preacher was right, then my wife was going to hell. She was even at the moment living in fornication. Over the next several days her sense of guilt for the sin of fornication began to cause her to reconsider her standing with God. She began to feel real remorse for her sins.
Shortly after that a true saint of God led her to real salvation in Christ. She experienced repentance along with faith. And this time the Holy Spirit bore witness to her faith! Unlike the rote sinner’s prayer of her adolescence.
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