Who Is the Boogy Man?
- 11.05.09
- Stupid Church Signs
- 12 Comments
I’m not a big fan of church signs that display cheesy or ridiculously lame messages for all the world to see.
I drive by this “church” often here in Albuquerque and usually find myself shaking my head in disbelief at what I read on their sign.
This time, however, I found myself shaking my head in confusion. What could this sermon possibly be about?
Any guesses?
I bet it is our “inner low self-esteem child” and I bet the solution is to look at yourself in the mirror and say “Jesse, your good enough, your smart enough, and dog gonnit (sp?) PEOPLE LIKE YOU!” Cause I think it says to do this in the Bible.
I really ought to be more careful before reading these posts (and comments). I nearly spit tea out through my nose just now. That said…I think the Baptists across the street should do a sign war – just to liven things up in the neighborhood. I’m tempted to call this place and ask what it means now.
Mike, I think the sermon could deal with the terror and anxiety we all feel inside. The boogy man could represent our inner most fears and what we are to do in confronting them from a Biblical perspective. Many people are suffering from fears and real-life terror that confronts us in the world in which we live and most people don’t know how to deal with that. Who or what is that “boogy man” in your life? That fear or terror you feel but just don’t want to deal with? I could do a sermon on this with no problem. If this sign got more people in the door or at least talking about it, it has done its job.
Larry: Thanks for chiming in! I agree that a sermon dealing with fear and anxiety from a biblical perspective is much needed in our culture today. I also could do (and have done) sermons on this topic. However, knowing this “church,” I’m pretty sure this was not the topic. Unfortunately, I have a feeling that it may have been more like what Jesse is suggesting above.
Flu prevention?
God only knows – plus the congregation that had to listen to it…
Why do you always post negative things about other church’s signs? It’s really judgemental.
Still not as bad as the church sign posted at a biker rally that said “Shhhhhhhh”. No visitors I’d bet.
Maybe it’s about that song “I’m yo Boogy Man”……..like a Where’s Waldo hunt inside the building.
In all honesty when you use the term church and put it in quotes it makes me not want to attend yours and puts kind of a jerk figure to you name…. Is that really necessary?
Benny. I’m not a jerk…at least most of the time. Just ask my wife. Then again, don’t. I might be being a jerk to her on the day you ask. Anyway, I’m not intending to be a jerk. Let me tell you why I put the word church in quotations when referring to the Albuquerque Center for Spiritual Living.
First of all, allow me to give you the biblical definition of church. “Church” in the original text is “Ecclesia”. The word “ecclesia” is used (136 times) in the Old Testament and is used 114 times in the New Testament. Ecclesia literally means convocation, gathering, congregation, meeting, etc. It was a word used in many different contexts back in Bible times. However, In Matthew 16:18, Jesus said that He would build HIS church. He took the common word ecclesia and said that He was going to build His own ecclesia…His own church. A church of people who are called by Him and who follow Him. And THAT is what I mean when I use the word “church.” It’s a gathering of people who are committed to the life and teachings of Jesus and are people who have placed their faith and trust in Him for their salvation and for the forgiveness of their sins.
Unfortunately, the Albuquerque Center for Spiritual Living is not such a gathering. From their web site, this is who they say they are: We are a Religious Science organization, and our philosophy is based on Science of Mind (SOM) teachings. Religious Science was founded in 1927 by Ernest Holmes (1887–1960) and is a religious movement within the New Thought movement. Religious Science is a spiritual philosophy for modern times. It correlates the laws of science, the opinions of philosophy, and the revelations of religion in a set of simple principles that can be practiced in every area of daily life. We believe that all beings are expressions of Infinite Intelligence, also known as Spirit, God, or the One Mind.
There is no mention of Jesus in this definition. I’m sure they mention Him now and then, but this is not a biblical church as defined by Jesus in the New Testament.
So…all this to say that even though I may be a jerk now and then (I am trying to get better as I follow Jesus)…I still would not call the Albuquerque Center for Spiritual Living a church as defined by Jesus. Sorry if I offended you. That was not my intention.
When I make my video about using the outdoor church signage as the only evangelism program for the church, I’ll send you a copy to post. Hee hee. Finally, some one else with the same perspective on church signage.