Church Sign: Gospel or Moralism?

In a message this morning about post-modernism the church sign pictured above was put up as an example of what post-modernists are rebelling against in the modernist Christian culture. The question that crossed my mind is whether this picture is an example of reaching out with the gospel or with moralism?

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tagged as immorality, modernism in apologetics,Church Issues,Culture,Evangelism,morality,theology

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Mark is a Christian, husband and father. A businessman by day; he attends seminary in the off hours working toward an M.Div. More->

{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Eric Wallace January 12, 2011 at 1:10 pm: Looks like a pretty clear case of moralism to me.
2 Jason Smathers January 12, 2011 at 1:15 pm: I think it depends on what the sermon is about. You cannot share the Gospel in every advertisement.
3 M Burke January 12, 2011 at 1:51 pm: It’s only part of the story. It’s law, without Gospel. 🙂
4 MarieP January 12, 2011 at 2:23 pm: The Gospel would be: I kissed a girl and I liked it, but then I believed that Jesus died on the cross for my sins and rose from the dead for my justification, and now I hate it because I am a new creature in Christ, and so I didn’t go to hell although I deserve it!”
5 Bryan January 12, 2011 at 2:27 pm: “It’s law, without Gospel.”

that makes it moralism right?

You may not be able to share the Gospel in every advertisement but you CAN avoid misrepresenting it in every advertisement.
6 Jeremy January 12, 2011 at 3:51 pm: I know if I were a homosexual and I drove past that sign, I would definitely be compelled to come on in and find out more…
7 Mandi January 12, 2011 at 3:55 pm: Moralism, and not even the nice kind where someone is put up as an example of what you should do.
8 Cathy M. January 12, 2011 at 3:59 pm: I echo Bryan’s evaluation. It misrepresents the message.
9 Thomas Twitchell January 12, 2011 at 6:17 pm: Was this said before, or after the sermon?
10 Dan Smith January 12, 2011 at 11:41 pm: I just think it’s a waste of time. Are churches really still trying to hijack secular messages? And old ones at that!
11 Shailender @ Valentine Vacation January 13, 2011 at 6:55 am: Of course it’s a case of Moralism…..
12 Eugene Daniels January 14, 2011 at 4:07 am: Why do churches feel the need to put up an advertising sign like this?
Who do we do church for? The believers.
If a non believer is attending a church out of curiosity that is great, however, many churches are missing the point or the mission of the church and they are turning it into a motivational speaking assembly’s and pep-rally of Moralism….and Legalism. do, do, do, do, works, works, works, works.
The example we see in the New Testament is somebody preached the gospel and it was the holy spirit the convicted and converted peoples hearts. In fact in Acts Peter preached the gospel and 3000 people were added. The message was repent and believe in Jesus

What will it take to get the church back on track? To worship the Lord and equip the saints along with fellowship around the Lords supper.
13 mike January 18, 2011 at 2:13 pm: it just seems to me that you start with Jesus when reaching out to the culture. it’s about Him. Jesus transcends culture and everything else, yet is imminent and available and life-changing. what i’m NOT saying is that a church should slip into cheap grace (as in, “Let’s just love Jesus and not condemn anything”). that’s wrong, too. but a sort of smart-mouth, clever, unwelcoming bulletin seems off-putting IMHO.