I get a kick out of bumper stickers sometimes. Just last night, I was behind a bad driver (in my opinion, of course, notwithstanding the two lanes of traffic he cut across in order to get to the turn lane). Now, bad drivers irritate me, but I actually found this one amusing. He had a bumper sticker that said something along the lines of "Tailgating kills." I can perhaps understand his sentiment, even as I wanted to let him know how I upset I was for his inept driving skills and preparedness.
Other bumper stickers are a lot less likeable in my eyes. You've probably seen one that says "COEXIST" with the letters replaced by different religious symbols. I admit that one irritates me. To think that someone assumes that they have a higher understanding of God than people of faith, and that their view of how the world should be is superior to those who look outside of themselves for guidance truly baffles me. (I should say I've also seen one of the same design with the word TOLERANCE on it, which again seems to demonstrate that their belief in tolerance is better than anything God could says.)
In one sense, I understand the desire of those who decorate their cars with bumper stickers. They truly want to demonstrate something that they believe in. It's admirable, in a way. And yet, one thing I often find is that it is simply impossible to convey much sense of what you believe by pasting a few words onto a sticker on your bumper. There is always a much greater depth and context than the mere few words that have to be large enough to be seen.
I've tried over the years to sum up my Christian belief in just a few words. But I consistently discover that there is no way I can sum up everything that God tells us about Himself that is vital to know in that brief of a way. No bumper sticker or 140 character display can accurately convey meaning and intent. At best, it can point to a deeper meaning, with the hope that those reading are encouraged to delve deeper.
At the same time, you can easily overwhelm another if you try to include too much. (Just imagine a bumper sticker with the Athanasian Creed on it, and if you don't know what that is, I suggest Googling it.) It's a balance in trying to convey depth and accuracy while striving to be brief enough to keep attention.
That just seems to beg us to work to create community and relationship with others. Only in that kind of context can we briefly describe certain parts of what God reveals to us about Himself, and at the same time, have the opportunity to go into depth as the situation allows. And that kind of community is something you have to work at as you live your life. If you find a way to get it onto a bumper sticker, great. But community and relationship is always greater than even the most profound of bumper stickers.
Other bumper stickers are a lot less likeable in my eyes. You've probably seen one that says "COEXIST" with the letters replaced by different religious symbols. I admit that one irritates me. To think that someone assumes that they have a higher understanding of God than people of faith, and that their view of how the world should be is superior to those who look outside of themselves for guidance truly baffles me. (I should say I've also seen one of the same design with the word TOLERANCE on it, which again seems to demonstrate that their belief in tolerance is better than anything God could says.)
In one sense, I understand the desire of those who decorate their cars with bumper stickers. They truly want to demonstrate something that they believe in. It's admirable, in a way. And yet, one thing I often find is that it is simply impossible to convey much sense of what you believe by pasting a few words onto a sticker on your bumper. There is always a much greater depth and context than the mere few words that have to be large enough to be seen.
I've tried over the years to sum up my Christian belief in just a few words. But I consistently discover that there is no way I can sum up everything that God tells us about Himself that is vital to know in that brief of a way. No bumper sticker or 140 character display can accurately convey meaning and intent. At best, it can point to a deeper meaning, with the hope that those reading are encouraged to delve deeper.
At the same time, you can easily overwhelm another if you try to include too much. (Just imagine a bumper sticker with the Athanasian Creed on it, and if you don't know what that is, I suggest Googling it.) It's a balance in trying to convey depth and accuracy while striving to be brief enough to keep attention.
That just seems to beg us to work to create community and relationship with others. Only in that kind of context can we briefly describe certain parts of what God reveals to us about Himself, and at the same time, have the opportunity to go into depth as the situation allows. And that kind of community is something you have to work at as you live your life. If you find a way to get it onto a bumper sticker, great. But community and relationship is always greater than even the most profound of bumper stickers.
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