This week’s bad church sign states:
“THE WORD ‘CHRISTIAN’
IS A NOUN.”
Uh…OK…yes it is…but I don’t really understand the point.
Is this a grammatical lesson or is this a deeper message that my finite brain cannot handle?
Any takers on the meaning of this sign? Comment below and give your best shot.
Travis Agnew serves as the Lead Pastor of Rocky Creek Church in Greenville, SC. His most recent book is Just (About) Married.
Perhaps it means to say that it’s NOT an adjective. As in using it to describe something that cannot be _a_ Christian.
That’d be my guess. But that’s meeting them more than halfway. 🙂
So many people these days believe that they are a Christian just because they believe in God. They are just putting the belief as a portion of their life. Like they are saying that they are Christian but like to booze it up at the swingers party too. Either you are a whole Christian or you aren’t one at all. Being a Christian IS a lifestyle, not just a part of one.
Something can be labeled “Christian” and not be true or good. . . It is possible for music to be labeled Christian and be terrible music. It could lack creativity and inspiration. The lyrics could be recycled cliches. That “Christian” band could actually be giving Jesus a bad name because they aren’t a great band. It is possible for a movie to be a “Christian” movie and to be a terrible movie. It may actually desecrate the art form in its quality and storytelling and craft. Just because it is a Christian book by a Christian author and it was purchased in a Christian bookstore doesn’t mean it is all true or good or beautiful. A Christian political group puts me in an awkward position: What if I disagree with them? Am I less of a Christian? What if I’m convinced the “Christian” thing to do is to vote the exact opposite?
Christian is a great noun and a poor adjective.
-Rob Bell, Velvet Elvis
…although the use, out of context is quite confusing!