“They speak the language of the culture, but point away opposite the manger, the cross and the Christ to something quite different. At the most crucial moment, they avoid the Gospel and point to something else.”

Thank you for the profound reminder of our calling. Too bad you’re not a Lutheran–you aptly refer to a theology of the cross as opposed to a theology of glory.

By the way, I have been accepted into the MDiv program at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg for Fall 2008. Thak you for helping me to stay focused on the mission.

Sometimes, I fear that in my zeal for theological purity, I trick people on their way to Christ by putting up a sign at the last minute that points to a theological system.

Or on other days, I distract them with social justice or even biblical knowledge.

I particularly like the sign metaphor because signs don’t have to be beautiful or glorious, they just have to point in the right direction.

If I can risk pushing the metaphor to far, I think that part of our problem is that we can be so focused on making the sign itself attractive that we forget to make sure it points in the right direction. I serve in a mega-church. Our biggest risk is that the institution can become so attractive that people never get past admiring what a pretty sign we are and we stop pointing anywhere.

This can also happen with doctrinal systems. You addressed this concern well in the trap-door post.

Thanks for the reminder to re-direct our signs.

We are called by Jesus to be living stones of remembrance. We are lights in the world. We are to be the opposite of the “blind guides” who lead the world into the ditch. Our communities are “cities on a hill,” previewing the City of God where all nations come to the banquet of the Messiah.

A sign may be a small thing, but to someone trying to find their way, it is a welcome friend. And if the sign can be trusted, it can bring the searcher much nearer home.

If I am a sign- poorly placed, old and rusty, I’m responsible, yes, for pointing others to Christ. I can point people in the wrong direction, if you look at me in a bad vile moment- but that’s also what I think many unbelievers are looking for: Christians acting badly so that they can discount the message of the gospel because we are not living holy lives.

Didn’t Jesus call us to be His followers, His friends even? He never told us to be signs. I think He can takes care of the signs and wonders part quite spectacularly.

So maybe when people look at my life, with my achievements and my times when I point you down the wrong road because I’m in a bad way, maybe I can be a sinner saved by grace- and not the sign that you seek.