Irony?
I don’t know whether this is irony or what. A church puts a sign in front of its building saying “Jesus loves Osama”, and prompts pretty universal condemnation. The PM says that people will think that the priorities of the church in question should be elsewhere. Philip Jensen suggests that the sentiment, posted along with the verse “Love your enemies and pray for those that persecute you”, is “misleading”.
What a fabulous illustration of how confonting the message of Jesus is. Nobody denies Jesus said it, but everyone wants to qualify the sentiment and distance themselves from the presentation of the sign. It attracts comment from denominational and governmental leaders. John Howard suggests that churches have MISDIRECTED PRIORITIES for daring to suggest that Jesus loves our enemies.
It’s straight from the sermon on the mount for crying out loud!!!
I guess the lesson is that you can mention this, but you aren’t allowed to flesh it out with any of those confronting real life examples.
Via Matt
February 2nd, 2007 at 12:54 pm
Jesus may indeed love Osama. But does Jesus love John Howard a little more?
February 2nd, 2007 at 1:36 pm
XXXChruch.com tried to get bibles printed with the cover “Jesus loves Porn Stars” on them for outreach work they do. This was the response from the American Bible society. They also have the T-Shirts that make that staement as well, which I whole heartedly agree with.
http://www.bibles.com/absport/news/item.php?id=169
February 2nd, 2007 at 1:59 pm
As much as it pains me sometimes to admit it, Jesus does in fact love John Howard.
February 2nd, 2007 at 2:01 pm
I can nearly see why people don’t like an unqualified “Jesus loves {Undesirable}”. Too many people associate love with approve of.
Also focusing on 1 aspect of the whole picture can lead to warped lives, I wonder how many people would be horrified at “Jesus loves Osama, please pray for him” (I hope my grammar indicates that you are praying for Osama not Jesus)
February 2nd, 2007 at 2:56 pm
I personally like this tshirt http://www.tshirthell.com/store/product.php?productid=112
but the members of my bible study were appalled when I said we should all get one as our uniform.
February 2nd, 2007 at 3:00 pm
oh momma. The church made a typo. It meant to say Obama.
February 2nd, 2007 at 6:32 pm
I love that shirt, librarian… I desperately wanted to get one ages ago, but that was when I was still in the church, and knew I couldn’t get away with it. I also wouldn’t mind one that says “Jesus is my lawn boy” with a picture of a Mexican riding a ride-on lawnmower.
February 2nd, 2007 at 6:41 pm
My (non-christian) friends got me a greeting card once that I always wanted to make into a shirt - “Jesus loves you - but everyone else thinks you’re a wanker”
February 2nd, 2007 at 9:42 pm
Dan,
I actually have a T-shirt like that it says “Jesus loves you - but everyone else thinks you’re a tosser”
It was kind of a interesting conversation I had when I was wearing it when 2 friendly students came knocking at the door to let us know a new local baptist church had opened.
I can get another from the local markets if you would like and I can send it to you.
February 2nd, 2007 at 9:49 pm
The gospel is so inconvenient; makes me feel so uncomfortable; the way it exposes the prejudices of my heart. You see, for me, the equally true statement “Jesus loves Philip Jensen” is harder for me to accept, and choose to align myself with…
February 2nd, 2007 at 11:38 pm
[…] Interesting discussion at Matt Glover’s blog and at Signposts on the “Jesus Loves Osama” church signs. […]
February 2nd, 2007 at 11:51 pm
Jeysuz loves the sinner, but not his sins….oh wait…that only applies to homos**uals.
February 3rd, 2007 at 6:27 am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPANKUHabx4&eurl
this is youtube of shane claiborne.
February 3rd, 2007 at 8:30 am
That’d be great, Grace Required. I can add it to my “What would Jesus Brew?” T-shirt. Will email you.
February 3rd, 2007 at 1:01 pm
[…] Dan at Signposts says: What a fabulous illustration of how confronting the message of Jesus is. Nobody denies Jesus said it, but everyone wants to qualify the sentiment and distance themselves from the presentation of the sign. link […]
February 3rd, 2007 at 5:14 pm
[…] Nobody denies Jesus said it, but everyone wants to qualify the sentiment and distance themselves from the presentation of the sign. […]
February 3rd, 2007 at 6:48 pm
Seems that Jesus loves Osama comment is an attention seeker that although well intentioned doesn’t really have much of a useful outcome and is too easily dismissed. A bigger and more relevant challenge to the average Aussie might be “Jesus loves the homeless people in our streets,” although I am sure there are others similarly worth a run - a bit closer to home than Osama. What about “Jesus loves David Hicks”? That would stir the pot!!
February 4th, 2007 at 9:11 am
If you measure useful in terms of conversations kick started by it I’d say the poster was incredibly useful!
February 5th, 2007 at 3:37 pm
Used the photo of the poster in our prayers last might at our gathering. Talked about the controversy a little and then talked about us praying for our own enemies and people who frustrate and cause us pain. Had the photo on a cloth in the middle of the floor with three other prayer images (world and environment/peace, justice and reconciliation/healing for the seek and needy).
Gave people a sheet of paper with in the centre of it. Got people to write a prayer with the three topics above in mind on bits of paper torn from the sheet with the loreds paryer on it.
They ended up with a rectangular piece of paper with te arabic lords prayer image in te centre and two blank bits either side - the wrote a prayer about a situatoin of person that was causing them grief on the reverse side and then folded the paper up like a booklet (two blank sides fold back so the image was still visible in front and the prayer was written inside the newly created booklet. This they took home with them to keep as a reminder to love thier enemies and to pray for those who persecute them.
I ahve a particular situatoin that is causing me grief and I prayed for the people involved and even as soon as this morning there is evidence of break through. Hmmm interesting.
Hope this is useful to you.
February 5th, 2007 at 3:40 pm
Gave people a sheet of paper with the lords prayer in Arabic in the centre of it. Got people to write a prayer with the three topics above in mind on bits of paper torn from the sheet with the lords prayer on it.