Does This Bother You?

by Joe Thorn on January 27, 2006


I saw this in DeKalb recently. Does it bother you? If it does, why? I imagine many Christians would be frustrated with it because we have bought into a synthesis of Christianity and American politics. It’s not that I am a Democrat (or a Republican), but I am uncomfortable with any sell-out to a political party. The sticker is provocative, a little funny, and certainly true. Sadly the same must be said of Deomcrats and Independents.

About Joe Thorn

I am the Lead Pastor of Redeemer Fellowship in Saint Charles, IL, and author of Note to Self: The Discipline of Preaching to Yourself. Jen is my wife, and Katherine, Elias, Madeline and Kilian are my kids.

If you liked this post subscribe to the feed for more of the same.

  • http://theram4jc.blogspot.com Joe Kennedy

    The road to Hell is paved with lots and lots of people. Tonight I felt a renewed urgency as I pleaded with my friend’s youth tonight at his D-Now. I know their stories. The road to Hell is paved… indeed.

  • fred

    Amen!

  • http://glorious.blogs.com glenn

    It doesn’t bother me so much. It’s just stupid.

  • http://www.byfarthersteps.com Tim

    It bothers me for a couple of reasons. First, the idea that being a Republican (or any particular political party) will send on to hell rather than sin and rebellion against God. It diminishes the doctrine of sin.

    Second it bothers me because it generalizes Republicans. Republicanism does not make you a bad person anymore than it makes you a Christian.

    Bumper sticker theology is as problematic as bumper sticker politics.

  • http://www.joethorn.net Joe Thorn

    I agree Tim, bumper sticker theology is generally a waste of time. But I do not think the point is a theological one. I doubt the makers of it believe in a place called “hell.” Nor do I think the idea is that political affiliation secures eternal punishment. The point looks to be, that the Republican party cannot save you; there is corruption in that party; many in that party are not doing God’s work. With all of this I would agree, and of course would say the same for other parties. The sticker is ironic because many R’s and Christians come off like to be Christian = Republican.

    But for argment’s sake, slogan theology (take the “solas” for example) does no good on its own. They need exposition. So let me do a little exposition on the sticker.

    I do not think it minimizes sin, but accentuates it. The point being, even our morality, our traditional family values, cannot save us. There is hyocrisy everywhere. We should be willing, Like Isaiah, to confess the sins of our people. If you are a Christian who votes Republican, confess the sins of your people. If you are a Democrat, confess the sins of your people. And seek to follow Jesus as radically as necessary wherever you are.

    In the end, bumper stickers, the “Jesus Fish” or the Darwin Fish, are not about what’s being said. They are about the owner of the vehicle. The point is nothing less than, “I want everyone to know something about me. This is what I beleve, or who I am.” Bumper stickers are about us, more than the issues. This is telling. It can even give us a great help in talking with people we work with, go to school with etc. It can be a peek into their minds/hearts. It’s possible. With that, we can go forward with the Gospel with greater precision.

    Ultimately, this sticker is stupid. It is meaningless on its own. It’s good for a laugh among Deocrats (and even someone like me who has voted Republican in every election). But it can be more than that. That much is up to us.

  • http://blog.nelmezzo.net David Wright

    I liked the sticker. Not because I think Republicans are worse than others, say, Democrats, but because they aren’t any better . . .

  • http://www.joethorn.net Joe Thorn

    Exactly David.

  • http://rev-ed.blogspot.com rev-ed

    Interesting. I just stopped by a liberal blog who stated, “The Democrats cannot win because they walk the high moral ground.”

    That idealistic young lady is blinded in much the same way those who marry Christianity and one of the political parties.

  • http://www.jasonallen77.blogspot.com Jason Allen

    I thought it was funny. Then I thought about it some more and I wonder, does it mean that republicans are even worse than (or lower than) those actually going to help b/c they are the road? Their not just going to hell their the road that all those going to hell walk on?

    Of course it is a bumper sticker, maybe I’m thinking too much.

  • http://www.byfarthersteps.com Tim

    You’re right Joe, that wasn’t the main point. But there is a subtext.

  • http://www.doneydepot.blogspot.com Marcguyver

    It’s just sad. Is someone happy about this or something? I mean really…YYYYEEEHHHAAAA the road to hell is paved with Republicans, and Democrats, and Libertarians, and oh crap…me?

    It just seems like a very crass thing to say, regardless of what your political beliefs are.

  • http://www.joethorn.net Joe Thorn

    I don’t view it as crass as much as it is almost ironic, at least for many Christians. Almost along the lines of Jesus saying, “I did not come to call the righteous.”

  • Amy

    I think it’s hilarious. I’m a registered Green, by the way.

Previous post:

Next post: