Somehow we Christians have lost our edge in today’s culture. We’re not perceived as being that much different from people who do not claim to follow Jesus. We’re to be salt and light but I fear our salt has lost its savor and our light is burning dim. Part of the problem was visualized for me last Saturday morning by what I consider to be dueling bumper stickers. As I was traveling east on 82^nd Street toward the recycling center I noticed a car in my rear view mirror erratically changing lanes. The car sped by me and—to borrow old C.B. language—“blew my doors off.” I had just enough time to tell that it was a young woman driving. It happened that she was stopped by the traffic light at 82^nd and P. When I pulled up I noticed her conflicting bumper stickers. The one on the driver’s side of the car read, “I (heart) Jesus;” the one on the passenger side read, “Make way for the Princess.”

 

What a dichotomy of beliefs. Having a bumper sticker pledging your love to Jesus implies that you follow His teachings. Listen to what Jesus said in Mark 10:45 (NIV) 

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."  I really don’t see any room for “I’ m a princess, get out of my way—serve me” in His message. And that’s where the rub comes in for many non-followers of Jesus. They hear enough of the message of Jesus to know He calls for a changed life but don’t see change in His followers. That’s a mixed message.

 

Jesus told us in Matthew 5:37 (Msg)  Just say 'yes' and 'no.' When you manipulate words to get your own way, you go wrong. I don’t know how many drivers were cut off by “The Princess” Saturday—or any other day—but she’s not helping advance the Kingdom of God. I don’t have bumper stickers or any kind of religious symbol on my car because, try as hard as I might, I’m still a fallen human and occasionally that is revealed in my driving. The last thing I want is for a non-follower of Jesus to be confused by the mixed signals I would give: a Christian witnessing bumper sticker and an idiotic driving maneuver. Let’s let our ‘yes’ be ‘yes’ and our driving be driving.