Letter of the Week
This week’s illustrious Letter of the Week award goes to Liz Nahnsen for bringing to our attention the exciting world of “Godvertising.”
As a resident on the Northwest side of town, I can’t help but notice Westside Church’s newish row of banners along Newport Avenue. Usually they are banal church advertising, but they are getting increasingly bold, and unpleasant. A few weeks ago the theme screamed at passing motorists “FAMILIES IN CRISIS,” with a background of a man’s ominous fist and some needles and stuff obviously depicting a drug theme.
Today I noticed the bravest signage yet: A photo of a man and woman’s feet poking out from under bedcovers with a bright red caption “PURE SEX.” I’m no prude, and as I write this I’m sure I’m creating just the sort of controversy the marketing folks at Westside Church are going for, but my dislike of these signs has little to do with the message. Although I strongly dislike fear or alarmist-based selling of anything (be it religion, political affiliations, or elliptical machines), what frosts my cupcakes about the Godvertising is that these banners loom over a huge block along Newport Avenue – a very popular and pretty walk/bike/drive. For those yet to experience these hulking morality memos, they are reminiscent of other innocuous (“Happy Holidays!” – city of Bend) or interesting (“You Can’t Not Think” OPB), or informative (“0% Financing Until Your Children Graduate College!”) except that 1) the signs are not voted on by representatives of the area, and 2) they are not displayed to the enrichment/education/entertainment of the population that views them regularly. I am not familiar with ordinances addressing such advertising on the business’ own property, but legalities aside, how about a little consideration for those who just want to get from point A to point B without a graphic lecture?
Other businesses along this stretch have modest, informative, often humorous signage and are respectful of all the different sensibilities to be found on the west side. When the Westside Church complex completed building, we were excited to see evidence of a good neighbor: lovely landscaping with waterfall feature, an open volleyball court, and unobtrusive religious iconography on the property. I encourage them to be considerate of their diverse neighbors and keep the morality memos inside.
Liz Nahnsen
This article appears in Jun 26 – Jul 2, 2008.
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Right on, Liz! If I want to be preached at with myth, delusion, lies, and general demented irrationality, I’ll venture inside the God-O-Rama Outlet of my choice. (NOT) It’s bad enough to have the occasional uninvited door to door vacuum salesmen types pushing Gowuhd on your doorstep, ala Jehovah’s Witless. ( I invite those in to picnic with my deranged pit-bull, Anti-Christ, or my snarling Rottweiler, Porno-Tooth, their choice.) So far, a 104% have declined my generous offer. Don’t expect the Godsters to be considerate about their signage, though. Consideration for the point of view of the more enlightened is not one of the deluded’s strong points, traditionally.
Good luck on your quest…
What about our kids aged 5-10 who see the signs reading “Pure Sex” and want to know what it means? As a parent, I should have the right to choose when and where I talk to my kids about sex. I shouldn’t have to talk to my 6 year old about sex just because a church has signs saying “sex” on the side of the street….
Amen Liz! Passing these godvertising flags almost daily has had me pondering too. Isn’t commercial signage regulated by the city, even if the sign is on private property?
Animals, bow down to gods;
Human Beings, do not.
When do we start burning these places down?
Agreed. Yuppie churches. Reminds me of that HBO series “Carnivale”
Do you guys have this wrong or what?!?! This church is just trying to teach what it believes. Sure it’s always been taboo for churches and anyone else, be it Westside Church or any other group, to talk about sex in public. But isn’t it about time. Isn’t it time to stop letting Hollywood or some magazine tell us about sex. Isn’t it about time to talk to our kids about sex and tell them the truth about it. Isn’t it about time to face the facts that 80% of the teenage girls that are pregnant won’t have that childs father around to help raise the child. It is about time! It’s time that a church actually has the nerve to address the issue. And they are reaching out to the community while doing it. They are inviting parents and families alike to come and hear a solid facts/faith-based talk about sex. Everyone likes to talk about it. So what’s so wrong about talking about it now…and inviting the public in. Afterall, isn’t it about time?
Whine more, please
Kevin,
Isn’t it about time to allow free/open access to birth control?
Interesting comments by those with obvious bias.
Interesting that those who hate the dogma and ignorance of the Church respond with ignorant dogma.
Interesting that “What about our kids?” did not share the same feelings on the “Sex and The City” poster that is displayed at the Cinemas (which, by the way, grossed over 55 mil its first weekend…ever wonder why?)
Interesting that “Ten Bears” would have the brass to state that humans don’t bow down to gods. Really? Ever been to a concert, or sports event?
Interesting that “Blue Collar White” is so enlightened, yet invites Godsters in to sic his dogs on them…of course, that enlightened state is oh so millennium and not at all archaic.
Very interesting that so many knock Christians for their hypocrisy and state that it is what keeps them out of the church.
My thoughts? Don’t avoid the church based on how full of hypocrites it is…there’s always room for one more.
Interesting.
Keep drinking the Kool Aid Lou!!
Lou – What do you know about my feelings on the “Sex and The City” poster?
“Animals, bow down to gods;
Human Beings, do not.”
Actually, I think that’s backwards.
if ya’ll would stop judging us Westside people and go in and listen to Pastor Ken Johnson you will see that the subject is on “purity” not pure sex. it is about saving yourself for marriage and not sleeping around half your life before you get married. check it out! it is fun, funny and interesting. Pastor Ken rocks!!
Leslie – If the subject matter is on purity, not pure sex, then why do the posters say pure sex?
You make no sense.
Blessed are you when they shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad for great is your reward in heaven.. If the Westside Church didn’t prick the conscience of the unsaved they would be impotent to spread the Word of God.
The posters are intended to stir controversy and draw attention–with no context, how does one determine ‘purity’ is the subject. Perhaps the WWJD crowd should use something less likely to offend. As I remember the New Testament, Jesus said, ‘Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.’ He didn’t say, ‘Rome sucks, Dude!’
The problem with Westside Christians–nah, Leslie, I’m not going there. Wouldn’t be fun, funny or interesting. Continue feeling smug about those who ‘just don’t get it!’
I saw the posters. Looks like someone is taking it up the ass right there on Newport Avenue. It’s borderline porn in public.
First amendment baby! Besides Ive seen worse on a T-shirt down town. Lets waste more time and write about T-shirts now. Oh and bars and the stars (not the ones in the sky).