It's time for the Christian Fish to stop eating Darwin, we're all getting indigestion over the petty attack.

This past weekend, Northern California was simply beautiful. Spring has decided to visit the Golden State a bit early this year, and it makes for some great 'get out of the house' family play times.

My daughter is turning 16 this summer, so we are in the midst of practicing the 'in's and out's' of learning to drive a car. She's developing hand-eye coordination, while I develop my intercessory prayer technique in the passengers seat. Believe me, there are no atheists in a foxhole, or as a parent teaching your oldest daughter to drive in California.

While navigating the turns, merging into oncoming traffic and dealing with the weekend congestion, we were sorry to noticed a bothersome epidemic on the streets. There seems to be an ever present, predator-like fish that is continually eating Darwin on the backs of various cars all over California. Warning; be very careful that this fish doesn't reach you.  

I'm not a big bumper sticker fan to begin with as it relates to various stickers, decals or emblems on any car as a general rule. I'm even more put-off by Christian bumper stickers and their 'attempt' to convey conviction that becomes condemnation inside of a short pithy slogan - with a big font so the heathen in the car behind you doesn't miss your 'love reach'.

The whole popular epidemic of the condensed Christian sticker, or creative trend setting 'ictus' has started to bother me. We plaster these stickers on the back of our cars and drive around the community as if we are reflecting the love and grace of Jesus. We surely feel that we are doing everyone a great favor, displaying our 'fish eating Darwin', as we give them the 'gospel business' in slogan form.

To me, we have become easily misunderstood, perceived to be arrogant, mean spirited and down-right tacky. There is no relationship to a sticker, a decal or an emblem. With something as important as Abba Father's reach to sin filled mankind through Jesus' love and grace, you'd think we feel a bit more compelled to communication beyond a terse placard - and the Christian fish eating Darwin, it's a tad bit childish.

I know the argument, "The Darwin's started it by adding feet to the fish symbol." So, I guess the 'righteous reply' needs to be upping the ante with the 'fish eating Darwin', so we can score more points in our brazen battle on the back of our bumpers. Do me a favor, count me out of this game.

Today's post-modern, post-Christian culture is not enticed by our 1970's bumper sticker campaigns. The abrasive, incomplete catch phrases are not appealing to the intelligent crowds of today's community. Our bumper stickers are seen as 'stupid', our attitudes are seen as self-righteous. There is not a faster means to ending a discussion, than for one side to sarcastically tell the other, "I'm right, and your wrong" as they slowly drive off into the sunset.

The bumper sticker is a conversation closer. It's as if someone slowly comes along side of you and slaps you in the back of the head. Then they tear-off through the next yellow light, getting as far away from their slap as fast as they can. It demands no relationship, no explanation and worst of all, no conversational transparency. I can't bring myself to believing that Paul would plaster a Darwin eating fish on the back of his Ford Taurus as he drove through Mars Hill to engage the culturally religious of his community.

By some guilt satisfying measure, are we convinced that we are "casting love seeds" here? To me, it's an erratic form of evangelism and fearful ignorance slapped on the back of a sloppy agape mobile billboard. Give me a fresh brewed cup of coffee surrounding a real, tangible conversation with Darwin. I'd rather spend the energy walking across the room to start a friendly dialog, versus a combative bumper car 'verbal dart' debate.

Can we stop the condemnation, the mean spirited separations, love and risk removed attempts with slogans and bumper stickers. Take the "Darwin eating fish" off of the cars and reach out to others in a real, risky relationship - we're all getting indigestion in Graceland watching this meaningless game of 'survival of the fittest bumper sticker'.

Comments: erichogueshow@hotmail.com