Comments on: What’s up with the fish?

By: Paul Santori

Paul Santori — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 01:06:32 +0000

I feel for myself that displaying my faith with branding symbology is something akin to Christ's teaching that when we pray we should pray in private and "not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full". I'm not entirely sure that something like that isn't going on with the bumper stickers and fish and so forth. Then again, we don't want to put our light under a bushel either. I guess the quality of faith behind dispaying one's faith in any one way rather rather the quantity of displays is the most important factor. Praying will uncover God's will for any one believer in this area I guess.

By: William Palmer

William Palmer — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 00:51:51 +0000

Being one who has been dragging his feet a bit when it comes to reading and studying the Bible, I find my car decal(NOTW), and the Christian clothing I wear help me communicate my faith to others, better than I would on my own. A buddy of mine, who’s slightly wider than me tells me all the time that he enjoys being a billboard advertisement for Christ!!! I have to agree. Putting God’s word out there, or just letting others know that there’s just one more person in the world that Believes…puts that “He’s got to be real” feeling out there.

By: Tc

Tc — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 15:43:18 +0000

I definitely feel a connection to fellow drivers when I see Christian or chapel stickers on their vehicles and believe it’s a super idea. I also understand some churches (willow creek) stance on not having church specific stickers. Unless you remain vigilent that these symbols are representing your church and christians in general, it can be quite dangerous. I got rudely cut off the other day by a driver displaying the chapel sticker. Had I been looking for a reason not to go to church, my response could have easily been to cuss about the hypocrisy of the church. Saw the other day the chapel sticker right next to 10 pro Obama stickers and felt an incredible sense that this person was encouraging the angry spirit of current politics while claiming the love of Christ.

Anyway, kudos to people that proudly display their love of Christ and live it 100 percent of the time.

By: Grant Hanson

Grant Hanson — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 00:06:56 +0000

I proudly display my God is Real magnet just for the person behind me who is thinking about how life isn’t going so well. I also like to see bumper stickers / fish / magnets so I can driver by them and give a big smile and wave or encouragement. That said, once we proclaim Christ as the leader of our lives, we have a huge responsiblility as a standard bearer for Him!

By: Stacy Goebel

Stacy Goebel — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:30:08 +0000

I don’t have any Christian things on my car and really have no interest in doing so. I think for me, I feel it could be a stumbling block for non-believers who have negative opinions of Christians.

By: Scott

Scott — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 20:46:37 +0000

Sorry – i really didn’t mean it

By: Happy

Happy — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 20:03:57 +0000

Personally, I love it when I come across any kind of an icon in the course of my day that points me back to my faith. I think Dan and Bruce both hit the nail squarely in observing that when we intentionally display something like the “Christian Fish” symbol on our cars, it does hold us a bit accountable to behaving in a way that honors the Lord, tho really, we should be doing that whether there’s a fish on our car or not!

But for me, seeing a fish on the back of a car, or the dozens of “God is Real” stickers driving around Lake Country, or the cross on the top of a church steeple creates a sacred space i my day – no matter how brief – a moment that causes me to stop and remember who I am, and Whom I love, serve and worship. I remember as a kid, even before I really knew the Lord, going to church and looking up at the cross that adorned the back wall of the altar, and knowing that there was something special about it. Later on, looking at that cross would become something of a lifeline – a remembrance and a reassurance that while yes, there are moments that seem impossibly dark, God knew all about that, and He would get me through. He did – He still does – and He always will. Seeing a fish, or a cross, or whatever symbol I come across reconnects me to that truth.

I wonder how different our lives would be if we went looking for icons the way kids play “I Spy” on long car rides?

By: Amy Aldrich

Amy Aldrich — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 19:48:40 +0000

Whenever I see someone with a Christian symbol on a necklace, their car, etc. I always feel a certain connection with them, even if we’ve never met. I like that about the symbolism — that it can create an immediate tie between two strangers. I don’t have a car sticker though because I don’t want others judging my faith or Christianity based on the way I drive (not that my driving is bad…but still, driving with three kids in the car can easily drive any sane person insane with the wish to quickly get home).

By: Bruce Sanoshy

Bruce Sanoshy — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 19:04:53 +0000

My hope is that people posting the fish are very aware that others are watching, sorry to say but I have been flipped off by a fish posting driver before……..If your going to wear a badge/symbol……don’t tarnish the reputation, it’s tarnished enough in the eyes of the world..just a thought

By: Kathy Dever

Kathy Dever — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 17:45:15 +0000

I proudly display my Chapel magnet as well as many Christian band stickers on my car. I don’t have a “fish” but I wish I did, the other day I was behind a lady who had a fish with legs that said “darwin” inside as well as a sicker that said “God is pretend” which is totally mocking our own “God is real” statement. My first thought was that she’s going to hell, then I regretted that thought so I decided to pray for her as I passed her up so she could be behind me and see what I was displaying. It’s just a kind of statement about who I am and I want others to see I’m proud to know Jesus and I’m proud of my church!