Last night my head was spinning with a discussion I had with some friends about a new outreach poster that was designed by a guy in my church. Using the ISIS flag and Arabic styled font, it reads ‘Love your enemies. And pray for those who persecute you’ – Jesus. What do you make of it? Would you put this up outside your church? No way?! Absolutely? Maybe?
[caption id="attachment_435" align="aligncenter" width="288" caption="The church outreach poster designed by Outreach Media"]
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Many churches are run by conservative people who fear both the community response and backlash from their own flock. Often decisions will be made by committees and let’s face it, nothing grand ever comes out of the committee. So they will often opt for a softer alternative sign that neither requires a response nor provokes. What we end up with is a sign that can be ignored and says very little. Consequently, the church remains a soft, insignificant place that is there if you need it and offers very little prophetic speech about current world events. In short, we fail to be the church.
Presenting the gospel is about taking risks. This poster may not be a wise idea for everyone in every location; however I’d like to point out three things in this poster that might bolster the decision making for anyone who seeks to present the gospel of Jesus:
Art can create an audience
We cannot expect or assume to have an audience, instead we have to create one, earn one. Art, namely the creative use of the ISIS flag in this case, is the vehicle for creating an audience to hear about Jesus.
Art can hijack someone else’s audience
The thing I really like about this poster is that it hijacks the ‘air’ space created in the media by ISIS for Christian purposes. Rather than trying to create one’s own airspace with a new look and new brand, this poster ‘parasitically’ takes the ISIS brand and all its attention grabbing value, to steal the audience so we can hear Jesus speak.
Art can transform someone else’s audience
The lovely thing about this poster is that it speaks to everyone.
It reminds Christians, some of whom may even be targeted by ISIS of their leader; Jesus did not retaliate when he was persecuted. Love your enemies.
It invites the community at large to gaze at the beauty of Jesus, the hope he offers and the immense contrasts he demonstrates in our current world crisis. Love your enemies.
It questions the validity and integrity of ISIS. Who has the truth, the one who loves his enemies or the one who must kill his enemy?
Love your enemies.
The truth will set you free (Jesus).
If you want to check out more posters go to Outreach Media http://outreachmedia.org.au/
