Do You Have a Fish on Your Car?

[Mike]

Do you have an Ichthus, or Jesus Fish, on your car. If you do, why? If you intentionally don't, why?

I do for two reasons. I admit I'm an aggressive driver, and it helps me be accountable knowing that I might put a blight on our faith if other drivers see it along with me "asserting myself" on the road. :D So, it has the effect of keeping me in check.

Also, when I see another car with one, I feel a sense of encouragement, like we're on this Road together. Perhaps others feel the same way when they see it on mine.

I guess this could be said of other Christian signs like window decals or bumper stickers.

I might be accused of being too sensitive, but I get a little put-off when I see it with "Darwin" in the middle and feet or a Darwin fish eating an Ichthus.

Some Christians believe that a second link between their religion and the fish symbol is seen in the Greek word for fish (ichthus, spelled: Iota Chi Theta Upsilon Sigma). That is an acrostic which has many translations in English. The most popular appears to be "Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior" [Iesous (Jesus) CHristos (Christ) THeou (God) Uiou (Son) Soter (Savior)]

 

[JeffS]

No, I don't have one on my car. I would rather people tell I am a believer by the way I act and talk and not by whether or not I have a fish on my car.

 

[Danus]

Don't have one.

However, I read bumper stickers and symbols others have on their car. Some make me want to just tap their bumper ever so gently, and I often wonder why we can't we all just have spring-mounted rubber bumpers just for that, but people are very touchy about other cars touching their precious car I guess.....Yeish.

Seems one sided doesn't it? I mean others can express themselves with symbols, vanity plates and stickers, but no one can express how they feel about it. By the time you find a sticker or symbol to tell that person it's too late, they've driven away.

Seriously, I just don't like to express myself with my car I guess.

Here is a thought, would you be more apt to by a used car if it had a fish symbol vs some other symbol like the Darwin fish? ....I'm just rambling, but I think I would.

 

[Igor]

Do you have an Ichthus, or Jesus Fish, on your car. If you do, why? If you intentionally don't, why?

I used to a long time ago, but not anymore. I just don't have any stickers at all right now, so I'm just indifferent I guess.

But I do have to laugh everytime I see someone with a Christian sticker of some sort on their car flipping the bird and screaming out the window at another driver that messed up. Mike, I like your idea of how the sticker reminds you to behave better on the road, and wonder how some of those people would be acting if they DIDN'T have one!

 

[Igor]

Here is a thought, would you be more apt to by a used car if it had a fish symbol vs some other symbol like the Darwin fish?

That's an interesting question for me that got me thnking... My first, honest reaction is "no", especially if I didn't know the person real well. I guess it's because I have been a Christian for some time now, and as I look back, there have been 4 times that I have been cheated and swindled really big time. Each time it involved money in some way, whether a business transaction, loan, or whatever. And each time it was done on purpose by a professing church going Christian with the idea that since I was a fellow Christian I would probably forgive and forget instead of taking them to court. I've had many other financial dealings, but have only been ripped off by Christians, and I'm not the only one who has seen this. Can you imagine how this makes non-Christians look at us? No wonder people don't want to listen when we witness to them. It's embarrassing!

So if I had two relatively equal choices in buying a used car, but one having a fish and the other one not, I would feel safer choosing the other.

 

[theLords]

I don't have one, but I think I kind of want one. I make sure to bless the cars with the the Fish on them though (as well as the cars with the "fish" that mock Christ)

 

[Strangelove]

Do you have an Ichthus, or Jesus Fish, on your car. If you do, why? If you intentionally don't, why?

I do for two reasons. I admit I'm an aggressive driver, and it helps me be accountable knowing that I might put a blight on our faith if other drivers see it along with me "asserting myself" on the road. :D So, it has the effect of keeping me in check.

Also, when I see another car with one, I feel a sense of encouragement, like we're on this Road together. Perhaps others feel the same way when they see it on mine.]

Thats a nice sentiment Mike and I totally understand your position. But.....

I'm going to have to disagree with your stance if thats ok.

As a Christian I personally prefer to stay away from any kind of symbolism for a few different reasons.

Firstly we dont need it. It's not necessary. Thats undeniable. Everything we absoulutely need for our faith is internal and the practice our faith is a spiritual thing not physical.

4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in
spirit and in truth.

So if it's not needed in our faith then it's of the world.

Secondly, this symbol existed before Christianity and may have a pagan origin which I will happily not go into if you so wish.

Seeing as it may have other meanings I would say its safer to stay away from it than take the risk.

6:15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial?

I wanna make it clear I'm not having a go at you Mike, you're a Brother in Christ and I'm not questioning your faith in the slightest but personally I would stay away from symbols.

Doc.
​

 

[Danus]

That's an interesting question for me that got me thnking... My first, honest reaction is "no", especially if I didn't know the person real well. I guess it's because I have been a Christian for some time now, and as I look back, there have been 4 times that I have been cheated and swindled really big time. Each time it involved money in some way, whether a business transaction, loan, or whatever. And each time it was done on purpose by a professing church going Christian with the idea that since I was a fellow Christian I would probably forgive and forget instead of taking them to court. I've had many other financial dealings, but have only been ripped off by Christians, and I'm not the only one who has seen this. Can you imagine how this makes non-Christians look at us? No wonder people don't want to listen when we witness to them. It's embarrassing!

So if I had two relatively equal choices in buying a used car, but one having a fish and the other one not, I would feel safer choosing the other.

I know what you mean. I'm leery of people who have the fish on their business cards for the same reason; like that's some sort of seal of ethics, right?

 

[Alabaster]

Do you have an Ichthus, or Jesus Fish, on your car. If you do, why? If you intentionally don't, why?

I do for two reasons. I admit I'm an aggressive driver, and it helps me be accountable knowing that I might put a blight on our faith if other drivers see it along with me "asserting myself" on the road. :D So, it has the effect of keeping me in check.

Also, when I see another car with one, I feel a sense of encouragement, like we're on this Road together. Perhaps others feel the same way when they see it on mine.

I guess this could be said of other Christian signs like window decals or bumper stickers.

I had an ichthus on my last car for the exact same reasons you do.

Funny thing, though---that very spot where the decal was on the trunk lid rotted out---nowhere else!

 

[Mike]

Okay... so apparently, I'm in the minority here. DON'T JUDGE ME!!

I do think I'm missing my mark here.

Jeff, I didn't say I have it on my car to "tell others I'm a Christian". I'm not sure how you could do that with your driving, anyway. Maybe stay in the right lane? :D

Danus, I misread your post the first time. I thought you were saying you wanted to run in the back of a car with a fish on it.

SL, now you're sounding thick in legalism. :rolling I guess I'll have to hide my crosses and my Christian CD's. They help inspire my faith, but they're not necessary, so I guess they're of the world, and I should have nothing to do with them. ;)

 

[Alabaster]

I wish more believers would identify their car, as I find it a blessing to observe such a vehicle, as it makes me feel a kind of solidarity with the people within them, and I pray a blessing over them.

 

[Mike]

I used to a long time ago, but not anymore. I just don't have any stickers at all right now, so I'm just indifferent I guess.

But I do have to laugh everytime I see someone with a Christian sticker of some sort on their car flipping the bird and screaming out the window at another driver that messed up. Mike, I like your idea of how the sticker reminds you to behave better on the road, and wonder how some of those people would be acting if they DIDN'T have one!

That wasn't me! That wasn't me!!

I know what you mean. I'm leery of people who have the fish on their business cards for the same reason; like that's some sort of seal of ethics, right?

Don't get me started. We have a sell-out Christian station here in the Detroit market that advertises "your Christian chiropractor", "your Christian attorney" (kinda a paradox, huh), "your Christian mechanic", etc. Someone who has to market himself as a Christian --- loses my trust.

 

[Mike]

I wish more believers would identify their car, as I find it a blessing to observe such a vehicle, as it makes me feel a kind of solidarity with the people within them, and I pray a blessing over them.

 

[PouringRain]

I don't........... but I am not one to put any stickers on my car.

 

[Strangelove]

SL, now you're sounding thick in legalism. :rolling I guess I'll have to hide my crosses and my Christian CD's. They help inspire my faith, but they're not necessary, so I guess they're of the world, and I should have nothing to do with them. ;)

What was that stuff you were saying about accusations and sarcasm Mike?

 

[jasoncran]

no, i drive alot before 6 am and i have a paper route and drive like a maniac and dont want to put shame on the lord.

 

[Alabaster]

That wasn't me! That wasn't me!!



Don't get me started. We have a sell-out Christian station here in the Detroit market that advertises "your Christian chiropractor", "your Christian attorney" (kinda a paradox, huh), "your Christian mechanic", etc. Someone who has to market himself as a Christian --- loses my trust.

I know that station. I was grateful to it, listening to it in my car when I finally got into range, on my way on the weekly and bi-weekly treks to Windsor to care for my dying mother.

I know what you mean, however, about the ads---I was grateful to know that there are Christian professionals who want our business and will support Christian radio to get it.

 

[PouringRain]

Threads like this always remind me of the "Honk if you love Jesus" bumper sticker joke. Sorry, Mike, but I must post it.


The other day I went up to a local Christian bookstore and saw a "Honk if you love Jesus" bumper sticker.

I was feeling particularly sassy that day because I had just come from a thrilling choir performance, followed by a thunderous prayer meeting, so I bought the sticker and put it on my bumper.

Boy, I'm glad I did! What an uplifting experience that followed!

I was stopped at a red light at a busy intersection, just lost in thought about the Lord and how good He is... and I didn't notice that the light had changed.

It is a good thing someone else loves Jesus because if he hadn't honked, I'd never have noticed!

I found that LOTS of people love Jesus! Why, while I was sitting there, the guy behind started honking like crazy, and then he leaned out of his window and screamed, "For the love of GOD! GO! GO! Jesus Christ, GO!"

What an exuberant cheerleader he was for Jesus! Everyone started honking!

I just leaned out of my window and started waving and smiling at all these loving people. I even honked my horn a few times to share in the love!

There must have been a man from Florida back there because I heard him yelling something about a "sunny beach"...

I saw another guy waving in a funny way with only his middle finger stuck up in the air.

Then I asked my teenage grandson in the back seat what that meant, he said that it was probably a Hawaiian good luck sign or something. Well, I've never met anyone from Hawaii, so I leaned out the window and gave him the good luck sign back.

My grandson burst out laughing...why, even he was enjoying this religious experience!

A couple of the people were so caught up in the joy of the moment that they got out of their cars and started walking towards me. I bet they wanted to pray or ask what church I attended, but this is when I noticed the light had changed.

So, I waved to all my sisters and brothers grinning, and drove on through the intersection. I noticed I was the only car that got through the intersection before the light changed again and I felt kind of sad that I had to leave them after all the love we had shared, so I slowed the car down, leaned out of the window and gave them all the Hawaiian good luck sign one last time as I drove away.

Praise the Lord for such wonderful folks!

 

[Strangelove]

I wish more believers would identify their car, as I find it a blessing to observe such a vehicle, as it makes me feel a kind of solidarity with the people within them, and I pray a blessing over them.

How about if all believers just marked themselves?

 

[theLords]

Threads like this always remind me of the "Honk if you love Jesus" bumper sticker joke. Sorry, Mike, but I must post it.


The other day I went up to a local Christian bookstore and saw a "Honk if you love Jesus" bumper sticker.

I was feeling particularly sassy that day because I had just come from a thrilling choir performance, followed by a thunderous prayer meeting, so I bought the sticker and put it on my bumper.

Boy, I'm glad I did! What an uplifting experience that followed!

I was stopped at a red light at a busy intersection, just lost in thought about the Lord and how good He is... and I didn't notice that the light had changed.

It is a good thing someone else loves Jesus because if he hadn't honked, I'd never have noticed!

I found that LOTS of people love Jesus! Why, while I was sitting there, the guy behind started honking like crazy, and then he leaned out of his window and screamed, "For the love of GOD! GO! GO! Jesus Christ, GO!"

What an exuberant cheerleader he was for Jesus! Everyone started honking!

I just leaned out of my window and started waving and smiling at all these loving people. I even honked my horn a few times to share in the love!

There must have been a man from Florida back there because I heard him yelling something about a "sunny beach"...

I saw another guy waving in a funny way with only his middle finger stuck up in the air.

Then I asked my teenage grandson in the back seat what that meant, he said that it was probably a Hawaiian good luck sign or something. Well, I've never met anyone from Hawaii, so I leaned out the window and gave him the good luck sign back.

My grandson burst out laughing...why, even he was enjoying this religious experience!

A couple of the people were so caught up in the joy of the moment that they got out of their cars and started walking towards me. I bet they wanted to pray or ask what church I attended, but this is when I noticed the light had changed.

So, I waved to all my sisters and brothers grinning, and drove on through the intersection. I noticed I was the only car that got through the intersection before the light changed again and I felt kind of sad that I had to leave them after all the love we had shared, so I slowed the car down, leaned out of the window and gave them all the Hawaiian good luck sign one last time as I drove away.

Praise the Lord for such wonderful folks!

:rolling :toofunny

Thanks PR, I have got to save this! I might have to pass this around in an Email.