Do You Have a Fish on Your Car?

[Alabaster]

How about if all believers just marked themselves?

We are already marked by God.

Colossians 2:11
When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,†but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature.

Matthew 7:20
Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.

 

[Strangelove]

We are already marked by God.

Colossians 2:11
When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,†but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature.

Matthew 7:20
Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.

So why do you wish other Christians marked they're cars?

Cant you identify them by their considerate driving?

 

[Alabaster]

So why do you wish other Christians marked they're cars?

Cant you identify them by their considerate driving?

I simply like to know there are other believers around! It is peasant to know sisters and brothers in Jesus are near! I deem it a privilege and a pleasure to offer up a prayer of blessing and safety on them. No biggie.

 

[Igor]

So why do you wish other Christians marked they're cars?

Cant you identify them by their considerate driving?

Maybe, but it's so much better with a bumper sticker. Didn't you read Pouring Rain's story about what happened when she put a "Honk if you love Jesus" sticker on her car?

 

[Mike]

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.

There's a fine line between supporting the ministry of a radio station by advertising there and (my opinion) shamelessly tagging themselves "your Christian chiropractor" for example. WMUZ appears to have a high threshold of tolerance when accepting $$$ for ads. They have commercials for attorneys who will defend parents of children with birth defects. Not that some cases don't warrant attention, but IMO they are playing to the emotions of people in a very vulnerable place, having just lost a child or given birth to one with a defect. That kind of advertising has no place on a Christian station, IMHO.

Getting back to topic...

StrangeLove, here again, you're digging your heals in, and I have no idea what you hope to achieve. A few of us are comforted when we see a fellow Christian on the road, and you would have no other way of knowing if they didn't have some sort of symbol. It's my understanding that early Christians would draw the symbol in the sand to privately indicate to another person what they were a Believer. Was this idolatry to you? Should they have refrained from this practice that communicated their relationship with the other person?

 

[jasoncran]

There's a fine line between supporting the ministry of a radio station by advertising there and (my opinion) shamelessly tagging themselves "your Christian chiropractor" for example. WMUZ appears to have a high threshold of tolerance when accepting $$$ for ads. They have commercials for attorneys who will defend parents of children with birth defects. Not that some cases don't warrant attention, but IMO they are playing to the emotions of people in a very vulnerable place, having just lost a child or given birth to one with a defect. That kind of advertising has no place on a Christian station, IMHO.

Getting back to topic...

StrangeLove, here again, you're digging your heals in, and I have no idea what you hope to achieve. A few of us are comforted when we see a fellow Christian on the road, and you would have no other way of knowing if they didn't have some sort of symbol. It's my understanding that early Christians would draw the symbol in the sand to privately indicate to another person what they were a Believer. Was this idolatry to you? Should they have refrained from this practice that communicated their relationship with the other person?

in pompei and its sister city that was found eons after the volcano eruption that christians were there. how by the fish symbols painted on the wall and a room with a cross on the wall with an alter.

 

[Lewis]

I have one on the back of my car, and a front license plate that says, You Have A Friend In Jesus In Pennsylvania.

 

[sherri2]

I wouldn't. I once heard a new christian say she didn't like them because they usually signalled a bad driver. And it is true that people will be watching your driving skills extra carefully. If you never make a mistake, ok, but if you're normal....

It's like waving a flag asking people to judge you on your driving performance IMO, hence your character, thus your faith.

 

[Strangelove]

StrangeLove, here again, you're digging your heals in, and I have no idea what you hope to achieve. A few of us are comforted when we see a fellow Christian on the road, and you would have no other way of knowing if they didn't have some sort of symbol. It's my understanding that early Christians would draw the symbol in the sand to privately indicate to another person what they were a Believer. Was this idolatry to you? Should they have refrained from this practice that communicated their relationship with the other person?

Do you want me to just agree with everything anyone says?

Am I allowed to debate on this forum?

Why are you picking on me?

Now i'm wary to answer any of the questions you just asked me for fear of you calling me out for making 'accusations' or simply locking the thread.

Can I answer those points are are you gonna get mad at me again?

You see it as digging my heels in...I see it as contending earnestly for the faith.

Would you prefer it if I just left the forum? I feel like I just can't speak my mind.

 

[Adstar]

Why have a fish on your car? What do fish have to do with Christianity anyway?


All Praise The Ancient Of Days

 

[Lance_Iguana]

Why have a fish on your car? What do fish have to do with Christianity anyway?


All Praise The Ancient Of Days

The Fish symbol was used during the time in Rome where Christians where persecuted. The fish symbol was used to united Unite Christians in a way that was inconspicuous. The fish symbol also has its roots in the Loaves and Fishes story, and because the early Christians were to be like fishermen and to cast out their nets ( the Gospel) to collect followers. The cross and Lamb where also symbols used, but the Fish was the most common until the cross replaced it when Rome became Christian.

 

[Lewis]

What is the problem, the fish is just to let other Christians know who you are. So why do people have to find fault with everything, I don't care what it is people will find a fault with it, now it is the fish on cars. This is just plain lunacy.

 

[casper]

To strangelove

Ok I understand where you are coming from however perhaps your views are possibly a little extreme. I say this because, symbols of christ are a way for us Christians to advertise our faith. I wonder how many Christians have been converted from just seeing someones symbol weather it be a bumper sticker, on a shirt, a cap etc. Its a way to start a conversation from a seeker. I myself have had people ask about the cross I have just recently been wearing (just a little one I don't like those big load ones on us males). How do you feel about people wearing a cross I was considering taking it off in case it was a form of idol worship


Anyhow you have a lot to offer this forum and I have read many your posts,. Stick to your guns, Be humble (can be hard on forums), But don't go

 

[Igor]

... How do you feel about people wearing a cross I was considering taking it off in case it was a form of idol worship

Now that brings back memories. I used to wear one a lot in school. Of course, like hippies and bell bottoms, they were in fashion then.:yes Hey, I've still got my hippie hair and tie died shirts. Maybe I'll get another cross and a fish sticker for my car too!

Idol worship??? Nah, it was no more an idol than were my moon shoes or macramé key fob that hung almost to my ankles! It's all just fashion is all. And all fashion makes a statement, so why not make a statement that might lead to a conversation about God?

 

[Free]

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.​

​

Actually, our faith was never meant to be just internal and just spiritual. There are aspects of it which are internal and spiritual but it most certainly does not stop there. That the Ichthus fish may have a pagan origin is irrelevant to it's known Christian use and may be used as such.

How do you feel about people wearing a cross I was considering taking it off in case it was a form of idol worship

It's only idol worship if you worship it.

 

[Strangelove]

Actually, our faith was never meant to be just internal and just spiritual. There are aspects of it which are internal and spiritual but it most certainly does not stop there. That the Ichthus fish may have a pagan origin is irrelevant to it's known Christian use and may be used as such.

Hi Free. All I'm saying is that everything we need for our worship and faith is contained in our hearts. There is no external, physical sign or symbol or ritual or work that is necessary. And it if we don't need it then is safer to keep away from it. I'm not condemning anyone for using symbols but just saying you don't need to mark yourself or your car so I personally wouldn't take the risk with it.

What if there is a roundup of Christians in the great tribulation? You're making yourself an easy target by marking yourself as one.

The only place I think 'Christian' should displayed is on these forums for obvious reason that there is too much confusion when people are stating things in a mixed religioun e-church.

It's only idol worship if you worship it.

Sometimes people don't even realise when they have raised an object or symbol something to a higher level.

 

[Mike]

Hi Free. All I'm saying is that everything we need for our worship and faith is contained in our hearts. There is no external, physical sign or symbol or ritual or work that is necessary. And it if we don't need it then is safer to keep away from it. I'm not condemning anyone for using symbols but just saying you don't need to mark yourself or your car so I personally wouldn't take the risk with it.

Did I miss a post where anyone said Christians should be required to put a fish on their cars? Is it safer that we stay away from the cross on our walls or around our necks?

 

[Strangelove]

Did I miss a post where anyone said Christians should be required to put a fish on their cars? Is it safer that we stay away from the cross on our walls or around our necks?

Yes I would say it is safer to stay away from that.

If you have crosses on your walls then I am absolutely not condemning you it's just my opinion that we don't need any outward objects to help with our faith as they are uneccesary. Especially symbols and wotnot.

Would it effect your faith if a robber came in and stole the cross that was fixed to your wall?

I'm not even sure why I asked that>>: But I'll leave it {{{}}}}

Doc.

 

[Igor]

...Would it effect your faith if a robber came in and stole the cross that was fixed to your wall?

LOL. Good analogy, Doc. If it did, then my faith isn't worth much, is it? (Of course, not meaning to imply that having a symbol necessarily means that it is any indication that we actually put our faith in the symbol instead of in God!)

 

[Free]

Hi Free. All I'm saying is that everything we need for our worship and faith is contained in our hearts. There is no external, physical sign or symbol or ritual or work that is necessary. And it if we don't need it then is safer to keep away from it. I'm not condemning anyone for using symbols but just saying you don't need to mark yourself or your car so I personally wouldn't take the risk with it.

How is it safer? What risk? In what way is an outward symbol unsafe? Symbols have been used throughout Christian history to identify oneself as a believer and to move one's heart to seek God, to think and meditate upon. Seeing a cross brings to remembrance the sacrifice of Christ and reminds one what their focus should be on, what their thoughts should be on, etc.

What if there is a roundup of Christians in the great tribulation? You're making yourself an easy target by marking yourself as one.

And? Much of the early church welcomed persecution, a concept which is utterly foreign to the modern western Church. I hope I never have to go through something like that but if I do, I don't care, and I don't care if I have a mark on myself, in my house, or on my car that causes me to be rounded up. I am neither ashamed nor afraid.

The only place I think 'Christian' should displayed is on these forums for obvious reason that there is too much confusion when people are stating things in a mixed religioun e-church.

I have never seen a cross or Ichthus fish used for anything but a reference to Christianity, so I fail to see where there is any confusion at all.