Two times in as many months...

I've seen this statement on two different church marquees:

For all you do, His blood's for you.

This statement aggravates me on so many levels, I almost don't know where to begin. But here goes anyway.

Number 1: Jesus did not die on the cross for anything I did, do or will do. I do not merit salvation. (Eph 2:8-9; 2 Ti 1:9) Jesus was chosen to die before the foundations of the world (1 Pet 1:20) for the sheep (Jn 10:11) His Father gave to Him (Jn 6:37, 44; 17:6) before the foundations of the world. (Eph 1:4, 11; Rom 8:29; 2 Th 2:13) From beginning to end, the conception of the work (Rev 13:8; Tit 1:2) the act of the work (Jn 19:30) the completion of the work (1 Cor 15:3-4) and the fulfillment of the work (Rev 21:3-4) rest entirely, totally, absolutely and incontrovertibly with HIM! (Isa 55:11) Nothing within me or any of the piddly antsy pantsy things of filthy "goodness" I could do or think of doing. (Isa 64:6) Apart from Him, I can do nothing at all, (Jn 15:5) let alone even the tiniest bit of what I would mistakenly and sinfully call or describe as "good." (1 Cor 1:25)

Number 2: His blood is atonement. (Rom 3:25; Heb 9:12-14) His blood covers my sins. (Heb 9:22; Rev 1:5; 5:9) His blood is the new covenant. (1 Cor 11:25) His blood brings peace and reconciliation with the Father. (Col 1:20) His blood is the one sufficient sacrifice (Heb 9:12, 28) spilt for all time for all His children for all eternity. (Heb 10:10, 14; 1 Cor 1:8; Rom 8:38-39) His blood is not some casual band-aid sprinkled, tossed or showered over a scratch of bad decisions. His blood is more precious than gold or silver (1 Pet 1:18-19) and means that those for whom it was poured out exist at the design and purpose of His Sovereign Lordship.(Eph 2:10; Col 1:15-20; 2 Pet 3:11)

Number 3: Does it have to be said that to use a beer marketing slogan in attempted cleverosity to describe the singular and more than monumental eternity changing event of a dead person in sin (Eph 2:2) being given new life in Christ (Eph 2:5) is a horribly irreverent turn of phrase? Good, then I won't say that.

Number 4: Check here to say what Reformed Chicks Blabbing says about the church billboard issue as well. I couldn't agree more with the idea of actually stating Scriptural truth on marquees and billboards.

Number 5: If you think I've taken this too seriously, that the slogan was just a witty grouping of words to grab a person's attention, to cause them to be a seeker, to put that annoying commercial beer tune hum into their minds potentially, but not likely, driving them to actually stop and attend the church with such a marquee, then please read through number 1 and number 2 again with all cited Scripture references. Because if you still think I've taken this type of marketing too seriously, and maybe even find yourself a tad bit annoyed with me....honestly, there are bigger problems happening than this post having been a nuisance to you.

Lord, preserve us from the consequence of casual treatment to what cost you so much. (Jn 3:16)