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Religion has a very different place in people’s lives than barely half a century ago. It used to be commonplace to go to church every Sunday and barely a soul grumbled about it. But nowadays, more and more individuals are acting like Homer Simpson and wondering if it wouldn’t be better to sleep in and stay toasty in bed.

Well, one place that certainly knows how to get the attention of both the faithful and non-believers and make them laugh and think, is Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church in New York. It uses hilarious (and sometimes deep) signs to make comments about religion and the world.

We’ve collected some of the best signs from Wantagh Church, so upvote the ones you enjoyed reading and share ‘em with your pals if you think they’re in need of a chuckle or two. Have you seen any amusing church signs, dear Pandas? What do you think the positive aspects of faith are? Share your opinions with us down below.

In an interview with Bored Panda, Pastor Ron Garner of the Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church explained the inspiration for the witty signs and talked about the role of religion in the 21st century.

“Our church is located on a very busy street in Wantagh. I want to convey to the public that Christianity doesn't have to be staid. I also want to convey to passersby that I believe people who follow Jesus are not called to be apolitical but are called to take social justice issues seriously. We are a small congregation but we have new members who came because of our signs.”

More info: wmcc1845.com | Facebook | Instagram

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Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church Signs

Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church Signs

Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church Report

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Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church Signs

Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church Signs

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Blueplanet
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cannot upvote this more! If you believe in a religion, you can't just ignore it when you want to. i hope ppl that just "participate" in being a christian but dont actually belive it with all their heart can see this post

cjucz22 avatar
Christina Uhlir
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's called hypocrisy, very common; most people want just to look good, not actually be good.

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Hard 2 Guess
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Simple. Homeless man on Monday don't provide tax deductions. So helping them becomes socialism and this is not a commie land. This is America, if they want help they should pull them self up with their boot straps.---------------- That's what a good god fearing, family value, pro life, gun loving, patriotic christian would say.

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deanna woods
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was so close to getting mad at you until I realized you were being sarcastic.

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deanna woods
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A lot of Christians are big hypocrites. I am a Christian, but I don't feel the need to act self righteous all the time. I work in a pizza restaurant and every Sunday the people who just left church come in to "fellowship". They usually come in the biggest numbers, make the biggest messes, and leave zero tip for our hardworking cashiers.

cjucz22 avatar
Christina Uhlir
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I agree with you Deanna......and they believe that it's a sin working on Sunday but come to your place of work, making others work on Sunday.

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Paw Paw
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Far as I'm concerned, being spiritual is a 24/7 thing. Not a Weekend Warrior.

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Kate Johnson
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The city where we used to live had an "overflow" shelter for the homeless; it was organized by the Council of Churches and each religious institution took care of the homeless who weren't able to get into the regular homeless shelter. My husband and I were the captains of ours: the only synagogue among all of the Christian churches. Every overflow shelter had two weeks to cover each winter, and could choose when this was. I was the one who refused to follow the churches' lead and made every guest have to sign in by name, NOT number. (We Jews are kinda sensitive about the whole "dehumanization" thing, and referring to people by numbers, like the Nazis did.) The thing that bothered me the most, however, was that despite the fact that every house of worship had our guests stay in social halls and the like on premises, NOT ONE SINGLE CHRISTIAN CHURCH WOULD DO THIS OVER CHRISTMAS. We always took the dates that weren't covered by anyone else... which meant we ALWAYS got Christmas. WTF?

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Kate Johnson
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Got cut off, sorry. Isn't a HUGE part of the Christmas Story about how nobody would take in Mary and Joseph? Couldn't ANY of those people see the irony about not hosting our city's homeless over Christmas? No, the smell wasn't pleasant, because these folks couldn't get showers on a dependable basis. Yes, it was noticeable in our sanctuary during services. Yet every single person was welcomed with open arms (literally) during services, because it was a way for them to come in out of the cold while the overflow shelter was closed or hosted elsewhere. Christmas. Where were the good Christians during this time? Not all are like that. We're very fortunate to know some very special, wonderful Christians, and are blessed to be able to call them friends. But it was the hypocrisy of this "Council of Churches" that angered me so much, and made me hurt for our guests. This sign is wonderful, and I wish it were everywhere. People need help sometimes. So help. Help thy neighbors.

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Magic lady
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes shame on some of the:cities here in Texas. Glad our Governor is a fair man with a heart ❤️.

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Roger Bird
Community Member
4 years ago

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Because the homeless man is obnoxious and basically whacked, drug addicted, unreliable, dishonest, alcoholic, and crazy.

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Elaine Mattingly
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wrong! Whole familys were laid off one year, all of us lost our income and tried to help each other, we sold all we could and got recalled just before we sold the house. We are all blood bought, born again, bible believing babptist that were kind, not obnoxious,sensible, not whacked, never did drugs,were reliable, honest never drank alcohol, were sane and not judgemental. All the traits you named can be found or not found in rich and poor alike.

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Katarina Kay
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4 years ago

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Are they seriously calling the Lord homeless?!

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April Simnel
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Luke 9:57-58 (KJV) - And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

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Christina Sersif
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4 years ago

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I’ll probably be downvoted which is fine, but most of the homeless in the US are there because they choose to be. We have a lot of programs to help the homeless and most cities will pay to relocate you. My husbands home country is corrupt and the homeless there truly are homeless. They ask for food not money. The “homeless” here only want your money. Try giving them food and see how that goes.

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Chris Jones
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I used to work in London and often gave food and hot drinks to homeless people on my travels through the city - they were always very grateful. So I can truthfully say I saw how that went. Some people may choose to be homeless but there are many who do not. There are professional beggars - but many of those aren't homeless.

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Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church Signs

Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church Signs

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Kaisu
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4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Anyone who has ever read the bible knows this, yet there's so many so called Christians who have never even opened the book and yet they still spew hate in its name

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“I often wonder if religion does have a place in modern society,” mused Pastor Ron. “ I certainly believe that the church of our era has become irrelevant too many. I believe that the church has quit challenging people to live full lives and has become more interested in butts in pews.”

The Pastor continued: “Jesus was a radical Jewish rabbi who challenged followers to live in radically different ways. Although it may not increase Sunday morning attendance, as a Pastor I feel compelled to offer my congregation the challenge of radical discipleship. This requires a focus on issues of social justice that are often absent from the worship or mission of the church.”

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Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church Signs

Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church Signs

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#6

Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church Signs

Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church Signs

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Blueplanet
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So true, too true. how much of a change it would be if everyone understood that

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According to the Pastor, the Church has made itself ‘irrelevant’ in the West. “The US Church and all churches in the West have sacrificed a compelling message and mission for some vague promise of 'heaven' in some equally nebulous 'afterlife.' People aren't attracted to that message.  They want meaning in the 'here and now.' As far of changing this situation I don't have an answer. I can only do what I think provides relevance and a dedication to mission.”

Have you ever heard of a church having an Instagram page? I haven’t before. Well, Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church has one and it’s got 60 followers. I’m willing to bet the church would be even more well-known if it uploaded pictures of its signs to its IG account. A good way to spread some smiles, don’t you think?

The church, founded in 1889, describes itself as a place of worship for believers coming from different Christian denominations. “The Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church is an open and affirming congregation of the United Church of Christ which renews and strengthens its commitment to advocate justice and equality for all people in all areas of society.”

#7

Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church Signs

Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church Signs

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Kaisu
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The Holy Family were also Jewish, which Christians who are anti-Semitic conveniently forget

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#8

Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church Signs

Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church Signs

Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church Report

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Wij
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

war is wages for profit of a few, so it depends for whom. peace - money made too slowly for those that hold power.

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While many of us think of the United States of America as a very religious country, the fact of the matter is, faith is declining in the US. According to The Guardian, Pew Research Center has shown that within the last decade there has been a 12 percent drop in people who identify themselves as Christians.

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Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church Signs

Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church Signs

Ron Garner Report

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Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church Signs

Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church Signs

Ron Garner Report

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Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church Signs

Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church Signs

Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church Report

It’s mostly younger Americans who are moving away from the faith of their forefathers. Furthermore, in the last decade, there has been a 17 percent increase in people who say they’re atheist, agnostic, or even “nothing in particular.” Now, around a quarter of all Americans fall into this category.

#13

Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church Signs

Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church Signs

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Magpie
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This Australian is so grateful to be Aussie, when I read about how the usa is. I got permanently injured at work, and sooo very grateful for disability pension and medicare.

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Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church Signs

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Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church Report

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Fewer people are going to church as well. Those who attend church at least once or twice each month has fallen by 7 percent in the same time period. Attendance has fallen so much that nowadays more Americans say they attend church a few times each year than each month. Obviously, the reasons for this are very complex, but Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church seems to have the right approach to at least draw attention to religious matters.

#16

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Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church Signs

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Monika Soffronow
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why the downvotes of Hendra Lim's comment? The reflexion of the photographer is quite clear if you look at the sign, and it does look like a child.

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Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church Signs

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Dr.Scott
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For all the people on the left on this site, and atheists for that matter, I’m kind of surprised a separation of church and state comment got 6 down votes. 😂

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