Outside religious buildings we expect to see posters, banners with verses from the Bible or just even encouraging words.
Displayed outside St Matthew-in-the-City Anglican church in Auckland, New Zealand however, many people were shocked to see a billboard which read: “IT’S CHRISTMAS. TIME FOR JESUS TO COME OUT.”
At first glance you may have thought it was referring to Baby Jesus being born to Mary and Joseph (like the Bible story tells us), but after noticing the rainbow circling the hypothetical baby in this picture, largely associated with the gay community, you would begin to realise otherwise.
According to the church’s website, the billboard was erected for debate. St Matthews clergymen Rev Glynn Cardy and Rev Clay Nelson say, “This year we invited discussion and debate on the sexual orientation of Jesus.”
The church describes itself as “not quite like any other,” has understandably received a lot of criticism from locals- Christian and non Christian because of this controversial poster.