A reverend in the Queensland city of Gympie has apologised for any offence a sign at his church – that has since divided the internet over complaints of its “disgusting” message – may have caused.
Over the weekend of the Gympie Show, the message board outside Wesleyan Methodist Church, which is adjacent to the Showgrounds, proclaimed: “The best way to the top is on your knees”.
The other side of the message board on Tuesday morning read: “If life gives you more than you can stand, get on your knees”.
While it was obviously about praying, the sign – seen by dozens of families who attended the show last Saturday and Sunday – wasn’t interpreted as spiritual by all, with at least one person saying they couldn’t believe the church would be so “naive”.
“To think they didn’t know what they were doing is extremely naive,” they said, calling on the church to make a public apology to the town’s nearly 53,000 residents.
“This is disgusting. It wouldn’t be allowed in any other sector and the fact this is a church makes it even more despicable.”
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Speaking to The Gympie Times, Wesleyan Methodist Church’s Reverend Gary McClintock said “of course the sign was never intended for any double meaning”, adding it was “sad” society had perceived it in that way.
“Kneeling in prayer has been a long term practice of worshippers around the world,” he said.
“I am sorry if the sign has offended anyone. The purpose is not to offend; the purpose is to call people to prayer and to consider Christ.”
Reverend McClintock said he wished the offended person had approached him first, adding they would still be welcome in church.
Others on Facebook found the sign laughable, with one man writing that “the resident needs to get a grip. Might relieve some tension”.
“Not offensive, but surely they’re aware of the double entendre? If not, they probably need to get out more,” wrote another.
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Others were offended that anyone had found the sign offensive, calling the resident a “Karen” and telling them to “get over it”.
“Certainly not offensive … clearly means praying … how can that be a bad thing?” one woman wrote.
Another said it was “true no matter (how) you take it”.
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