Drive-by catechism.

Vatican II's Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (Lumen Gentium) describes the church as a sign. It says nothing, however, about church signs--those marquee-style message boards replete with back lighting and bold block lettering spelling out pithy theological adages.

"Church signs are part of the American cultural landscape," writes photographer Donald Seitz in The Great American Book of Church Signs (Sock and Roll Corporation, 2006). His book presents myriad photographs of church signs Seitz found as he drove through various towns in the United States. Nearly 100 photographs are organized into five thematic areas: faith and forgiveness; advice and admonitions; prayer and perseverance; light and love; and eternity.

The cover photograph, "Free trip to heaven. Details inside," opens the book. Some signs, however, are not so inviting. "This is a hospital for sinners" doesn't sound nearly as cheery.

Some signs indicate that churches either need or want more money. "Too many don't give God even a tenth of what they ought to give" reflects a not-too-subtle reference to the custom of tithing. "Give God what is right not what is left" tries to up the ante. One more finance-oriented sign--"Tithe if you love Jesus! Anyone can honk!"--gets right to the point.

One church's marquee preaches a muscular Christianity: "Don't pray for a lighter load. Pray for a stronger back." Another church sign, in tune with general fitness, reads, "Exercise daily. Walk with the Lord." And health works its way into yet another one: "The best vitamin for a Christian is B 1."

"God always answers knee mail" would have made no sense before our cyberage. "God wants full custody, not just a weekend visit" might attract or repel parents and children in this age of frequent divorce and remarriage. A more positive household message reads, "Home improvement: Take your family to church."

Most of the signs in this book belong to Protestant churches. Three Catholic church signs did make it, however. "Psalms read here" belongs to St. Joseph Church in Hays, Kansas. St. Dominic Savio's church sign in St. Louis, Missouri asks two questions, "Does God seem far away? Who moved?" St. Rose Catholic Church in Omaha, Nebraska combines a commandment and an advertisement: "Thou shalt not steal CWS [College World Series] parking--still only $5 per game."

Is this tradition of church signs so beautifully captured in The Great American Book of Church Signs an extension of the Hebrew Wisdom tradition reflected in the Book of Proverbs? Or is it just another crass manifestation of contemporary marketing techniques?

Or maybe the words of yet another church sign capture their significance: "God may meet you today where you least expect him."

PETER GILMOUR ([e-mail]) teaches at the Institute of Pastoral Studies of Loyola University Chicago.