ICC Note: A property company in Australia recently told a church that an Easter sign on their property was offensive for including the phrase, “Jesus is Alive.” Thankfully, the property company has since apologized for its actions, calling the decision an error of judgment. Although Australia does not experience severe persecution as many other countries do, several Australian churches were vandalized last year, highlighting growing hostility toward Christianity.

03/15/2018 Australia (Christian Post) – An Easter sign by an Australian church featuring the word “Jesus” was recently banned at a shopping center in New South Wales, with the property company initially offering the phrase “risen Christ” to be used instead.

Lendlease, the property company in question, has since apologized for what it says was a mistake, but the church’s pastor is wondering why there was an issue with the name “Jesus,” but not semi-pornographic ads that are displayed at the shopping center.

“The phrase ‘Jesus is alive’… is the core message of the Christian faith and what Easter’s really all about. It’s a good message,” Pastor Martin Duffy from Elim Church told 2GB, a Sydney-based news and talk radio station, on Thursday.

He said Lendlease initially contacted his church to let him know that the phrase “Jesus is Alive” would not be allowed to be put on the sign, which serves as an advertisement for the March 29 “The Greatness of His Power” Easter event.

The church was told it could use “the risen Christ” instead.

Duffy insisted that there is nothing wrong with “Jesus,” however, noting that the name means that “nothing is hopeless,” providing inspiration for multitudes facing challenges.

He said Lendlease owning up to its mistake is a “victory,” but still wondered why advertising for lingerie and “semi-pornographic” imagery at the shopping center is not considered offensive, while the name “Jesus” is.

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