Controversial Billboard Depicts The Virgin Mary With A Pregnancy Test

In an effort to make people think outside the box about the Christmas story, a church in New Zealand has put up a billboard that has people talking. The billboard called, "Mary in the Pink" , depicts the Virgin Mary holding a positive pregnancy test , is only the latest in a string of provocative, holiday-themed billboards for the church. In 2009, they ran another Christmas billboard featuring Mary and Joseph in bed with the tagline, "Poor Joseph, God was a hard act to follow." Wow...just wow!

Vicar Glynn Cardy said that this year St. Matthews wanted to focus on what it was like for a real mother with a real child.

"It's about a real pregnancy, a real mother and a real child. It's about real anxiety, courage and hope."

The lack of text on the billboard is intended to provoke thought: "We hope to do so with an image and no words. We invite you to wonder what your caption might be."

Many Christians say it is offensive while others find it to be an inventive way to get the message across. Either way you look at it, the billboard will stay up until Christmas Day.