One day Jesus was seated quietly in the marketplace when he is approached by a young marketing executive from a large advertising firm.
The young man struck up a conversation with Jesus: "I've always admired you and your work," the young man told Jesus. He talked about his character, his power, his rants against the religious establishment, his miracles, and his works of social justice. "I've always admired your stance on women's roles in society. I love your work with the poor and the disadvantaged. And that thing you did with the lepers, and the man born blind! That was amazing? How did you do that!?!? I love your teachings, and the way you stick it to the Pharisees! And raising Jairus' daughter, Lazarus, and that widow's son from the dead? Priceless! You do good work!"
"Umm, thank you," Jesus replies hesitantly.
"But," the executive continued, "I think you are missing a golden opportunity to market yourself better! I mean, all this talk about denying yourself and taking up your cross? The world rejecting you? Pain and loss for your followers? All of that talk is bad for business! You know you would get a lot more attention if you would make your message user friendly! Health and wealth, that kind of thing."
"Besides," the young man rushed on, not allowing Jesus time to interject; he was on a roll! "Besides... there's a lot of marketing potential here! Bracelets and books, jewelry and music, programs and seminars... We could make a gold mine on this Christian Living thing. It is its own market! We could market Christianity to the masses! Christianity for the single life, Christianity for better marriages, the Christian way of raising our children. 40 Days to a Better You. your Best Life Right Here Right Now. The Christian Secrets of Business Success... We could even turn around the whole meaning of the cross and make them out of gold, put them on a chain, and make them a sort of status symbol or a brand!"
"Think of it," he continued, "just think of all the possibilities! Church would be like a great mixture of Kiwanis and Country Club! Beautiful buildings on every corner, shining the light of Christian prosperity to a lost and dying world! A place for hurting people to look at and realize just how bad their lives are! Maybe by seeing our beautiful churches they will turn back to God and leave their lives of sin. Think about it... Church will be a great place for people to try out their A game. It will be a place where they act better than they do throughout the week! It is calling them to a higher standard of life and living. While you are here, you WILL blend in! Our pastors and ministers will be put on pedestals and held up as role models, even if they are a little broken or rough around the edges in private."
"Jesus, just think about the possibilities! Think about the power and prestige that will go with being a Christian! We can use our faith to punish those who disagree. We can pour billions into political interest groups and parachurch political organizations. We can start our own radio stations, For Us and By Us, and create our own TV networks. We can make our own films and movies, create our own little subculture. Think of all of the possibilities! Just imagine what could happen with a little marketing savvy and initiative!"
"So, let's make this Christianity thing a little easier to follow. Can we boil it down into a pithy saying or some trite comment people can remember? Can we make church and ministry about us so that it will attract more people? I think we are sitting on a gold mine here, Jesus. What do you think?"
So, what do you think Jesus would say? What Would Jesus Do? (Yes, all puns intended!)
Maybe Jesus would answer...
"One thing you lack. Go and sell all you own, all you treasure, give away your heart's greatest desire, and then come and follow me."
OR, "Seek first HIS Kingdom and HIS righteousness..."
OR, "Does this offend you? 62What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe."
OR, "How difficult it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of Heaven!"
Or maybe just, "GET BEHIND ME, SATAN!"
What is the heart of the Gospel? Is it health and wealth? Is it success? Is it corporate driven Christianity? Is it about making money with catchy gimmicks, having the biggest church, or the prettiest building? Is it about programs and ministries, youth groups and coffee shops, marriage seminars and Christian movies?
A wise minister once told me, "Whatever you win them with you win them to..." I think it is true. Over time, as Christianity become more polished and marketed, we began to ignore some of Jesus' teachings. Oh, we like the stuff about heaven, but we often ignore things like "Blessed are the poor... Woe to those who are rich..." We live in favor of Jesus' miracles, but ignore Jesus' calling to true discipleship and cross-bearing. It leads non-Christians to despise marketed Christianity, and called Ghandi to say, "I like Christ, but I don't like Christians! I would be a Christian, if it weren't for Christians..."
What kind of Christianity are you bought into? Does it change who you are, or just gloss over your rough edges? Do you look good on the outside with all of the t-shirts buttons and jewelry but are dead or dying inside, or are you truly being transformed? Christianity is not about gimmicks, programs, or marketing initiatives, building programs or church growth.
Instead, Christianity is about following Christ, God in the flesh, who died for you but had the audacity to not stay dead! It is death, burial, and resurrection, and our following Christ in death, burial, and resurrection through baptism.
Christianity is meant for more than cheap tricks and failed gimmicks. Let us never take the easy road of corporate marketing. Instead, let's take up our crosses and begin to follow him, wherever he leads.
Showing posts with label Christianity in America. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christianity in America. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Friday, March 20, 2009
Ambassadors for Christ
In all of the foreign countries I have lived or worked in, I have always loved getting to learn new things, eat new foods, and experience new traditions and cultures. But, let’s face it: when you are on your own and away from home, sometimes you simply get homesick. You long for the taste of a real American hamburger or to hear someone speaking English properly. I still remember the day I was feeling very homesick (and slightly lost) in Berlin, Germany, when I came across the American embassy. It was great to see the Stars and Stripes flying overhead, to see American Marines, and to know that that there was a little beacon of hope for me in a big, confusing place. It offers us a little piece of comfort and home.
In 2 Corinthians 5, Paul calls each of us an “ambassador for Christ.” He reminds us that our goal is to offer comfort, safety, and witness for Christ all around the world.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us…”
We are called to be ambassadors for Christ, to spread God’s agenda and initiative throughout the world. We are called to be his presence, his shelter in the storms of life. We stand as a beacon of hope and home for those who feel lost in the world.
Why are we Christ’s ambassadors? Well, if Christ has changed our lives and made us new creations, then we should want the same for other people. Our mission is to share the saving grace that we have received through Jesus to everyone we meet. Our job is to make God’s appeal to their hearts, to draw all men to himself. What an amazing task we have been given!
So, Ambassadors, get out there and make a difference! God would have us do no less...
In 2 Corinthians 5, Paul calls each of us an “ambassador for Christ.” He reminds us that our goal is to offer comfort, safety, and witness for Christ all around the world.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us…”
We are called to be ambassadors for Christ, to spread God’s agenda and initiative throughout the world. We are called to be his presence, his shelter in the storms of life. We stand as a beacon of hope and home for those who feel lost in the world.
Why are we Christ’s ambassadors? Well, if Christ has changed our lives and made us new creations, then we should want the same for other people. Our mission is to share the saving grace that we have received through Jesus to everyone we meet. Our job is to make God’s appeal to their hearts, to draw all men to himself. What an amazing task we have been given!
So, Ambassadors, get out there and make a difference! God would have us do no less...
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
A Church Like Cheers
I have been pretty discouraged today. I think it has something to do with the last book I am reading for my Book Review for the Christian Chronicle (due to be published in March.) I am working through the book Quiting Church, written by Julia Duin, the religion editor for the Washington Post, and I am becoming discouraged with the state of the church in America.
Although the Barna Group estimates that church attendance has remained the same for over 40 years (around 43% of the population), recent polls have shown that this number is grossly inflated. Realistically only 18-22% attend church regularly (with regularly being defined as once a month!) Statistics also show that only 4% of today's teenagers will be involved in a Bible-based church
by the time they have their own families. The vast majority of people are simply dropping out of church for various reasons: scandals in church leadership, lack of authenticity, lack of leadership/pastoring, etc. Many former church attendees simply see worship and "church" as irrelevant to their daily lives. It doesn't touch on the issues that affect us the most: emotional issues, sexuality, social justice, etc.
One of the issues that is most common is the lack of community within churches today. Intriguingly, there are stats that point to us creating our own problems. There are over 331,000 churches in America. However, 80% of the American church population attend 10% of those churches (33,000). The mega-church is in mega-boom. (At least, theoretically.) Thus, most churches are small but most people attend large churches. They want to be a part of a place where there are dozens of ministries available for every age group, social demographic, and personal preference. They want to lose themselves in the crowd to feel uplifted. Yet the very thing they crave often is the most damaging: they trade in authentic community to be surrounded by a community. They want to feel cared for, and they long to be an integral part of a community of believers, yet we often do nothing about it except quietly walk out the back door, forsaking church altogether.
What is the solution? What is the best way to go about bringing these Christians back into a community with one another?
An obvious choice is planting churches. New churches grow faster than older churches. It is simply the life cycle of the church, and this isn't a negative thing. Church planting isn't a disparaging of the established church. Think of it this way: whatever church you attend was once a church plant. Someone had in mind to reach a new group with the Gospel. (Unless you are a part of a church split, then the divisions get tougher!) Yet if we plant churches that look exactly like EVERY OTHER CHURCH then I think we have missed the point. We need to be a place where authentic community takes place. And as our unchurched population is telling us, that obviously doesn't seem to be happening in the vast majority of churches in America. So how can we reach this unchurched population? How can we encourage them to become a part of an authentic community with God? How can we help them not forsake the community of believers?
I believe we need to approach this problem with missional eyes. People are struggling to understand God in the midst of their situation. They long to feel connected with God, and they need the encouragement of other brothers and sisters in Christ to spur them on. They need AUTHENTIC community. Essentially, we need a church like Cheers!
Many of you remember this early '80's sitcom. I love the theme song that introduced the show:
"Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got. Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot. Wouldn't you like to get away? Sometimes you want to go...
Where everybody knows your name,
and they're always glad you came.
You wanna be where you can see,
our troubles are all the same
You wanna be where everybody knows
Your name."
Now, granted, I am not advocating changing the Lord's Supper from crackers/juice into beer/peanuts. But we need to be realistic: there is more authentic community at the local bar than in our church gatherings. We need a church where people are always glad you came and everybody wants to know your name.
How do we go about doing that? How can we create authentic community? I think it is the most important question that we, in our endeavors, can attempt to answer. So, what are your thoughts? Mine will be coming soon.
Although the Barna Group estimates that church attendance has remained the same for over 40 years (around 43% of the population), recent polls have shown that this number is grossly inflated. Realistically only 18-22% attend church regularly (with regularly being defined as once a month!) Statistics also show that only 4% of today's teenagers will be involved in a Bible-based church
by the time they have their own families. The vast majority of people are simply dropping out of church for various reasons: scandals in church leadership, lack of authenticity, lack of leadership/pastoring, etc. Many former church attendees simply see worship and "church" as irrelevant to their daily lives. It doesn't touch on the issues that affect us the most: emotional issues, sexuality, social justice, etc.
One of the issues that is most common is the lack of community within churches today. Intriguingly, there are stats that point to us creating our own problems. There are over 331,000 churches in America. However, 80% of the American church population attend 10% of those churches (33,000). The mega-church is in mega-boom. (At least, theoretically.) Thus, most churches are small but most people attend large churches. They want to be a part of a place where there are dozens of ministries available for every age group, social demographic, and personal preference. They want to lose themselves in the crowd to feel uplifted. Yet the very thing they crave often is the most damaging: they trade in authentic community to be surrounded by a community. They want to feel cared for, and they long to be an integral part of a community of believers, yet we often do nothing about it except quietly walk out the back door, forsaking church altogether.
What is the solution? What is the best way to go about bringing these Christians back into a community with one another?
An obvious choice is planting churches. New churches grow faster than older churches. It is simply the life cycle of the church, and this isn't a negative thing. Church planting isn't a disparaging of the established church. Think of it this way: whatever church you attend was once a church plant. Someone had in mind to reach a new group with the Gospel. (Unless you are a part of a church split, then the divisions get tougher!) Yet if we plant churches that look exactly like EVERY OTHER CHURCH then I think we have missed the point. We need to be a place where authentic community takes place. And as our unchurched population is telling us, that obviously doesn't seem to be happening in the vast majority of churches in America. So how can we reach this unchurched population? How can we encourage them to become a part of an authentic community with God? How can we help them not forsake the community of believers?
I believe we need to approach this problem with missional eyes. People are struggling to understand God in the midst of their situation. They long to feel connected with God, and they need the encouragement of other brothers and sisters in Christ to spur them on. They need AUTHENTIC community. Essentially, we need a church like Cheers!
Many of you remember this early '80's sitcom. I love the theme song that introduced the show:
"Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got. Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot. Wouldn't you like to get away? Sometimes you want to go...
Where everybody knows your name,
and they're always glad you came.
You wanna be where you can see,
our troubles are all the same
You wanna be where everybody knows
Your name."
Now, granted, I am not advocating changing the Lord's Supper from crackers/juice into beer/peanuts. But we need to be realistic: there is more authentic community at the local bar than in our church gatherings. We need a church where people are always glad you came and everybody wants to know your name.
How do we go about doing that? How can we create authentic community? I think it is the most important question that we, in our endeavors, can attempt to answer. So, what are your thoughts? Mine will be coming soon.
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