Weekly “homework”: As you read this, which ads, commercials, radio spots, etc. come to your mind immediately? Why? Tell us what’s impressed you on the website and then continue reading.
Download the handout, if you don’t have it.
Our church is talking about “Taking the Gospel Global”. On the other hand, how are these products being taken global? Any idea on how we can learn from the marketing giants? After all, we do envy the Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons for their dedication in winning converts. Or do we? Should we be learning from ad giants on how to “market our gospel”? John 13:35 states: “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
We are already marketing our gospel. Our lifestyles are a broadcast of our gospel. By now, you probably have an inkling that our lifestyles (and our fondness for it broadcast by our wearing of labels such as “Tommy”, “MEC”, “Triple Five Soul”, “American Eagle”, etc.) are quite contrary to the gospel message as presented in the Bible. Of course, the problem is not with owning things with such labels (heck, I have several articles of clothing with those labels), but it’s with the whole lifestyle. “Then he said to them, ‘Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.’” (Luke 12:15)
If you have taken courses in Peace and Conflict Studies, International Development, or even economics or in the social sciences, you can draw solid links from our lifestyles to its costs on the developing world to social unrest to terrorists to 9-11 to our insecurity today. Many Christians believe that the Luke passage implicitly warns us about 9-11 and its negative ripple effects. It seems that all men know that we are, instead, disciples of greed, because we take from one another in a social-Darwinian fashion; and 9-11 is just the tip of the iceberg (more about that in two weeks). But I believe, more importantly, that the Gospel message is about living a win-win proposition! What a concept. And with such living, the marketing will take care of itself. (see Matthew 5:14-16)
By now you might be uncomfortable, may have stopped reading, or, hopefully, you’re asking, “What difference do I make anyways?” I’m glad you asked. This week we’ll be talking about this. These last couple of weeks, we have read and discovered (probably re-discovered for most of us) what God is calling us to do (and to be). The radical call of the Gospels is not to be taken lightly – we know that. But if you’re wondering “how the heck do I even begin to start living right?” you’re in good company. (May I suggest engaging in prayer, in the word, and in a good chat with a good friend as a weekly habit to start?)
So then, living in the light needs to start with us, right now. Early on, Brenda rightly reminded us that it needs to start small. Pick something you want to develop into a habit. Share with us and encourage others to join you (it’s so much more enjoyable having people to journey seriously and to grow with).
Let our light shine forth.
“Always do the right thing. It’ll gratify some and astonish the rest.”
- Mark Twain
Thank you for the blessing. You put forth some really great things there, and I enjoyed you drew attention to the Gospel and marketing. Lots to think about there.
(My gut says we shouldn’t model ourselves after the world, especially where He’s concerned. If we do it naturally, to my mind that’s different, but if we strive to become like the world, bad news.
Yes, I believe marketing the Gospel would be no different than marketing yogurt poptarts or some such. People get so caught up in trying to give the appeal slant, trying to tap into that one hot market (I can’t stand it when companies target market kids), they totally put their “product” on the back burner…. Manipulation. When I think of marketing on a grand scale, I think of manipulation. And Christ is the glorious opposite.)
Got here via LivingRoom–hunting underblogs!
you got me thinking about the weekly habit. ive been meaning to do that for weeks now but i really dont know what to do. hmmm. this may be the motivation ive been “needing”(?) to do that weekly habit.
thanks!