Marketing the Master

“We always try to connect to the energy and events of our time,” said Erica Archambault, Levi’s director of brand marketing and public relations. “What’s the pioneering spirit of today? A lot of people are rallying around marriage equality and fighting for that and so many individuals within our company feel so strongly about it.”

Doesn't this sound strangely and uncomfortably like things we hear said concerning matters within the church? It is actually an excerpt from an article that is talking about the Levi's brand of clothing's support of the gay rights movement (which is no new thing for them). They have displayed their support by adopting the donning of a white ribbon on their manikins in their storefront displays. It is said to be reminiscent of the "knot-tying" that takes place in the context of a marriage (although what they are supporting is NOT marriage).

While it comes as no surprise that Levi's would support this, it is disconcerting that the popular way of calling sinners to salvation these days, sounds very similar (because it is more like calling customers to a product). If the "seekers" are seen as customers shopping for the "best thing" then why wouldn't we try to make our product as marketable as possible? Why SHOULDN'T we support gay marriage if it appeals to a crowd that we can reach for Jesus? If faith is a product and the "customer" can associate with the marketing company by means of a certain issue, why not be pragmatic for the sake of the gospel?

Along these lines, I have recently been digging into a book written by David Wells entitled "The Courage to be Protestant." In it he critiques the current state of Christianity in churches across America. In a section specifically addressing those he labels "Marketers," or those who are always experimenting with new ways to "sell" Christianity, he comments, "However innocent are the intentions, the form is actually affecting the content in this experiment. The methodology is transforming the faith that is being sold. That is what we need to see."

SO, if the form is wrong what exactly is wrong with it? In identifying the root of the problem Wells points out that this strategy of making Christianity "marketable" and attractive is actually a vain pursuit seeing as it denies a foundational tenet of Christianity: original sin. Marketing to a dead audience who has completely godless, unregenerate desires are only going to want that which caters to those desires - thus requiring the marketing of a different PRODUCT. Christianity does not sell. God saves through His offensive gospel. Disguising Christianity to make it attractive to the world only confuses and deceives as to what it actually is - it doesn't help anything. It's harmful.

I'll close with one final (extended) quote from Wells on the topic.

"There is a yearning in the evangelical world today. We encounter it everywhere. It is a yearning for what is real. Sales pitches, marketed faith, the gospel as a commodity, people as customers, God as just a prop to my inner life, the glitz and sizzle, Disneyland on the loose in our churches - all of it is skin deep and often downright wrong. It is not making serious disciples. It cannot make serious disciples. It brims with success, but it is empty, shallow, and indeed unpardonable.

It is time to reach back into the Word of God, as we have not done in a generation, and find again a serious faith for our undoubtedly serious times. It is now time to close the door on this disastrous experiment in retailing faith, to do so politely but nevertheless firmly. It is time to move on. It is time to become Protestant once again."

Thoughts on a Hymn

On Friday of last week, I particularly enjoyed the set of worship songs we sang in chapel. One of these blessed anthems was "How Great Thou Art." The third verse of this great hymn moved me most out of the four verses as it took my mind and heart back to the cross and that blessed yet incomprehensible work of redemption. It reads:

And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.

The hymnist demonstrates his own struggle with receiving into the limits of his mental capacity this sacrificial, redemptive act of love on both the part of the Father and the Son. He brings to light these foundational spiritual truths with a pleasant poetic form yet theologically clear outline. I was reminded of passages such as Isaiah 53:5 and 10 where Isaiah speaks of Christ being crushed for our iniquities and of God being pleased in the crushing of His Son.

Some questions that were provoked in my mind -
Why did he not spare His blameless, perfectly righteous Son from paying the debt of wretched sinners? Why was both the Son glad to bear the burden and the Father willing to put Him to the task? Why would one so holy die for those so inexpressibly sinful to the very core? Who am I to forget this work that gives me life in Him?

All this to say, I am so thankful (1) for Christ's counter-intuitive yet glorious work on the cross and His rising from the dead on my behalf, (2) faithful men and women who wrote hymns such as this that so beautifully bring together poetic language and rich theology, and (3) finally for the precious opportunity that is so often overlooked to worship corporately with the body of Christ!

I leave you with one thought. How quick are you to receive the redemptive work of Christ on the cross? Is it as much a marvel to you as it was to this author?

Fidelity in Fullness

While reading material concerning the book of Jeremiah in a commentary by Hobart E. Freeman (required for my Old Testament Survey class) I came across a thought-provoking quote that arrested my attention. It first reminded me of the clear command of God for pastors and those delivering His truth to communicate His Word accurately and completely. Secondly, it brought thankfulness to my heart for the few faithful men who have stayed true to this and are unashamed in their sin-revealing, Christ-exalting, and yet still love-indwelt preaching.

Freeman writes:
"God then admonishes Jeremiah saying, 'Speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at them, lest I dismay thee before them' (Jeremiah 1:17). The prophet is solemnly charged to remain steadfast in the face of all opposition to his message and to proclaim faithfully all that God has commanded him to speak. It is sometimes a temptation for a man to proclaim only as much of God's Word as the people will receive without rejecting him and his ministry. But God warns Jeremiah in advance that any failure to proclaim faithfully His whole counsel will result in judgment upon the messenger as well as the people. If he fears the consequences of faithful preaching, then he will face a severer judgment at the hands of the Lord. Fidelity to the Word of God is not merely preaching carefully selected themes in order to please the hearers, nor following some liturgy; it is the proclamation of the whole counsel of God, the threats as well as the promises, the judgments as well as the blessings, the rebukes as well as the condolences, at whatever the personal cost. As it is treason for an ambassador to suppress those elements of his commission that are harsh and severe in order to spare himself unpleasant experiences, so much more treasonous is it for the messenger of the Lord who, through fear, cowardliness and desire for peace at any price, neglects to proclaim all that God has spoken."

Opportunities in Everyday Life

The Lord has been so faithful and has been providing encouragement at every turn. When I walk outside I see Him in the chirping of the birds, in the mist descending from the clouds (I get excited for rain in CA!), and in the majesty of the sunshine, casting it's rays on the earth below. When I meet meet people who are evidently in love with Christ I see the gospel gleaming through and when I those evidently in need of the gospel I feel the Holy Spirit's prompting to respond by sharing the hope I have. And finally, in my classes (even in Critical Thinking and Problem Solving) and just at college in general, I see the potential for gaining wisdom and understanding from the professors and others I meet in order to more thoughtfully live a life honoring to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I just want to briefly share what is going on in my life and the Lord has been working. He has been providing so many good opportunities such as being able to work with a man named Bryan Kirby at both the college (as apart of chapel media, that being my work study) and at the church (assisting him with sound one week a month). He has also been gracious enough to meet with me regularly to and take me out to dinner.

I have also been able to meet with Micah once a week, which has provided a great opportunity to actually talk and go beyond just how our homework is going. I am also excited about small groups with some of the guys on my wing. The Bible study we attend, Generations (named for its "generations" of people represented, young, old and all in between), has been a great chance to meet people and grow alongside them.

I greatly need and appreciate all who are praying for me and if you are reading this I most likely am praying for you as well. Prayer and the unity the church is given in Christ is a wonderful gift from God one REALLY discover being separated from one's home church. I hope you take time to thank God for the ministry God has given you and are content with where he has placed you. Praise Him!

Risen to New Life

Isn't it grace amazing?! That a holy and sinless God would save such worthless and utterly sinful men, simply leaves one speechless. Yet, even in view of this amazing demonstration of undeserved love and mercy, believers continually bow down before other gods such as self, others' opinions (of those who can only kill the body and are as enduring as the grass of the field), wealth, and the list goes on.

As I have been reading the book of Isaiah, both for school (Old Testament Survey II) and in my devotions, many passages have been coming to my attention concerning the foolish idolatry and harlotry of the children of Israel. I discovered that I was ignorantly leaving them at merely observations and not points of application. A few passages specifically starting sticking out to me that provoked me to question, "Is this a picture of me and my heart as well?" and "Does God think the same of my sin?"

God Himself makes so many arguments within the book for trusting Him and forsaking the ridiculous idols that the sons of Israel were chasing . He desires that His people follow His law yet they so abhorrently run to other gods and fail to remember or care about their testimony before the other nations and how that reflects on God. Two major sins stuck out to me that I want to address just briefly.

The first sin that stuck out to me, that the Lord confronted Israel with and most definitely characterizes my life, is the fear and regard or honor of man (2:22 and 51:12-13). God so clearly abhors His precious children regarding man's opinion and considering his ability as something to be feared. God makes His case that He created them and there is NONE like Him! How so foolishly I daily act in such ways as to please or give regard to men's opinions to the level that should only be of God's.

The second sin that the Holy Spirit convicted me of was that of running to other gods and in the process ignoring the compassion and love that He is ready to pour out on us! In chapter 48 verses 18-19 so clearly communicates that God longs for us to walk in righteousness and has provided His Word to guide us! Both Psalm 81 and Isaiah 30:18 declare that the Lord is waiting to bless and have compassion on His people if they would but seek Him with their hearts and turn toward His statutes. I am daily guilty this ridiculous ignoring of His goodness and blessing by turning to temporarily satisfying sin.

I know this post may seem shock both by its presence and size, considering my current blog history but I hope this at least prompted some thoughts of your own or reminded you of some truths or areas of weakness in your life.

P.S. The young man has risen to new life after nearly a year of cyber-unconsciousness.

Yikes! At the '06 Steak Out!

Have you ever seen a more threatening, cold look? I look like I could kill someone. I have absolutely no clue what I was thinking but I think I was ready for my steak. At least Nathaniel was in a good mood.

what a passion!

As I was reading yesterday in I Samuel I came across Davids encounter with Goliath. The thing that struck me most was not only David's displaying of extreme courage but the motivation that brought about the courage. David says in I Samuel 17:26 "For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should taunt the armies of the LIVING GOD?"(emphasis added). David was deeply and genuinely concerned for the glory of God. He had a passion to see His name lifted up and he wasn't going to let a nine-cubit-tall pooh-head defame his great God by taunting His armies. This shows David's pure heart as we see that he didn't do it for the possibility of fame and glory for himself but rather he was concerned for the upholding of God's holy name. If only we could have such a bold and genuine passion for the glory of God that we would be willing to face whatever the odds may be. I, at times, can be so sheepish and faith-lacking as to hesitate whether to speak of Jesus' name in public let alone speak of what he has done.

I just listened to a sermon the other day by John Piper (in the Light and Heat series) in which he explains that the situation described in 1 Peter 3:15 (to give account for the hope that is in us) perhaps is not even something we run into because it can appear that we are hoping in the exact same things that the world is. If we would only be like David and live with an evident love for God and passion to see Him high and lifted up. We are to be unlike the world and not love the things of this world as 1 John 2:15-17 reminds us. Only by the the by the working of the Holy Spirit through Scripture and a continual coming before God in prayer asking Him to change our hearts, will this boldness be brought about. Praise the Lord for His Word!