Fast food restaurants. The original concept was a quick, inexpensive meal in a casual setting. The first ones were hamburger joints, but in time new players entered the game featuring chicken, fish, tacos, pizza and even roast beef sandwiches. Each had their own specialty, sometimes with a few variations, and this is what defined them. Name a restaurant and something in particular would come to mind.
It wasn’t long before competition forced many fast food restaurants to rethink what they were doing. Medical and dietary research also revealed some less than flattering facts about some very popular products. In response, companies began making changes in order to appeal to a larger number of people. Expanded menus were common. The place you used to go for burgers and fries now had chicken, fish, and a selection of salads. Somewhat healthier alternatives were offered to attract customers and keep them coming back. Buildings were renovated inside and out to be more attractive and comfortable. The latest computer technology was installed to get out orders more accurately and quickly. Payment by credit card and access to wireless internet soon were common. Companies designed everything for the convenience of the customer. The message was clear: Come here and get just what you want. Get it when you want it and how you want it. They also began advertising in different ways. Rather than compare themselves to the competition, they created the illusion of need by showing the “benefits” of their products. Their objective was to make you feel like you were missing something or that your life was not complete unless you were buying what they had to sell. Was it a good strategy? Apparently so. These businesses continue to thrive although it seems there’s one on every corner.
Although it was a good strategy for convincing people to come eat at a restaurant, unfortunately this marketing concept is now being used by many churches and ministries. The idea is to create a particular environment to have a broader appeal. The message: It’s all about you. You can dress like you want. We’ll play music that you like. You’ll be impressed by our use of technology. You’ll hear a message that will be relevant to you. You won’t be pressured. You’ll feel comfortable. Everything about this church is designed with you in mind. You’ll see that we are good people, happy people, maybe even cool people, and you’ll like us so much that you’ll come back again and again. Eventually you’ll understand that you too can become exactly like us and that you’ll be much happier if you do.
This man-centered approach quickly turns the gospel into a product tailored to improve your life. The invitation is to take Jesus on your own terms and let him meet whatever needs you may feel like you have. It’s comfortable, it’s cozy, there is no pressure, and it’s all about making sure you’re satisfied in the end.
As Paul wrote in Galatians 1, this is another gospel that is really not another. He referred to those who added the keeping of the law to the gospel, but I see more subtraction than addition in today’s gospel. Repentance is now simply changing your mind about the way things are and deciding that you will act differently so that your life will be improved. Faith has become a mystical word that means you believe God wants you to be happy and living your best life now. The Scriptures are selectively understood as words to inspire us to excellence in all we do.
The result is the same as with fast food. It’s not healthy. Our appetites are dulled for truth and for holiness. And it’s not really inexpensive, it’s just cheap. It makes us fat and lethargic. We have nice buildings, the latest technology, slick presentations, great music, great organization, skilled communicators, and interesting topics, but do we have the power on God on our lives? I fear that marketing techniques have replaced the work of the Holy Spirit. We must return to the gospel of the grace of Jesus Christ.
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority Let no one disregard you.
Titus 2:11-15
It wasn’t long before competition forced many fast food restaurants to rethink what they were doing. Medical and dietary research also revealed some less than flattering facts about some very popular products. In response, companies began making changes in order to appeal to a larger number of people. Expanded menus were common. The place you used to go for burgers and fries now had chicken, fish, and a selection of salads. Somewhat healthier alternatives were offered to attract customers and keep them coming back. Buildings were renovated inside and out to be more attractive and comfortable. The latest computer technology was installed to get out orders more accurately and quickly. Payment by credit card and access to wireless internet soon were common. Companies designed everything for the convenience of the customer. The message was clear: Come here and get just what you want. Get it when you want it and how you want it. They also began advertising in different ways. Rather than compare themselves to the competition, they created the illusion of need by showing the “benefits” of their products. Their objective was to make you feel like you were missing something or that your life was not complete unless you were buying what they had to sell. Was it a good strategy? Apparently so. These businesses continue to thrive although it seems there’s one on every corner.
Although it was a good strategy for convincing people to come eat at a restaurant, unfortunately this marketing concept is now being used by many churches and ministries. The idea is to create a particular environment to have a broader appeal. The message: It’s all about you. You can dress like you want. We’ll play music that you like. You’ll be impressed by our use of technology. You’ll hear a message that will be relevant to you. You won’t be pressured. You’ll feel comfortable. Everything about this church is designed with you in mind. You’ll see that we are good people, happy people, maybe even cool people, and you’ll like us so much that you’ll come back again and again. Eventually you’ll understand that you too can become exactly like us and that you’ll be much happier if you do.
This man-centered approach quickly turns the gospel into a product tailored to improve your life. The invitation is to take Jesus on your own terms and let him meet whatever needs you may feel like you have. It’s comfortable, it’s cozy, there is no pressure, and it’s all about making sure you’re satisfied in the end.
As Paul wrote in Galatians 1, this is another gospel that is really not another. He referred to those who added the keeping of the law to the gospel, but I see more subtraction than addition in today’s gospel. Repentance is now simply changing your mind about the way things are and deciding that you will act differently so that your life will be improved. Faith has become a mystical word that means you believe God wants you to be happy and living your best life now. The Scriptures are selectively understood as words to inspire us to excellence in all we do.
The result is the same as with fast food. It’s not healthy. Our appetites are dulled for truth and for holiness. And it’s not really inexpensive, it’s just cheap. It makes us fat and lethargic. We have nice buildings, the latest technology, slick presentations, great music, great organization, skilled communicators, and interesting topics, but do we have the power on God on our lives? I fear that marketing techniques have replaced the work of the Holy Spirit. We must return to the gospel of the grace of Jesus Christ.
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority Let no one disregard you.
Titus 2:11-15
4 comments:
Excellent metaphor!. The funny thing is that when it comes down to it, fast food just isn't as good. It's not as fulfilling. Sure it fills your stomach, even fattens you, but it doesn't feel right. Your body knows that it's not as good as a nice home-cooked meal. It just doesn't sit the same in your stomach. Your body knows what it needs. It's the same with your soul. It'll never really feel satisfied if all it's getting is fast food. The problem is, just like with fast food, we're not concerned with what is good for us, but something else, whether convenience or taste or whatever.
Hey Bill,
I like when you said "I fear that marketing techniques have replaced the work of the Holy Spirit." I agree and would add that it is the nature of our enemy to counterfeit the work of God. The emotional plea combined with a marketing technique becomes the "trojan horse" in the life of a believer. Once it is accepted then the enemy releases his minions of materialism and seeks to overthrow the Kingdom's authority. As a result, the Lordship of Christ is supplanted by church culture and the abandon to Christ is turned into comparmentalized "church service". Thanks for the blog, Bill! Good stuff!
Bill,
You have a gift of communicating what is true (Truth) and observing what is not true in and around us. I check in weekly...I look forward to your next blog.
You write very well.
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