On Self-promotion in Christianity
I've always found it curious that Jesus would heal people and then give them strict instructions not to publicize it. But we see that when they ignored his instructions, the crowds grew so great that Jesus could no longer move freely among the people and had to retreat to private places. So there was a legitimate reason to keep things hush-hush. No, Jesus wasn't a showman like Benny Hinn.
But what about today's Christianity? I've been thinking lately of the tendency I've had in times past to promote my local church's brand instead of promoting Christ. And I'm beginning to conclude that we need to be Jesus-focused, not 'ministry'-focused. A local radio station (WMUZ, FM103.5 in Detroit) promotes itself as "the light", even though Jesus said that he was the light of the world. Jesus also stated that we (Christians) are the light of the world, but what about a Christian-based business? Is it also the light? I think not. WMUZ is definitely not the light - the radio station clearly explains that it is not a ministry, but a business. Their loyalty is first to their advertisers, then to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. (The station's general manager explained the distinction in person on the Bob Dutko show.) And this is a bit frightening, since Jesus stated that no one can serve two masters.
Why do 'Christian' businesses, churches, and ministries today feel the need for a catchy slogan and logo? It seems that too many Christian organizations, ministries, and artists today promote themselves instead of solely promoting Jesus the way the original apostles did. I don't recall Peter or Paul promoting themselves, their church, or even their own ministry. They didn't add to their own aura by giving themselves cool-sounding ministry names, or forming a nonprofit to shield their book royalties from taxes. Are we using the name of Jesus as a springboard for shameless self-promotion? Are we using our 'Christian' status as an excuse to garner personal fame by plastering our own name and face on a music CD? If we are truly and without compromise promoting the gospel of Christ, why do we so intricately link our own promotion to the message? What happened to the attitude of John the Baptist - "He [Jesus] must become greater, I must become less." Today's Christianity clearly carries a different message - "He [Jesus] is already great, I must become more." Today's Christianity is me-focused, not Jesus-focused. Christianity has become one big self-help club, where I must be encouraged, improved, healed, ministered to, and entertained, or I'll quit. The 'god' of convenience must not be angered by dragging out the service past noon. The 'lord' of my fleshly desires requires that Jesus' teachings impose no demands on my lifestyle. My desire for attention and recognition (which I equate with 'success') must not be hindered - everyone must recognize my ministry as the most successful. And if my CD reaches platinum status, visitors to my website will read all about it - but they will not read one word about Jesus, who can save their souls from eternal destruction. READER CHALLENGE: Try it. Go to the website of your favorite Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) artist and see how much effort is spent promoting the artist versus promoting Christ.
Since Jesus taught that we cannot serve two masters, I wonder if the promotion of ourselves and our organizations has a detrimental effect on the influence we could be having for the kingdom of God. I've found the power of God just isn't there when I canvass the local neighborhood promoting my local church and the programs it 'offers'. But when simply promoting Jesus, without any side agenda of promoting a man-made ministry or income-starved local church, then perhaps the power of God is really released. Perhaps only then do we experience what Jesus taught in Matthew 6 - that if we seek first the kingdom of God, our own needs will be met - and those of our church, family, radio station etc. Perhaps our self-promotion is indication that we don't really trust God to provide for our needs if we were to promote him. Frankly, I don't see this generation responding to our [Christianity's] shameless pandering of ourselves.
And what is it with today's obsession with 'ministries'? The only 'ministry' that Jesus started was Christianity. He didn't start, for example, Joel Osteen Ministries. So why are we spending our efforts promoting Joel Osteen Ministries, when we could be spending that time promoting Jesus, solamente and unadulterated? Isn't Jesus in a class by himself? Why must Jesus always share the pedestal with us, our particular ministry, our church, our church's intramural softball team, or whatever? What happens to our promotional efforts if Joel Osteen Ministries has an accounting scandal in the future? Is our labor in this world supposed to build faith in Jesus, or in Joel Osteen Ministries?
Jesus had a 'ministry' he received from the Father, but today's super-saints have 'ministries' (e.g. 'Joyce Meyer Ministries'). Apparently we can multitask better in the 21st century, so a single ministry isn't enough for the super-spiritual. We can minister and chew gum at the same time! In fact, if modern Christian practice served as the foundation of our faith, we'd conclude the original apostles could have been more effective if they had incorporated with nonprofit status, gotten a website, and held conferences and sold books, videos, CDs, and healing cloths to really rake in the dough.
Heck, these days it wouldn't be all that odd to start a ministry just to brand other ministries, 'empowering' modern Christians to be more effective with a cool logo and a catchy slogan. If the apostles could have taken advantage of such a ministry-naming ministry, they'd really experience the power of God on their lives, right? Peter could start 'Rooster Crow Ministries', and Thomas would be the head of 'See and Believe Ministries'. Stephen would lead 'Flying Rock Ministries', Paul would get 'Shipwrecked and Snakebitten Ministries' with its sister spin-off 'Letter Writing Empowerment Ministries'. And of course John would be CEO of 'Final Word Ministries'. But humor aside...
Perhaps we 21st century Christians have veered off of the straight and true path, and just as reform was needed in the early 1500s, we need another Martin Luther to question the status quo.
But what about today's Christianity? I've been thinking lately of the tendency I've had in times past to promote my local church's brand instead of promoting Christ. And I'm beginning to conclude that we need to be Jesus-focused, not 'ministry'-focused. A local radio station (WMUZ, FM103.5 in Detroit) promotes itself as "the light", even though Jesus said that he was the light of the world. Jesus also stated that we (Christians) are the light of the world, but what about a Christian-based business? Is it also the light? I think not. WMUZ is definitely not the light - the radio station clearly explains that it is not a ministry, but a business. Their loyalty is first to their advertisers, then to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. (The station's general manager explained the distinction in person on the Bob Dutko show.) And this is a bit frightening, since Jesus stated that no one can serve two masters.
Why do 'Christian' businesses, churches, and ministries today feel the need for a catchy slogan and logo? It seems that too many Christian organizations, ministries, and artists today promote themselves instead of solely promoting Jesus the way the original apostles did. I don't recall Peter or Paul promoting themselves, their church, or even their own ministry. They didn't add to their own aura by giving themselves cool-sounding ministry names, or forming a nonprofit to shield their book royalties from taxes. Are we using the name of Jesus as a springboard for shameless self-promotion? Are we using our 'Christian' status as an excuse to garner personal fame by plastering our own name and face on a music CD? If we are truly and without compromise promoting the gospel of Christ, why do we so intricately link our own promotion to the message? What happened to the attitude of John the Baptist - "He [Jesus] must become greater, I must become less." Today's Christianity clearly carries a different message - "He [Jesus] is already great, I must become more." Today's Christianity is me-focused, not Jesus-focused. Christianity has become one big self-help club, where I must be encouraged, improved, healed, ministered to, and entertained, or I'll quit. The 'god' of convenience must not be angered by dragging out the service past noon. The 'lord' of my fleshly desires requires that Jesus' teachings impose no demands on my lifestyle. My desire for attention and recognition (which I equate with 'success') must not be hindered - everyone must recognize my ministry as the most successful. And if my CD reaches platinum status, visitors to my website will read all about it - but they will not read one word about Jesus, who can save their souls from eternal destruction. READER CHALLENGE: Try it. Go to the website of your favorite Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) artist and see how much effort is spent promoting the artist versus promoting Christ.
Since Jesus taught that we cannot serve two masters, I wonder if the promotion of ourselves and our organizations has a detrimental effect on the influence we could be having for the kingdom of God. I've found the power of God just isn't there when I canvass the local neighborhood promoting my local church and the programs it 'offers'. But when simply promoting Jesus, without any side agenda of promoting a man-made ministry or income-starved local church, then perhaps the power of God is really released. Perhaps only then do we experience what Jesus taught in Matthew 6 - that if we seek first the kingdom of God, our own needs will be met - and those of our church, family, radio station etc. Perhaps our self-promotion is indication that we don't really trust God to provide for our needs if we were to promote him. Frankly, I don't see this generation responding to our [Christianity's] shameless pandering of ourselves.
And what is it with today's obsession with 'ministries'? The only 'ministry' that Jesus started was Christianity. He didn't start, for example, Joel Osteen Ministries. So why are we spending our efforts promoting Joel Osteen Ministries, when we could be spending that time promoting Jesus, solamente and unadulterated? Isn't Jesus in a class by himself? Why must Jesus always share the pedestal with us, our particular ministry, our church, our church's intramural softball team, or whatever? What happens to our promotional efforts if Joel Osteen Ministries has an accounting scandal in the future? Is our labor in this world supposed to build faith in Jesus, or in Joel Osteen Ministries?
Jesus had a 'ministry' he received from the Father, but today's super-saints have 'ministries' (e.g. 'Joyce Meyer Ministries'). Apparently we can multitask better in the 21st century, so a single ministry isn't enough for the super-spiritual. We can minister and chew gum at the same time! In fact, if modern Christian practice served as the foundation of our faith, we'd conclude the original apostles could have been more effective if they had incorporated with nonprofit status, gotten a website, and held conferences and sold books, videos, CDs, and healing cloths to really rake in the dough.
Heck, these days it wouldn't be all that odd to start a ministry just to brand other ministries, 'empowering' modern Christians to be more effective with a cool logo and a catchy slogan. If the apostles could have taken advantage of such a ministry-naming ministry, they'd really experience the power of God on their lives, right? Peter could start 'Rooster Crow Ministries', and Thomas would be the head of 'See and Believe Ministries'. Stephen would lead 'Flying Rock Ministries', Paul would get 'Shipwrecked and Snakebitten Ministries' with its sister spin-off 'Letter Writing Empowerment Ministries'. And of course John would be CEO of 'Final Word Ministries'. But humor aside...
Perhaps we 21st century Christians have veered off of the straight and true path, and just as reform was needed in the early 1500s, we need another Martin Luther to question the status quo.
