We’ve talked before about rep’in your church with pride. But sometimes, the people in your church didn’t even do anything that bad. Other people are just too doggone picky.
Take this guy for example, who became angry that a lady put on some makeup at the gas station. Then, he saw her Lifechurch.tv license plate cover, and a hilarious voicemail ensued.
So what’s a church to do? Order people to keep their membership secret? Provide common courtesy classes? Send out a pre-offense apology letter to the community for anyone who might offend them?
Some marketing problems just don’t have good solutions.
dan
January 28, 2009
i just listened to the voice mail and the caller was 100% right. i’d be pissed, too, if i was in his shoes. the lady point-blank put herself above everyone else by holding up the line.
this kind of stuff is why i am a fan of 1 Jn. 3:18. or as Francis said (paraphrase), “preach without ceasing, use words if you have to.”
i don’t think a program, sermon, or series of sermons will remedy a person that doesn’t get what Jesus was saying when he talked about putting people ahead of your interests.
that’s just the frig’n Word Of God, man! either folks get it or they don’t.
plus, i’d like to say that christianese marketing materials are 99.9% always bad or wrong or in bad taste. take a listen to all star united’s “la la land” and that’s pretty much my sentiment.
if the christian faith is ever to be taken seriously again on a mass level – and it is not right now – then all the shine has to be wiped off, and an authentic Jesus must be presented. Jesus is not presented on a license plate cover, sticker, t-shirt, etc.
Hal
January 28, 2009
I agree with Dan wholeheartedly.
Howie Luvzus
January 28, 2009
I don’t know. If someone wants to find fault with Christians they probably will. However, we do need to focus more on looking out for the needs of others.
Juliet
January 28, 2009
Sadly, whether we like it or not, we’re going to be judged. If we’d gotten a phone call like that (and believe me, ours usually walk into the church and tell us to our faces), the best anyone can do is apologize and try to bridge the gap between the person’s feelings about church and who we are as people. (Human. Not God.)
Often, people who judge like that have been hurt by the church or Christians. As frustrating as the situation is, maybe it can be used as an opportunity to start a conversation.
Stephen
January 28, 2009
Seriously? I’m all for being polite and efficient. If there was a line, fine, be a little peeved. But surely we can all admit this joker is a little over-the-top. Sounds like he found some identifying marking and decided to whine about something. I agree, we will be judged no matter what. People love to point the finger and whine about everything and everyone but themselves. And YES, I’m just as annoyed as most people with the idiot drivers we have out there – Christian or not. With all that said, this dude’s got a little something pokin’ him in the wrong place. He spent more time looking for the LifeChurch number and calling them than he could have spent just moving to the next pump or station. Would he have called the DNC if she had a “Obama ’08” sticker on? Or the Dallas Cowboys if she had a “Go ‘Boys” sticker? NO. I’m all for putting our best foot forward. But there are just plenty of jokers out there who like to take advantage of the “nice, forgiving, no-backbone Christians” of the world. Seriously? Really?
Just make it easy, don’t put church stuff on your car. You are going to ALWAYS do something to make SOMEONE mad. Why give them somewhere to go with it?
I know, I know, I’m not thinking of “Lost Joe’s” feelings. WWJD = bend over. Both parties are responsible for this rant. ha ha. And with that, rant complete. Love you,CMS.
Juliet
January 29, 2009
All I’m saying, Stephen, is if we don’t at least take the time to be polite to the dude, he’s going to have more reason to start an all out harassment campaign against the church, and have more fire in his pants for the next time.
My swearingitis and speeding disease keeps me from having a Jesus fish or bumper sticker (though I did have the apology sticker from the Revolution church on for a while—till the Christians got too mad at me).
I’m just saying… don’t give the guy more reason to hate.