Phil Cooke and Think Christian have recently covered a marketing stunt by Electronic Arts surrounding the release of a new game, Dante’s Infrerno. Here’s a bit of what happened:
The game publisher hired a group of nearly 20 people to stand outside the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles on Wednesday and appear to protest the upcoming EA game “Dante’s Inferno.” EA spokeswoman Holly Rockwood says the stunt was arranged by a viral marketing agency hired by EA.
This is a reckless, foolish stunt by Electronic Arts, and it makes them seem like very disingenuous [insert a derogatory name of choice]s. Stunts like this at the expense of others and that are so blatantly dishonest really irritate me.
But all that aside, as Christians, we set them up for this joke. I told the story of when Hooters came to the town of the church I attended here, and I think this is in the same vein. We’ve made ourselves the butt of the joke by being protesters rather than servants. And now, it’s a tough pill to swallow as we reap the fruits of that stance.
What is your church doing to distance itself from these sort of outlandish protests in favor of a more philanthropic, gospel-based views?
Andy Christensen
July 3, 2009
It’s so true that so often we are “protesters rather than servants”. Even if there is some sort of media that we do not agree with, rather than spend our times trying to get it banned, pulled off shelves, or out of theaters, we should be doing something to derive religious learning out of it. For example, books that have “questionable” content… there is no need to pull them from the bookstore and library shelves, but instead teach about them. Many aspects of my faith have been made stronger by exposing myself to somewhat “questionable” material… As long as a dialouge exists that can help people LEARN from such material. YES religious learning can happen from non-religious sources – either IN the source of OF the source itself. So, I agree… Stop protesting and start question/answering, and learning to USE what is IN this world for the purpose of God rather than trying to cast it out of the world altogether.
Hemant
July 4, 2009
To be fair, EA was mocking Fred Phelps and company, not all Christians.
But to respond to your comments, Christians are often in the news because they’re trying to butt into other peoples’ business: what we read, what we do in our bedrooms, what we do with our bodies. Instead of practicing their faith, they’re too busy forcing it upon other people (hell, many Christians will say that IS how they practice their faith).
That’s what modern Christianity seems to have become: A negative reaction to the rest of the world becoming more open and inclusive, not role models for the rest of us to follow.
Until Christians fight back against the leaders who have taken over their faith, that won’t change.
john ng
July 5, 2009
I disagree with your comments. What’s wrong with protesting? What’s wrong with being labeled the fanatic and crazy protester if what you stand up for is solid?
It’s true we get a bad rep as christians for shoving our beliefs on others, but at the same time, we don’t belong to this world, and as a result, we’re gonna be labeled no matter what we do. Protesting something that’s wrong in a tactful and civil way is also being a good citizen. And at least we’re standing up for truth.
the one at church
July 6, 2009
I second the second comment. They were satirizing the Westboro Baptist Church more than the church in general.
Joey
July 6, 2009
I thought this was crazy when I read it. So I posted it on the “Hardcore Christian Gamers” forum, of which I am a member. They closed the thread immediately due to the fact that someone had already posted it on there over a month ago. I love this site, but you should get your info a little quicker! 1up.com had it long ago.
Lawyer with a Gun
July 6, 2009
I think the problem is when the motive for the protest gets blurred. Everything that Jesus did, from healing the sick to cleaning out the temple, came out of His love for the lost. When a protest is for publicity, it fails. When we do not demonstrate love and humility in our protest, we fail as well. The worst kind of protest is when we become condemning and insulting, instead of remaining Christlike. It seems as if Jesus’s most harshest and cutting words were reserved for the religious groups of the day. We seem to have that a bit backwards sometimes. A protest should draw attention to Christ, not to ourselves or our behavior.
Lead and Love
July 6, 2009
First of all, when we refer to Christians, we need to remember that we’re not talking about all Christians, right? Because not all Christians protest and get on headlines. Actually, most don’t.
What we as Christians need to do is love and become a leader by becoming a servant as Jesus did. I believe that there is a time for everything, and there may be a time to protest once in a while. What matters is what the heart is focused on. I totally agree with Lawyer with a Gun.
“A protest should draw attention to Christ, not to ourselves or our behavior.” Well said!
Andy Wittwer
July 7, 2009
It’s a shame that we’re so often against things. I want to be a Christian FOR something. For people, for Christ, for love. The only protesting I see done in scripture is against those in the faith – see Hebrews 3:13 for an example.
Our church stays far away from any political campaigns – for or against anything. I can’t say we’re distancing from protests in favor of support … but I am glad that you added “philanthropic” in front of “gospel views.”