Post by Daniel on Jul 24, 2015 8:46:13 GMT -5
Peddling Jesus
by: Howard Green
How many of you have pulled into a car dealership to look at vehicles to possibly buy…..only to be accosted by an overly rambunctious salesperson? This guy has an over the top air of showmanship that quickly becomes evident, it’s more about the hype and emotion of the experience then about the product itself. In the end, after the vehicle is bought, after the hype and excitement wears off, only then do people count the cost of what they have bought…..or bought into.
Isn’t this the same when it comes to following Jesus? We are living in a day when there are many salesman, peddlers, and hucksters of Jesus and God’s word. They are selling the features and benefits of “the Christian life.” At the end of the day, I believe time will show that they are creating consumers….not making disciples. They are selling a “Christian lifestyle”……not pointing the way to the crucified life. Let’s look at the reality of what many people have bought into and compare that with the true message of the crucified life.
Here is one pastor’s perspective of the Christian life:
“Our goal is to create weekend experiences so compelling and helpful that even the most skeptical individuals in our community would walk away with every intention of returning the following week . . . with a friend!” – Andy Stanley, Deep & Wide
More pastoral perspective on the Christian life:
“You may think there is a lot wrong with you, but there is also a lot right with you.”
“Make church relevant.” “Give them something to be able to take away.” “I find today people are not looking for theology. There’s a place for it, but in your everyday life you need to know how to live.”
“Don’t just accept whatever comes your way in life. You were born to win; you were born for greatness; you were created to be a champion in life.” -Joel Osteen, Your Best Life Now.
Sound biblical teaching on living the true Christian life is getting harder and harder to find these days. On the contrary, there is a prevailing message of what I’ll call the, “have your cake & eat it too” version of the Christian life peddled by many and it is everywhere now. This is not a new issue…to be certain. Paul and the 1st century church dealt with the same issue….those who sell a lifestyle and profit from doing it, instead of a life hidden in Christ for the glory of God. Here is what Paul said:
2 Corinthians 2:17 For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.
Before I dig into this verse and the contextual meaning, I want to briefly cover why I believe peddling Jesus & the Christian life is so harmful.
Just looking at the two examples above, it becomes clear that these are nothing less then slick sales tactics used to bring big numbers into a building, fill pews, sell books, and replicate that process.
As I read the book by Andy Stanley -Deep & Wide, I noticed he wrote a lot about form, function, and, programs……. and very little about the gospel. His book focussed on making church the destination, not personal holiness or heaven.
continue reading
concerningthetimes.com/peddling-jesus/
by: Howard Green
How many of you have pulled into a car dealership to look at vehicles to possibly buy…..only to be accosted by an overly rambunctious salesperson? This guy has an over the top air of showmanship that quickly becomes evident, it’s more about the hype and emotion of the experience then about the product itself. In the end, after the vehicle is bought, after the hype and excitement wears off, only then do people count the cost of what they have bought…..or bought into.
Isn’t this the same when it comes to following Jesus? We are living in a day when there are many salesman, peddlers, and hucksters of Jesus and God’s word. They are selling the features and benefits of “the Christian life.” At the end of the day, I believe time will show that they are creating consumers….not making disciples. They are selling a “Christian lifestyle”……not pointing the way to the crucified life. Let’s look at the reality of what many people have bought into and compare that with the true message of the crucified life.
Here is one pastor’s perspective of the Christian life:
“Our goal is to create weekend experiences so compelling and helpful that even the most skeptical individuals in our community would walk away with every intention of returning the following week . . . with a friend!” – Andy Stanley, Deep & Wide
More pastoral perspective on the Christian life:
“You may think there is a lot wrong with you, but there is also a lot right with you.”
“Make church relevant.” “Give them something to be able to take away.” “I find today people are not looking for theology. There’s a place for it, but in your everyday life you need to know how to live.”
“Don’t just accept whatever comes your way in life. You were born to win; you were born for greatness; you were created to be a champion in life.” -Joel Osteen, Your Best Life Now.
Sound biblical teaching on living the true Christian life is getting harder and harder to find these days. On the contrary, there is a prevailing message of what I’ll call the, “have your cake & eat it too” version of the Christian life peddled by many and it is everywhere now. This is not a new issue…to be certain. Paul and the 1st century church dealt with the same issue….those who sell a lifestyle and profit from doing it, instead of a life hidden in Christ for the glory of God. Here is what Paul said:
2 Corinthians 2:17 For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.
Before I dig into this verse and the contextual meaning, I want to briefly cover why I believe peddling Jesus & the Christian life is so harmful.
Just looking at the two examples above, it becomes clear that these are nothing less then slick sales tactics used to bring big numbers into a building, fill pews, sell books, and replicate that process.
As I read the book by Andy Stanley -Deep & Wide, I noticed he wrote a lot about form, function, and, programs……. and very little about the gospel. His book focussed on making church the destination, not personal holiness or heaven.
continue reading
concerningthetimes.com/peddling-jesus/