Church Marketing
I read a great post on one of my favourite blogs (Stuff Christians Like) this morning. Jon, the author of the blog works in advertising, so his post today was clearly a personal pet peeve. But he gives the following quote:
But it’s hard to shrug it off when I read things like this from the Harley Davidson brand handbook: “There are three essential elements to the Harley-Davidson experience, which riders feel for the first time they ride: the joy of individualism, the chance to be free, to make choices; the commitment to adventure, the opportunity to change, to discover new experiences and emotions; the reward of fulfillment, an intense, personal and consuming bond with the bike that means a richer fuller life.”
Want a fun game? Switch out Harley Davidson with the word “God” and it reads like a church mission statement. “A consuming bond with God that means a richer fuller life.”
I think he makes a powerful point. Christ followers have the greatest message to offer a world looking for hope, love, fulfillment, purpose and passion. And yet, our primary marketing tool: Christianity has done such a poor job of it, that we have turned off more people than we’ve connected with.
Perhaps it’s time to rethink our marketing strategy. To show our society that you truly can be a follower of Jesus Christ AND actually be somewhat normal – at least as normal as the rest of culture!
What are you doing to market your faith? And before you flame me over using that term, read Jon’s post on the subject.
I would like to comment on this statement “To show our society that you truly can be a follower of Jesus Christ AND actually be somewhat normal – at least as normal as the rest of culture”!
While I agree that some Christians and Christ Followers do more damage to the Kingdom then good, and they need to “lighten up a bit”
I would not go as far as to say
“actually be somewhat normal – at least as normal as the rest of culture”
Look at the root word for normal , that being norm. Norm as defined as “Expectations of how a person or persons will behave in a given situation based on established protocols, rules of conduct or accepted social practices”.
While Christians and Christ Followers are to not be offensive, we are called to be distinctly different. We are called to “be in the World, but not of this World”. You might ask why is this so, because we are to follow a separate set of norms, the Holly Bible. Therefore we can never, nor should we ever be “normal as the rest of culture”
Christ did not follow societal norms, so this made him abnormal? No it made him sinless.
The problem I see with far too many within the Christian culture is that they are neither of the world nor in it. They have a separate culture that simply is unable to relate to those around them. I believe we should be able to sit with a neighbour over a drink and talk about everything and nothing and be able to relate to them at that level. I should be able to have a conversation with someone about motorcycles without feeling the need to “push” Jesus on them.
I would agree with you on those points, Rob. The only thing is
when you say “sit with a neighbor over a drink” is that a drink of alcohol or Star Bucks coffee? Because either may cause a weaker brother to stumble lol. While you may be right that “far too many within the Christian culture is that they are neither of the world nor in it”, we need to be very careful not to lead people to think that the Christian culture is made up of a majority of people like this.
I agree Rob – too many ‘Christians’ are judgemental and self righteous that its rather distasteful and makes the word christian a sad joke. This ‘normal’ or ‘norm’ of just leading a good simple life and sharing a wine/beer coffee whatever with friends is so much more warming and inviting to the church. We are called to follow Him…..not to point fingers at those standing on the sides or that share a different philosophy. We could actually make ‘christian’ a positive word.
GOT IT!
Jesus is my Homeboy t-shirts!!!
LOL