Church: Jesus does not care

Posted on October 20, 2010
Viewed 1481 times
(52) comments

Another day, another church marketing campaign. This one, by a church in Mansfield, includes a sign that simply says JesusDoesntCare.com. It seems that even if Jesus doesn't care... some people in the community do; and they're not taking too kindly to the churches newest sign campaign.

According to the pastor: “We created something quite compelling, didn't we?”

Here's the video from the local NBC affiliate:

I'm thinking of starting a new business... ordering domain names that would be great for this kind of marketing campaigns, then selling them to churches. Whatdaya think?

Any suggestions for domain names I should snatch up?

Maybe something like:

JesusThinksYoureUgly.com

BoycottHell.com

IfYoureHappyAndYouKnowItComeToChurch.com

Todd

SOURCE: NBCActionNews.com

Comments

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Christopher Fontenot on Fri, October 22, 2010

CS,

You really need to get with the times….your ideas for reaching the lost are as old as the Bible and you KNOW those will never work in this culture and society. You need to get hip like the Worship Pastor in your example.

The more I read of the posts by the defenders of “marketing Christianity,” the more I am convinced that the Church in America has forgotten its first love.
Peter Hamm on Fri, October 22, 2010

Ugh… we’re going down this road… again…
Leonard on Fri, October 22, 2010

CS, apology accepted.
Christopher Fontenot on Fri, October 22, 2010

Peter,

Should I take offense to that since being offended is next to Godliness or proves my piety. Are you judging my heart or motives? Just curious…
Peter Hamm on Fri, October 22, 2010

CLASSIC re-direct, Christopher. Once again you lump ALL pastors in with one example, you don’t actually address the one example given in any way, shape or form, in fact, you don’t discuss the content of the story Todd posted at all… You simply take your agenda and apply it wholesale to what you have read. At least CS often (if not most of the time) approaches these stories with humility and even grace.

You judge the church in general (including me, I assume) by saying we have all lost our first love, and then you accuse me of judging you. You don’t know me from Adam, nor do you know enough people in “the Church in America” well enough to judge their motives. Shame on you.

Christopher, gimme a break… nobody needs to judge you, you have made your positions and intentions painfully clear in these pages. No question that you love God and His people and His mission in the world, but you don’t have any time for or appreciation of anybody who does ministry different from you, it seems.

MMI has always, since long before you came around these parts, a place for some great discussion of ministry methods in the 21st century, but you have successfully turned it into a place for Christopher Fontenot to judge and mis-judge the motives and dedication to the Gospel of anybody who doesn’t do ministry in the same way as you do. Congratulations.

I will freely admit that I do pray and hope that you just go away. There is a place for intelligent discussion and debate about things and methods we disagree with. That’s not what you bring. You bring, imho, judgmentalism, condemnation, and ludicrous stone-throwing… Sorry if I appear harsh, but it’s way past time somebody flatly told you that they had no appreciation for anything you bring to the discussion here.
Leonard on Fri, October 22, 2010

CF, ditto from Peter.
Todd Rhoades on Fri, October 22, 2010

Amen, Peter.

Todd
Peter Hamm on Fri, October 22, 2010

Thank you guys, I didn’t want to be harsh, but somebody has to, I guess… May as well be me…
Leonard on Fri, October 22, 2010

Back to the topic,

I think the idea behind the campaign is awesome, its execution is what I struggle with. I would have added more to the sign… a few phrases that drive the point home.
Peter Hamm on Fri, October 22, 2010

Well, Leonard, with regard to marketing, sometimes marketing is merely to create buzz, and then the buzz makes people curious, maybe even curious enough to check out the web site. And sometimes what you leave out is just as important as what you leave in.

Here’s an example. A few years ago, for our “Church Without Walls” yearly event, we made t-shirts that said “I don’t go to church” on the front, and on the back, “I am the church”. there was also a web address to explain to anybody who was curious on the back. A bit provocative, especially if you’re wearing a vest or jacket and they can’t see the back.

One of the brighter minds on my creative team said he thought we should have left off the back, so the shirt only said “I don’t go to church”. It was too late since the shirts were already out there, but I kinda agreed.

I suspect that I would have left off the “explanation” and that you would have left it on… perhaps… but I also suspect both would have been effective. We have, in the 3 year since that appeared (we just did a VERY successful 4th “Church Without Walls” weekend), gotten a reputation in the community, well-deserved imho, as the church that puts flesh on its faith and serves and loves in Jesus’ name, not just among other churches, but among the non-churched…

I recall a few movie poster campaigns where some well-known character, or symbol, was used on a movie poster without even the name of the film… I think there is something to that kind of marketing.

It’s a little like having a sermon or series that tackles tough questions. You don’t want to hand out a sheet with the answers to those tough questions (assuming you have them). It takes away from the intrigue and attention that you might generate for what might be a very important message.
A. Amos Love on Sat, October 23, 2010

Leonard

It�s nobel of you to defend �Pastors� and acknowledge their hard work.
I spend time ministering to �Pastors� who �Can�t do it anymore.� Burnout… Depression…
When they realize they had believed a lie… The healing begins.

When you �believe� the lie - you start to die…

Most were told they were special, clergy class, leaders, shepherds, teachers.

Pro 29:5 A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet.

The trap had been set.
The bait - Power, Profit, Prestige, Honor, Glory, Reputation, Recognition.
All those things that comes with the �Title� and �Position� of **Today�s** �Pastor/Leader.�
All those things that Jesus spoke against. Yes?
All those things that become �Idols� of the heart. Ezek 14:1-11.

In Mat 23:10, Jesus taught �His disciples� NOT to be called �Master/Leader.�
For you have �ONE� �Master/Leader� the Christ.
All �Disciples of Christ� called themselves �Servants.� NONE �Leaders.� Hmmm?

In my experience…

�Titles� become �Idols.�
�Pastors� become Masters.�

When you live the lie - you slowly die - day by day…

You write…
�Almost 600k pastors in this country,�

Didn�t you ever wonder why, in the Bible,
There is NOT one person with the �Title� and �Position� of **Today�s** �Pastor/Leader?�

Can you name one congregation, in the Bible,
�Led� by someone with the �Title�and �Position� of �Pastor/Leader?�

And every �Pastor/leader� I�ve met - also had the �Title� �Reverend.� Oy Vey!!! :-(

Can you name one person, in the Bible, called �Pastor� or �Reverend?�

And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold:
them also I must bring, and they shall �hear My voice;�
and there shall be �ONE� fold, and �ONE� shepherd.
John 10:16

One Fold � One Shepherd � One Voice.

{{{{{{ Jesus }}}}}}
Peter Hamm on Sat, October 23, 2010

Amos,

Expertly done! You have managed to take your pet agenda item (which, in the light of the pastoral epistles and the statement in Ephesians 4 about what pastors are given to the church for, is totally unbiblical and incorrect on every level) and insert it into a discussion that has absolutely nothing to do with it. Bravo!

i wonder which I can find more biblical support for, the title of pastor, or the title of counselor that you bear?

We’ve heard your argument before… again and again… it’s just as unbiblical now as it was then. Yes, there are abuses. Yes, there are “problems” (as there were in the early church from the very beginning). But your argument against all pastors is quite unsupportable. Can we move on? At the risk of “feeding the troll”... I ask… Do you have anything to actually add to the discussion on this particular topic?

Peter
A. Amos Love on Sat, October 23, 2010

Peter - Hi

Always nice to hear from you. I pray you�re doing well.

Are you, lovingly, calling me a Troll? Seems, Trolls are ugly and a myth. :-(

And remember, �life and truth� - as we se it - is often a myth.

Sometimes �life and truth� is a mythtery.

Sometimes �life and truth� is a mythconception.

Sometimes �life and truth� - as we se it - is a mythtake.

May the Lord bless you in your search for �life and truth� - Jesus…
A. Amos Love on Sat, October 23, 2010

Peter

Hmmm? Something to add?

I think you, most, would agree - what is called �The Church� today is broken.
That�s why you�re always trying to fix it with 21st century wisdom. Oy vey!
And some even think this sign (ugh) is worthy - even of discussion. Maybe?

How about this take on - taking �His Name,� �the name of the Lord� in vain?
And, Those who are called by �His Name?� Humbling themselves?
And, turning from their wicked ways? So God can heal our land? Hmmm?

If my people, **which are called by my name,** shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
2Chronicles 7:14

Isn�t God asking those **which are called by my name,**
to humble themselves? Turn from their wicked ways?

Who is called - by God�s name - today?
Isn�t it today�s �Pastor/Shepherd/Reverend/Leader/Teacher?

1 - **Shepherd** - Isn�t Jesus the only �ONE� with that �Title� in the NT?
Isn�t Jesus the **Shepherd** and Bishop of my soul? NOT a man? 1 Pet 2:25
Isn�t Jesus the good **Shepherd?** John 10:14.

Can you name one person, in the Bible, with the �Title� Shepherd? Hmmm?

If you call your self a �Shepherd� are you �taking �His Name,� in vain?�

And I must have missed the verse that called them �Pastoral Epistles.�
Where does it call them �Pastoral Epistles?� I mean - In the Bible?

2 - **Reverend** - Isn�t only God worthy of - �Reverend� is his name?

He sent redemption unto his people: he has commanded
his covenant for ever: holy and **reverend is his name.**
Psalm 111:9

Does anyone have the �Title� Reverend - in the Bible? My… My… Tsk… Tsk…

If you�re called, or are a �Reverend� are you �taking �His Name,� in vain?�

3 - **Leader** - Seems Jesus wants to be the �ONE� Leader. Mat 23:10.

The Interlinear Bible -
Nor be called leaders, for �ONE� is your leader the Christ.

Phillips Modern English -
you must not let people call you leaders, you have only �ONE� leader, Christ.

Today’s English Version -
nor should you be called leader. your �ONE� and only leader is the Messiah.

Jesus told **His disciples** NOT to be called **leaders** and NONE did.
�ALL��His Disciples� were cool, obedient and servants. Thank you Jesus.

If you call your self a �Leader� are you �taking �His Name,� in vain?�

4 - **Teacher** Seems Jesus wants to be the �ONE� �Teacher.�

Jesus taught in John 6:45…
It is written in the prophets, And they shall be �ALL� taught of God.

Jesus taught �His Disciples in Mat 23:8 RSV ...
But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have �ONE� teacher,
and you are �ALL� brethren.

Jesus told **His disciples** NOT to be called **Teachers** and NONE did.
�ALL��His Disciples� were cool, obedient and servants. Thank you Jesus.

If you call your self a �Teacher� are you �taking �His Name,� in vain?�

...........

If my people, **which are called by my name,** shall humble themselves…

One way to humble ourselves is to lay down �ALL� �Titles.�
Lay down all - Power, Profit, Prestige, Honor, Glory, Recognition, Reputation…

If that �Title� is not an �Idol� we can lay it down…
And become a �Disciple of Christ.� A servant. A brethren.

And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold:
them also I must bring, and they shall �hear My voice;�
and there shall be �ONE� fold, and �ONE� shepherd.
John 10:16

One Fold � One Shepherd � One Voice.

{{{{{{ Jesus }}}}}}
Leonard on Sat, October 23, 2010

Peter, don’t feed em