Payola and Paid Sermons Hit the Evangelical Church
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Thu, December 08, 2005
- Viewed 155
- (35) comments so far
The big Narnia movie hits later this week; and my family and I are really excited about it. My wife has been reading The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe aloud to our children this week before we go see the move. And I have to admit; the previews look great.
But here's something that I've heard next to nothing about. It comes from the Philadelphia Inquirer:
Attention, pastors: You have just four weeks remaining to work a lion, a witch or a wardrobe into your next sermon.
Walt Disney Pictures is so eager for churches to turn out audiences for The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, which opens Friday, that it's offering a free trip to London - and $1,000 cash - to the winner of its big promotional sermon contest.
The only catch is that the sermons must mention Narnia, based on the hugely popular children's books about four British children who walk through an uncle's magic armoire into an enchanted kingdom.
Sermo-mercials are just one of the ways promoters hired by Disney and its production partner, Walden Media, are peddling Lion as a kind of Christian-themed Harry Potter.
So... mention 'The Chronicles of Narnia' in your sermon and you could win a trip (according to SermonCentral.com:
Take the person of your choice to London and Oxford, England. Take a tour of the home of C.S. Lewis in Headington Quarry. Walk the streets of Oxford and visit the campus of Oxford University where the author taught. Visit Holy Trinity Church where he worshipped...All contributors who submit a qualifying Narnia-related sermon transcript or sermon outline will be automatically entered to win a free trip to London, England – The Land of C.S. Lewis, along with $1,000 spending money.
Huh?! As a pastor, you could win $1000 and a trip to England just for mentioning a Disney film from your pulpit?
I can't believe that I've not heard anything more on this anywhere but in the Philly paper and one short blog post over at CTI.
From my broadcasting background, this whole idea reminds me of the old payola scandle. Payola is the illegal practice of record companies paying money for the broadcast of certain songs on the radio without on-air disclosure that the station is being paid for playing the song. Now, I realize it isn't exactly the same thing; but I think it's a bad idea.
There are really three questions that this brings up for me:
1. Who really is sponsoring this 'contest'? It's unclear whether this is really being sponsored by Disney itself; or whether it's just the brainchild of SermonCentral.com and Outreach. I know Scott Evans, the owner of Outreach and SermonCentral; and he's a great guy. I don't really know that it makes any difference in this case which company is behind the promotion... giving any pastor a payoff (or a potential payoff) for mentioning a commercial product during a sermon, to me, at the very least, seems like we may be crossing a line we shouldn't cross.
2. What's the next logical step? Who will be the next company to bribe pastors into mentioning their product on-line? With 300,000+ churches in the United States, this could actually become big business. I'm just afraid this sets a precident I'm uncomfortable with.
3. What will the winning pastor say when he takes his trip to London? Will he fess up that he won a contest because he mentioned Narnia in him sermons? And will anyone have a problem from his/her congregation have a problem with this?
The only other place this is mentioned that I can find is over at Christianity Today; and the comments there, are probably 80% in favor of the contest. [I'm thinking... where do you get your visitors? I'm always standing up for things here against people who are against things!:)] Some mention the tremendous amount of marketing done by The Passion of the Christ; or even more overtly Christian marketing as done by 40 days of purpose. I, for one, get two or three Willow Creek Association things in my mailbox every week.
But no one has, to my knowledge, ever offered a paid incentive to mention their product in my church; to sing their song; etc. Am I wrong?
Am I out in left field here? Anyone have any insight?
(Heck... maybe I should adapt that strategy for the MMI Blog. My budget's not nearly as big as Disney's... but I could probably offer you five bucks (along with a non-expense paid trip to the building where I attended elementary school in Kunkle, Ohio) if you mention the MMI blog from your pulpit. Any takers?!)
Todd
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Bart on Thu, December 08, 2005
Awful, terrible. As I sit here drinking my diet Coke, working at my Dell computor, as I eat the McDonalds happy meal that I just picked up in my Ford car, I can’t imagine promoing things from the pulpit. Seriously though, any pastor that intentionally mentions a product with the motive being to win a prize shouldn’t be behind a pulpit.
BeHim on Thu, December 08, 2005
First and foremost… I already have my tickets… lol.
There’s money behind the pulpit (which is what church and state is REALLY about) and Mel Gibson proved that. Disney just wants their piece of the big dollar pie and they purchased the rights to the movie in hopes to get a big chunk of that pie this Christmas season and hope pastors will help them get it.
They should have thought about youth pastors instead of senior pastors though… lol. from a purely “marketing” point of view.
At any rate, it’s one form of many to fleece the flock in the name of the Lord (which to me is like taking the Lord’s name in vain).
Todd Rhoades on Thu, December 08, 2005
Fleece the flock? Such devisive words.
I’m seeing the movie; and don’t feel fleeced. Didn’t by Mel Gibson either.
Nah… it’s a great business decision. And, quite frankly, I applaud Disney for getting back to their roots with a good family-friendly movie. I wish there were more movies coming out like Narnia that I could take my family to.
But product payment/endorsements in sermons is still, as far as I’m concerned, over the line.
Todd
brian_m on Thu, December 08, 2005
This is almost as bad as churches giving away gas to drive attendance up http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/smile.gif
Evangelist Jeff on Thu, December 08, 2005
Brian, cute joke. You had me rolling dude. I am still laughing. I am not insulting you man, just be careful of opening up that can of worms buddy.
Franklin Reeves on Thu, December 08, 2005
Todd,
I am in agreement with you over this.
Now if they had decided, without telling anyone, to pick the best sermon that incorproated Narnia for an after the fact award, it might have been different. Still not sure on that have not thought it thru.
However did not take much thinking to notice the obvious problems with this one. I know(hope) they are not intending them a bribe, but it still comes off that way.
Ben E. on Thu, December 08, 2005
Wait a minute…?
Does anyone remember Jim Turney? “Most Relevant Pastor” in America?
STARBUCKS double shot vanilla latte “he brings with him to the pulpit!?!”
The iPOD earbuds draped around his neck…hmmmm!?! And, they met at the….HILTON?
Todd, I think this Narnia thing is just the tip of the iceberg! I think you should have Bernie do a financial background check while someone looks into the destination of “Pastor” Turney’s last vacation AND the vacations of his board of elders or deacons.
This whole Christmas thing is deception enough…I just don’t like!
Ben E
Evangelist Jeff on Thu, December 08, 2005
Todd, I don’t know about this one. I do not know much about this seris although I have read “The Screwtape Letters & Mere Christianity.” Something about this whole seris leaves me uneasy like Harry Potter does.
Bernie Dehler on Thu, December 08, 2005
Ben E says:
“I think you should have Bernie do a financial background check while someone looks into the destination of “Pastor” Turney’s last vacation AND the vacations of his board of elders or deacons.”
Nothing to check. Disney isn’t a nonprofit claiming to be doing’s God’s work, as [others do]… inserted by Todd… sorry Bernie… let’s not make this a post about #($^ ^)(*&)
Also Disney is not asking for donations to accomplish God’s work.
By the way, organizations formed as a “Church” don’t disclose their detailed financials, so it’s impossible to find out how much a pastor makes. ...Bernie
Brian La Croix on Thu, December 08, 2005
EJ,
Get the series at your local Christian bookstore. It’s awesome.
I have not read the HP books, but the Lewis books make it very clear that Aslan is the foundation of the society. Aslan is the Christ-figure in the books.
I don’t agree with all of the theology in the books, but I also have to remember they are fiction, and were written for one of his nieces (I think…) who was about 8 when the first one came out.
Anyway, about the contest:
I hadn’t read all the stuff, but SermonCentral is one of my favorite places, because I can find all the sermons I want to borrow about how great Rick Warren and seeker-sensitive mega-churces are (or are not…)
NOTE TO TODD: This is a joke! Don’t ban me! See the smilies => http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/smile.gif http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/smile.gif http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/smile.gif http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/smile.gif http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/smile.gif
I haven’t given it enough thought to really form an opinion.
Brian
Peter Hamm on Thu, December 08, 2005
For those not in the know… C.S. Lewis didn’t intend for Aslan to be “Christ-like”, He intended Aslan to BE Christ!
Peter
Evangelist Jeff on Thu, December 08, 2005
If he intended for him to be Christ. Isn’t that getting pretty boarder line, or crossing it.
I am not judging at all. When I read the Screwtape letters I had to read it two times before it started making any sense at all. I felt like I was reliving the 80’s again watching that movie “The Wall, with Pink Floyd.” Know what I mean vern.
Todd Rhoades on Thu, December 08, 2005
This isn’t a CS Lewis debate, guys. Maybe read the book (or watch the movie) Jeff; then you’ll be in a little better position to debate.
But that’s not what this post was about.
Todd
Ben E. on Thu, December 08, 2005
While I’m not sure about bribes or endorsements, I will give a clue to the next step.
With the phenomenal advances in digital effects AND the proven riches of the “church market,” watch for the re-emergance of the “Theo-Fiction” books loaded with special effects opportunities. LaHayes, “Left Behind” series. (or is that an encyclopedia set by now?)
Frank Peretti’s works. Especially “This Present Darkness.” It was already discussed as a movie several years ago but the technology wasn’t up to speed. WASN’T up to speed…
These books were hugely popular and the market for this type of entertainment is HOT! This in return will create a secondary enterprise…I’ll ask you, how much “companion” material has been produced with “The Passion?” How much has been produced with “The Lord of the Rings?” How much either has been or, is being generated for this new production of “The Chronicals of Narnia?” Do you see where I’m going?
What is the possibility that right now, producers (Christian & Secular alike) are trying to secure the rights to all these books and more? How many writers (Christian & Secular) are being lined up to provide the “study materials” for these works?
To me, THAT’S the bribe. It’s not a direct approach, it will be a marketing wave that everyone will want to ride. Some will be “bribed” by what they see as an opportunity to use this media to “reach more people with Christ.” Others, it’s increased cash flow.
For this and other prophetic materials & utterances, please send cash or money orders to….
Ben E
QUICK DISCLAIMERS: I’m not arguing the theology of Mr. LaHaye or the “Left Behind,” series. Nor. Mr. Peretti and his books. Don’t go there! (I’m trying Todd!)
I like CS Lewis’ works but neither am I arguing for or against him.
Personally, I love to read them as he wrote them, not in the “edited for American’s” version. Yes, E. Jeff, they are a more challenging read. But it will sharpen your reading comprehension skills. I highly recommend “Suprised By Joy,” which is a CS Lewis autobiography.
Peter Hamm on Thu, December 08, 2005
Here’s the other bribe…
These movie “events” are being presented as “opportunities for evangelism”… How ‘bout our LIVES being opportunities for evangelism. Don’t get me wrong. If someone sees “Passion” or “Narnia” and it points them towards faith in Christ, I think that’s a great thing, but let’s not leave it up to Walden Media (Disney is only distributing this film, they didn’t make it, from what I understand, Walden did…) to do our work for us… although I’m perfectly cool with our evangelism and pre-E work being supported by cultural events like this.
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