I'm a person of faith who has in recent years chosen to remove myself from the Christian bubble. We don't attend a traditional church anymore and don't make a point to choose Christian books, music or entertainment options any differently than we would pick a movie or a TV show from TiVo.
Why is this unique? Because the American evangelical experience has, for the most part, become quite insular. There's Christian radio, teen magazines, Web sites and television. (Some is done with moderate quality, some is downright embarassing in its adolescence.) If you are a "good" Christian now days, your circle of life is completely Christianized.
As a professional marketer, I was intrigued by a recent article about Christian "branding." Looking at it a little further, I saw that the primary quoted source for this little news snippet was a company that provided a one-stop source for churches who want a little marketing expertise. Was their work unique or cutting edge? Not really. But, if you're interested in keeping that bubble of protection (and don't want to hire marketing professionals in your own community -- See Matt. 5:13-16), then their services might be for you.
3 comments:
Consider that not all traditional chuches are in a Christian bubble and insulated from the rest of the world. I know our church is very much a part of our whole small local community and the world, reaching out together to help and share with others whenever other gods (self, possesions, intellect etc.) fail, as they eventualy always will. Sharing the simple news of the God who never fails and promises eternal life in heaven is priceless.
To be honest I can't agree that removing yourself from the "Christian bubble" makes you a better Christian. The Bible does tell us in Hebrews 10:24-25 "And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." (NKJV) If you forsake attending church you are basically telling God that you are more important than he is. The essence of being a Christian is in stated by Jesus in Matthew 22:37-39, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself." It is impossible to do either of these outside the confines of the church. I agree that there is a lot of churches that really don't do this but there are quite a few that do all they can to reach out to their communities by meeting their physical and spiritual needs in a first class way. Two places that really do this are shown on the following websites: www.joelosteen.com and www.thecity.org . These places exemplify Christian groups who live outside the bubble.
The point is, however, that traditional church, including the Lutheran, evangelical and charismatic models (even Mr. Osteen's!) have become irrelevant to today's society. In essence, their message is one of "us" (their version of what it means to be Christians) versus "them" (everybody else)attitude.
I'd be much more impressed with a Christian community that doesn't build a building and doesn't require people to "join" them but instead reaches out to their neighbors, coworkers and the world. One that puts those financial resources into something other than church staff salaries and expensive buildings (like Mr. Osteen's).
For me, I won't preach at you or quote scripture to tell you that I am better than you. Instead I privately assemble with a small group of believers who love God, worship him and believe in living *in* our community, giving our resources to real people in need and not financially supporting the professional clergy of the modern western church.
When you do this without any expectation of church membership, the 'world' is so much more open and willing to hear God's news because they know that your motivation isn't to "expand" a church or get their money into your programs.
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