MARKETING RELIGION

Competition among differing religious groups has grown so intense that new schemes to draw the crowds and keep them are being devised constantly. George Barna has written a book entitled, "Marketing the Church." In it he says, "The goal of marketing is to make both the producer and the consumer satisfied, so anything which tends to leave the 'consumer' unsatisfied must be jettisoned." This is the concept that drives most churches today, even some known as "churches of Christ." Churches bent on having large numbers and "serving the whole man and his felt needs" work with great fervor to maintain programs of worship and activity that will keep the members satisfied. Following the example of the supermarkets they advertize their weekly "specials."

One church, the Magnolia church of Christ, in Florence, Ala., is currently conducting a "Friends and Neighbors" session during which denominational preachers, politicians, educators, etc. are invited to speak. A local Baptist church advertised on the sign in front of their building that a singing group would entertain at one of their services. Churches have their "family centers," bingo parties, gymnasiums, "fellowship halls," with coffee and doughnuts and on and on and on it goes. When members grow tired of these things, they will be jettisoned and new attractions will be offered.

How sad that churches are spoken of as being "user friendly." In the church man is to bring glory and honor to God, not to self, Eph.3:21. Jesus taught, "God is a spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth," Jn.4:24. God must be the object of our worship. He should be the One we strive to please, as we worship, not self. Paul rightly said, "For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men,I should not be the servant of Christ," Gal.1:10.

When a church begins to "market" religion to satisfy the likes and dislikes of men, of necessity, it must sacrifice many of the fundamentals of "the faith which was once delivered to the saints," Jude 3. Positive preaching on righteousness, temperance and the judgment to come causes many to feel uncomfortable and dissatisfied. The gospel must be watered down so as not to offend. The seed of the kingdom, which is the word of God, Lk.8:11, must be sugar-coated lest some be left with a bitter taste in their mouths. It is of no concern to many that Paul instructed Timothy, "Preach the word; reprove rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine," 2 Tim.4:2. Churches of today count among their "faithful" lesbians, homosexuals, adulterers and others simply because they are afraid they will lose members and money if they preach Bible truth on these matters.