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Dripping Springs Weekly Bulletins
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"Sell the Sizzle, not The Steak!"
In the world of advertising, things have evolved considerably in the last few years. There was a time when soap was something you bought so you could be clean. And shaving cream’s purpose was to aid in the process of shaving. A car was “dependable,” or “powerful.” Today, however, these same items are “sexy,” “youthful” or life altering. Restaurants now advertise the looks, smell, “sizzle” or sound of the food, not just the flavor. The Market Approach for sales mandates that, in order to meet the competition, you must “sell the sizzle, not the steak.”
An item in the Austin American-Statesman last week informs us that churches have now bought into that mindset, and are choosing or changing the names of their congregations “with marketing in mind.” We are told that people are bored with “Presbyterian,” “Christian,” “Baptist” and anything traditional. From the Philadelphia Inquirer, we read,
- “The increase in descriptive names reflects more than one important cultural shift, experts say. They are not only an indication of a growing consumer-oriented approach to religious life, but also a byproduct of a decreasing loyalty to denominations.
Now, a church is more likely to be called the “Word of Life” or “Hope of Glory,” in an effort to communicate a spirit. Others are called “Church of Broken Pieces,” “Vision of Love,” “Fire-baptized,” and “Mighty Warriors for Christ.”
No question about it, there is much competition for church members today, and some are quite willing to say, as did Riverbend Church preacher, Gerald Mann, “We’ll take them any way we can get them.” Maybe that works in getting warm bodies in the building, but it is not the way to honor the One who built and bought His church with His own blood (Acts 20:28, Matthew 16:18).
Day-care for children, entertainment, gourmet food, golf or fishing tournaments all may have their place in the lives and efforts of Christians, but Christ, who is the Head of His church (see Ephesians 1:22, Colossians 1:18) never intended for these to be the church’s drawing power. It is the Gospel that saves (Romans 1:16), but the Gospel takes a back seat when the “Market Approach” to church growth is the watchword of the day.
It is interesting to note that the Bible does not give us just one name for Christ’s church. A congregation was described in reference to its location—Corinth, Ephesus, Galatia, etc. “Churches of Christ” is found in Romans 16:16, referring to a plurality of local congregations. “Church of God” is used several times, again denoting possession and relationship.
It is certainly proper to use any biblical name, but my concern here is not just the name chosen for a church, but the mindset behind the choice of a name. In the entire article previously mentioned there is not one word about what the Bible called the church that Jesus built and purchased. Bible authority was not even mentioned, much less respected. The question was not, “What does the Bible say?” but “What works?” or “What brings in the people?”
When people are drawn to a church by food and entertainment they will have to be kept by food and entertainment, and the food will have to get better and the entertainment more stimulating. Boredom can set in even when men try hard to avoid it. When a person is converted to pizza and pool tables, he/she is not converted to Christ, and if one is not converted by the Gospel, he is not a Christian. It may not be the way you want it, but that is what Jesus said (See John 3:3-5, Ephesians 2:8-14).
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“Let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this name.”
“Advertising may be described as the science of arresting the human intelligence long enough to get money from it.”
“If advertisers spent as much money improving their product as they do on advertising, they wouldn’t have to advertise it.”
“Some to church repair; Not for the doctrine, but the music there.”
“Those who corrupt the public mind are as evil as those who steal from the public purse.”
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"The Due Order"
Most Bible readers remember the incident involving Uzzah and the ark of the covenant. Because Uzzah put his hand to the ark, God struck him dead, 2 Samuel 6:6-7. On the surface, this appears to be very stern punishment for what seemed a well-intentioned gesture, but it takes on special significance with a little research.
We learn that the tribe of Levi was to carry the ark (Deuteronomy 10:8). More precisely, the family of Kohath of the Levites (Numbers 3:30-31). They were to carry the ark only after the sons of Aaron had properly covered it, and God cautioned them not to touch the ark, warning of death to any who did (Numbers 4:15). The ark was to be carried by staves in rings on both sides of the ark (Exodus 25:14-15).
Reading the contexts of 2 Samuel 6:1-7 and 1 Chronicles 15:1-15, we find that not only had David and his men transported the ark in a manner other than the appointed way, but by persons other than those God had designated. They placed the ark on a new cart, instead of carrying it by the staves. They had ignored God's due order! They thought God's ordinance was unnecessary.
After the initial shock of God's decisive judgment had subsided and David took time to reflect on the matter, he said, "None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites; for them hath the Lord chosen to carry the ark of God…" (1 Chronicles 15:2). In verse 13, David gave explanation of God's anger upon them by saying, "We sought him not after the due order." Complete attention was then given to doing God's will, and verse 15 tells us that afterward "the Levites bore the ark of God upon their shoulders with the staves thereon, as Moses commanded according to the word of the Lord."
Everything went well after they decided to do what God had told them to do in the first place. And so it is today. "Blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it," Luke 11:28. But people get into serious trouble when they take God's Word lightly. No man has the right to supplant God's directives with their own opinions or desires! To do so is to be headed for trouble!
The plea we make to do things God's way is not out-moded! It is still the right way! It is the only way! We must seek God after "the due order," and people need to be warned that to do otherwise is to act in vain, Matthew 7:21 and Matthew 15:9. We please God by obeying Him!
Brethren, we must never allow truth to be sacrificed on the altar of compromise for any reason. We cannot afford to forget that there is a "due order," revealed to us on the pages of God's Book. It must not be taken lightly. It cost Uzzah his life, but it could cost us our soul! Remember this: "Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope," Romans 15:4.
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