Advertising & Marketing in the Kingdom

Let me give a little history before we delve into our subject, for advertising is certainly nothing new. Many have sought to make others aware of what they have to offer for a long time, for example: there is archeological evidence of parchment and signs in Ancient Egypt describing wares. Yet it wasn’t until the advent of the printing press in the 15th Century that men could begin to advertise in earnest. By the 1800s, newspaper advertising was coming into its own as a powerful medium of marketing. Furthermore, with the invention of radio in 1896 and television in 1939, the airwaves opened a whole new avenue to the masses. No one could have predicted the powerful effect that television was going to have on marketing, though the Second World War delayed it’s appeal, by 1949 everyone wanted a television set. It was not long before TV executives saw the advertising potential, and the modern commercial was born; we have been inundated ever since. Then, of course, everything was taken to the next level with the invention of the internet. Just as television had opened up new channels for advertising, the internet on mobile devices put an unending opportunity for promotion in everyone's pocket.

Now what does all this have to do with the Kingdom? Plenty, I’m afraid. Throughout the last hundred years, many Christian workers saw inventions such as: radio, TV and internet as a means to further communicate the gospel. It is true that these mediums are simply tools, however the Church has moved from their use as simple tools to adopting the world’s own way of communication. Today, much of the world of commercialism mindset has inevitably found its way within the Church. I do believe that we should use our talents and artistic abilities to convey God’s message; God is a God of creativity, but the craftiness has to stay in the devil’s hands.

I want to be very clear, I am in no way saying that the use of such means of dissemination is wrong, they can be an efficient and effective way to share where we are located, when we meet and what it is that we are proclaiming. Nonetheless, there is a sharp difference between notification and manipulation; we are so used to the pervasive amount of advertising flooding our senses that I fear we can no longer discern between the two. In our zeal to get our message out we stoop to using cunning and enticing commercials and deceptive designs. The very opposite of Paul’s message to the Corinthians:

“And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.” I Corinthians 2:4 NKJV

Paul did not rely on fancy words or giant screens filled with multimedia presentations. His power was not with persuasive words but with the presence of Jesus and reliance on the Holy Spirit. Even many sincere workers are using the world’s ways to try and accomplish God’s ends. The buying and selling of Jesus must stop. Our modern day temples are filled with coffee houses and book stores. After our canned worship, much of which looks like it was orchestrated in Hollywood, there is always a break before the Word for commercials. The congregation is informed about activities they can engage in, clubs they can sign up for, and then there is an appeal for money that many times would put Vegas to shame. There is no place for advertising and marketing in the Kingdom. Buying and selling is not to be engaged in.

Obviously, in the world we have to work to receive wages, we buy and sell to acquire enough goods to continue on in our pilgrimage. We are in the world but not of it, we partake of the marketplace but we are never to take the marketplace in the Church (John 17:16). It is high time for Jesus to once again clean out the marketplace from the house of God. In that premeditated moment, Jesus made a scourge, went into His father’s house, turned over the tables of the moneychangers and forcible drove them out and reminded us all down through the ages that it is written “My house shall be called a house of prayer but you have made it a den of thieves” (Matthew 21:13). These are Jesus’ words not mine: a den of thieves. How did the house of God go from a place of prayer, fellowship and communion to being a den of thieves? It didn’t happen overnight, it was likely an incremental change, just as it is today. Convenience and compromise pave the way. Many were coming to the temple to offer their sacrifices and I’m sure that some needed to purchase their turtledoves, or some oil etc. and as they were coming from regions outside of Jerusalem. Travelers would have had to exchange their money, something that would have been done in the marketplace. These were natural and necessary steps to prepare the sacrifice so it could be presented in a sanctified sanctuary. So how did they wind up with the marketplace and money changers in the temple? Once again, through supplemental convenience and compromise. I’m sure the market stalls kept moving closer and closer to the temple until someone finally suggested “Why don’t you just move the stalls inside...what could be more convenient?” What could be more defiling? Unfortunately, the Church today is plagued by similar compromise, convenience and commercialism. For instance, we have multiple morning services: what may have started out as a necessity for overcrowding, has now simply become a matter of convenience. Instead of gathering together as a local body, people choose which service is convenient for them. Many churches even have Saturday meetings instead of Sunday gatherings. People can’t be bothered to get up on Sunday and worship God. Many gatherings have gone from a simple family, organically meeting and praying together around the Lord Jesus, to just getting up and going to service. Are we relying too much on our own ability to get attendance up and money raised? I’ve run into too many young missionaries who have been coached on their presentations for raising money, rather than being inspired by faith. I know there are those who will say that I just don’t understand, that the Church needs money to function. I do understand, that’s the problem. I was a successful business man in the city of Houston before I gave it up to follow Jesus, I understand it all too well that's why it has to stay in the hands of Jesus indefinitely. Bring all your stores into the storehouse and there will be sustenance for God’s people and the poor (Malachi 3:10). It is simple: by an act of faith we give, then we trust. We don’t coerce, we don’t market, we don’t advertise, we do not manipulate. We are overwhelmed and in some cases addicted to advertising, so much so that we cannot see the difference. It is the preacher's responsibility to allow the Holy Spirit to search his heart, right down to his bootstraps, before he speaks. Especially when it comes to money. The modern Church has erected such a system for budgets, buildings, missions and outreach that it takes courage to dismantle it. To get back to Jesus’ words when he sent out the seventy: “Take nothing for the journey, neither staffs nor bag nor bread nor money; and do not have two tunics apiece” (Luke 9:3). These systems are so entrenched, they’ve become so a part of American Christianity, that it will take a new breed of men willing to believe, to suffer loss and to suffer long. We need the Spirit of God to drive the marketers out and get back to a house of prayer.

F.A.T.