Just a few days ago President Obama held a press conference centered on the progress Congress is making on national health care reform policies. His hope is to translate these conversations into tangible reality by early this fall. For those of you living in countries in which basic health care is a given you can only imagine what many of us here in the United States are feeling at this crucial point in the health care dialogue. For those of you living in countries with far fewer resources you can also imagine our confusion over what it actually takes to translate wealth into positive, active forces for the greater good of humanity.
What brought some extra attention to this particular press conference were not its contents, but its context. President Obama deliberately planned its public airing for the American public so as not to conflict with a popular television program called “America’s Got Talent.” President Obama was quite savvy in working around a potential block to getting the latest information out regarding health care in America. But there was also justifiable concern expressed in many circles. Have we become a democracy in which we no longer wish to participate? What does it take to draw our attention away from our evening amusements? How much does an issue have to directly affect us before we do more than complain about ineffective government and rising taxes? When did the majority of population stop caring about the direction of the country? These are tough questions that can no longer be ignored.
Churches across the nation face similar questions each day. As declining membership statistics loom in almost every major denomination many congregations are focused on how best to attract new members. Fearful that traditional worship, fellowship and service programs aren’t appealing to the people of faith looking for church homes, marketing to this segment of the population has become a survival priority. Contemporary music redesigned fellowship gatherings and reshaped mission goals are attempts to keep the faithful faithful while welcoming new friends and family to the fold. In our ways we are working the Obama angels, doing our best to try to figure out how to get people’s attention and keep it long enough to convey this important message we are compelled to share.
Religious leaders during Jesus’ time knew these frustrations as well. While the Pharisees had the Law on their side, Jesus had the attention of the people focused directly on him. In one such instance Matthew 13:13-14 tells us that, “Jesus withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion for them and cured their sick.”
My guess is that Jesus had already done a full days work. He seems to have possessed a solid work ethic and a deep love for his work. This man we have also come to revere as our savior also knew he was filling a marketing niche specific to his gifts and talents. Can you imagine anyone else doing such a fantastic job in this role as teacher, preacher and healer? Neither can I. Jesus was likely looking forward to a nice meal, some time to relax with his disciples or some personal friends before laying down for a good night’s sleep.
So much for the best laid plans of anyone, even Jesus.
If your people are ready, willing and able to listen, and are literally chasing you down to hear more of what you have to say, what do you do? Jesus decided to act from a compassionate heart, the part of him that resonated with his people, continue speaking with them, identifying their needs and healing their ills.
What Jesus didn’t do was expect them to only pay attention to him when he spoke in the Temple, or on the Sabbath, or when it was convenient to his schedule. Jesus’ flexibility opened his message up for many people who would have never heard it under ordinary circumstances. Fringe people, Gentiles, women, the disabled were beneficiaries of Jesus’ willingness to work with a new set of rules.
But equally so, the disenfranchised sought Jesus out. Rather than complain that Jesus had already quit for the day, the crowd following him did not give up. They knew what he had to offer and kept after him until they got it. Jesus had the crowd’s attention, but the crowd also claimed Jesus’ attention. Complaining without a goal or purpose doesn’t get any of us very far. This crowd wasn’t seeking easy answers or an evening of pop entertainment, but spiritual direction resonant with the lives they were living.
What organized faith groups have in front of them is an opportunity to do more than provide entertainment and convenient hours of operation for overworked, weary souls stumbling their way home after a long day. Continuing to do business as usual, expecting people to wake up and smell our coffee brewing, doesn’t open new avenues through which the Holy Spirit can maneuver. Our stubbornness about holding onto our ways, whether they appear traditional or contemporary, only holds people further at bay and withholds the message we carry on God’s behalf.
Jesus’ best marketing lesson to us is to ask people what they would like from us. Ask yourself what you would like from your faith community. Then, start practicing what you dream. Be the church you want to belong to. Be the church others hope for themselves.
What brought some extra attention to this particular press conference were not its contents, but its context. President Obama deliberately planned its public airing for the American public so as not to conflict with a popular television program called “America’s Got Talent.” President Obama was quite savvy in working around a potential block to getting the latest information out regarding health care in America. But there was also justifiable concern expressed in many circles. Have we become a democracy in which we no longer wish to participate? What does it take to draw our attention away from our evening amusements? How much does an issue have to directly affect us before we do more than complain about ineffective government and rising taxes? When did the majority of population stop caring about the direction of the country? These are tough questions that can no longer be ignored.
Churches across the nation face similar questions each day. As declining membership statistics loom in almost every major denomination many congregations are focused on how best to attract new members. Fearful that traditional worship, fellowship and service programs aren’t appealing to the people of faith looking for church homes, marketing to this segment of the population has become a survival priority. Contemporary music redesigned fellowship gatherings and reshaped mission goals are attempts to keep the faithful faithful while welcoming new friends and family to the fold. In our ways we are working the Obama angels, doing our best to try to figure out how to get people’s attention and keep it long enough to convey this important message we are compelled to share.
Religious leaders during Jesus’ time knew these frustrations as well. While the Pharisees had the Law on their side, Jesus had the attention of the people focused directly on him. In one such instance Matthew 13:13-14 tells us that, “Jesus withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion for them and cured their sick.”
My guess is that Jesus had already done a full days work. He seems to have possessed a solid work ethic and a deep love for his work. This man we have also come to revere as our savior also knew he was filling a marketing niche specific to his gifts and talents. Can you imagine anyone else doing such a fantastic job in this role as teacher, preacher and healer? Neither can I. Jesus was likely looking forward to a nice meal, some time to relax with his disciples or some personal friends before laying down for a good night’s sleep.
So much for the best laid plans of anyone, even Jesus.
If your people are ready, willing and able to listen, and are literally chasing you down to hear more of what you have to say, what do you do? Jesus decided to act from a compassionate heart, the part of him that resonated with his people, continue speaking with them, identifying their needs and healing their ills.
What Jesus didn’t do was expect them to only pay attention to him when he spoke in the Temple, or on the Sabbath, or when it was convenient to his schedule. Jesus’ flexibility opened his message up for many people who would have never heard it under ordinary circumstances. Fringe people, Gentiles, women, the disabled were beneficiaries of Jesus’ willingness to work with a new set of rules.
But equally so, the disenfranchised sought Jesus out. Rather than complain that Jesus had already quit for the day, the crowd following him did not give up. They knew what he had to offer and kept after him until they got it. Jesus had the crowd’s attention, but the crowd also claimed Jesus’ attention. Complaining without a goal or purpose doesn’t get any of us very far. This crowd wasn’t seeking easy answers or an evening of pop entertainment, but spiritual direction resonant with the lives they were living.
What organized faith groups have in front of them is an opportunity to do more than provide entertainment and convenient hours of operation for overworked, weary souls stumbling their way home after a long day. Continuing to do business as usual, expecting people to wake up and smell our coffee brewing, doesn’t open new avenues through which the Holy Spirit can maneuver. Our stubbornness about holding onto our ways, whether they appear traditional or contemporary, only holds people further at bay and withholds the message we carry on God’s behalf.
Jesus’ best marketing lesson to us is to ask people what they would like from us. Ask yourself what you would like from your faith community. Then, start practicing what you dream. Be the church you want to belong to. Be the church others hope for themselves.
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