Ch__ch

Sometimes I wonder what good all our advertising does (and by us I mean local churches in particular). My favorite, and by favorite I mean least favorite, is the pithy sayings churches put on their old school billboards in front of the church. Things like, "ch__ch, what's missing?" or "everyone is welcome." Well that's nice, but does anyone who doesn't go to that church care? At best maybe it strikes some sentimental chord with someone who went to a church that had cheezy sayings when they were growing up.

Even more advanced modes of advertising on TV or radio seem kind of pointless to me. I heard one on the radio recently promoting a concert at a church and the last line was, "This will be a life-changing night." That's like I Can't Believe It's Not Butter saying in their advertising, "It will melt in your mouth but not in your hand." It's just promising more than can be delivered, which I imagine is exactly what people expect from the church, lots of promises that don't come true.

I had a sweet idea, how about we start advertising by being the church Jesus prayed we would be. "I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me."