I have noticed how the advertising of fine Christian organisations easily falls into materialism. It’s being carelessly Christian! What follows are two examples from our own diocesan newspaper. As I share them as a warning, I assure you I have first made my concerns clear privately to those involved. Nor will I identify the organisations by name.

Last year, an Anglican School (not from our local area) advertised with the headlines, “Is her future secure?” The text read, “Around 90% of [our] students graduate into university courses leading to professional careers”. I guess it’s legitimate to advertise this fact. But in combination with the headline, it implies a degree leading to a professional career is how you secure your child’s future. Such an unqualified comment is a terrible denial of the gospel.

Even in a merely earthly sense, one can be insecure despite a uni degree and a good job. Worse, one can have a good education, and yet be outside of Christ. For only Jesus Christ can secure a person’s future! And I hope Christian schools would agree with that position.  Further, the comment had an overtone of snobbery, which suggests that professional careers are preferable for your daughters, rather than trades or unskilled labour, let alone unpaid work such as motherhood and community volunteering.

Likewise, a Christian provider of Retirement Living has run the following ad several times. It’s headlined, “Live Life to the Full” followed in small print by, “John 10:10”. The subtitle was “Life was always meant to be fun – so why stop now?” Part of the follow up text reads,

“… you’ll meet up with like minded people who share your passion for life and sense of adventure. So whether you’re keen to head out and explore the local bushland, enjoy a round of golf, view the latest art exhibition, join a congregation, shop, dine or dance the night away, you’ll always be in great company.”

Personally I find this a terrible use of Scripture. The combination of headline with subtitle implies the biblical phrase ‘life to the full’ is about ongoing fun. Says who? Life may include fun (for most Westerners at least). But fun is not the essence, nor is it promised by the Bible in this sinful world. Worse, the ad links a biblical phrase ‘life to the full’ with matters like golf, shopping, dancing or bushwalking. Such pleasurable activities may be enjoyed in a Christian life, but they are by no means essential to joyful living as Jesus’ disciples.

In fact this advert misuses a biblical phrase by completely disconnecting Jesus’ words from their wonderful context – the offer of eternal assurance – through hearing the voice of our Good Shepherd! Thankfully this organisation has indicated to me that they will remove Bible references from future advertising. That’s a good initial improvement.

Nevertheless, both ads retain an appeal to a hedonistic, affluent lifestyle. I hope you and I will not be so carelessly Christian as to swallow the values of this age.

Warmly in Christ, Sandy Grant

But I thank God that I know many of the neighbours in my street far better than a year ago. I’m not sure anyone’s been converted yet. Over that time, three of them have been along to outreach events associated with St Michael’s (one by the initiative not of me, but another parishioner). We often now get to stop and chat with many of our neighbours. I truly believe our street is a more hospitable place in general.  So praise God for Connect09!

And I’m glad that the Archbishop has extended Connect09 until Easter 2010. It’s been renamed Connect For Life. This will give me another chance to try and distribute The Essential Jesus in the block I adopted here in town, along with an invite to Easter services. The Diocese is even partnering with the Bible Society at the Easter Show to give away Connect resources from a stall there.

But the idea behind Connect was never a one year program. Rather it’s establishing a way of life, which shows ongoing, gospel-driven interest in our surrounding communities. So when someone recently asked, “How do you initiate gospel conversations with people you see on a regular basis?” I laughed out loud at the pastor’s tongue-in-cheek reply:

I look for subtle metaphors to bring in spiritual things. For example, when I hand a coupon to the lady at the supermarket register, I say, “How much did I save? Speaking of saving, have I mentioned that great eternal coupon offered to each of us?” Or, when my barista hands me my cup of hot coffee each morning, I say, “Wow, that’s hot. Speaking of hot, how would you like to live in a scalding hot pot of coffee for all eternity?” …People really seem to appreciate how aware I am of metaphors for their salvation.

Source

His point is that we do not have to force the issue artificially. Rather, we should be making real life connections. Interestingly I also found several ideas he mentioned helpful.

• I frequent the same places. People in our society don’t respond well to strangers, so I go to the same café for coffee, get my hair cut by the same bloke and (in my case), liaise with the same funeral directors again and again! Relationship is not essential for evangelism, but it sure helps. I make a point to learn the person’s name and take an interest in them. And they now know me by name, and we often chat.
• I don’t hide my allegiance to Christ or the fact that I go to church. I just mention it in conversation, e.g. about my weekend, without making a long fuss of it.
• Most people don’t mind being prayed for, and so if an issue comes up (like an exam or a sickness) where that’s appropriate, I will let them know I’ll pray for them.
• I try to have a resource to offer people in my wallet or car. I like Christianity: A Pocket Guide, which is the size of a credit card and is available free for church members to use (also in other languages such as French, Chinese, Arabic and Spanish).

Over time at most of those places I mentioned earlier, I’ve received chances in conversation to share my faith, or raise a meaning-of-life question or an ethical issue. It got to the point where with some, it was quite natural to offer a copy of the Essential Jesus last Christmas or to give an invitation to a special service. I hope you’ll keep connecting for life also.

Warmly in Christ, Sandy Grant

I have a clash of commitments. On Wednesday nights I have Bible Study with the [Blanks], but I have started training to become a Scout Leader. The Scout Group meets at the same time as the Bible Study. I know there are other nights I can do Bible Study so would leaving my current group be OK? Because if I stay with my current Bible Study, would I be letting the Scouts down as I had stated to them in meetings that I would be able to do it this year?

Now my thinking is that I should stay with my current Bible Study and do the Scouts at another place, after the sermon last Sunday on putting Jesus first. Because that meant I had to mould my life around Jesus rather than mould Jesus around my life.

I hope you find my reply helpful as a worked example in how to weigh up issues like these.

Dear [Blank], good to hear from you! This sounds like one of those things you start before you realise there’s a potential clash down the road! Never mind, we all double-book at times.

But you are right that you should shape your life around following Christ, rather than fitting him in around other things. But Jesus cares for outreach as well as for personal growth. So…

1. It is obviously good to be involved in a Growth Group Bible Study. Don’t just rely on church like a weekly spiritual booster shot! A Bible Study group brings an extra level of growth in knowledge, and care for others, and accountability. And you should not treat the relationships with the people in the group lightly.

2. But it is also very good for Christians to be involved in other community groups like Surf or Bowls clubs or School P&Cs or Landcare. Connect 09 told us Christians should get out in the community and develop real relationships, and not just stay in our own ‘holy huddle’. How can we share the gospel with others if we don’t spend any meaningful time with them?

3. A Christian should also keep his word as much as possible. Sometimes we promise something that we can’t deliver. If that’s really the case, we should apologise, seek forgiveness, and do whatever we can to minimise any harm.

I don’t know your group’s expectations from last year. But normally I suggest leaders ask group members to commit to the group for the year, and review it at the end. Of course, if the group continues, often the members continue over some years, and there is a real bond of care. But you are not obliged to stay in the same group next year (unless you promised). In fact late last year, group leaders discussed how it was sometimes healthy for group members to change around every year or two. E.g. you get to know others and can include newcomers.

On the other hand, if you gave your word to be available for Scouts on Wednesday night, (even though it might have been a bit foolish to forget about your Bible Study group), then you should not break that commitment unless you really have to. So my advice is to talk to your leader, explain the situation, and apologise but say you think you should keep your word to the Scouts, and join another Bible study group on another night ASAP. We are blessed to have groups on several nights at St Michael’s.

Joining a new group can be a bit hard at first, because every group is different. Just stick with it. The big thing is to be discussing God’s Word together, praying, and caring for each other.

Warmly in Christ, Sandy Grant