Today in my Theology and Pop Culture class, we were discussing advertising, marketing and branding. The discussion concluded with the idea that most advertisements are not only selling a product, but a lifestyle. Take a look at adds from that perspective and you'll see what I mean. This then led to the question of whether or not the church/christians need to so some branding of our own. In David Kinnamen's 2007 book, unChristian, he lists the words or ideas that average americans think of when the hear the word "Christian." The answers are sad but (even sadder) not too suprising.
1) Anti-homosexual (91%)
2) Judgemental (87%)
3) Hypocritical (85%)
4) Sheltered or old fashioned (78%)
5) Too political (75%)
6) Insensitive to others or not genuine (70%)
What do we as followers of Christ need to do to "Rebrand" christianity? First, we need to figure out how we got here, then we need to humble ourselves to look back at the words of the Savior we all claim to follow. I am nauseated by the fact that the first thing that comes to people's minds when they hear the word christian is "anti-homosexual." What happend to Grace? Isn't that what Jesus died for?
(For next week, we have a project due in which we are to "Rebrand" christianity, or come up with some add that would lead people towards christianity as God intended it. So, if anyone has any thoughts or suggestions, I would appreciate it.)
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I don't quite understand the assignment- Are you supposed to ocme up with a word that you would like others to think of when they here "Christian"? How about "Accepting."
I'm still church shopping here in MN, and went to a church yesterday that was so accepting, engaging, and approachable. My general tendency in church shopping has been to slip in and slip out anonymously. I get too nervous if I think about approaching people.
However, this church approached me. Not one person, but 5 people introduced themselves, all of them engaged in a full discussion with me, and 3 invited me to other church activities. The pastor talked to me before and after the service- and it wasn't that small of a church. This is what it should be like.
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