Comments on: Don’t ridicule your customers http://www.communicatejesus.com/2010/02/dont-ridicule-your-customers/ Sat, 11 Feb 2012 06:25:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: david http://www.communicatejesus.com/2010/02/dont-ridicule-your-customers/comment-page-1/#comment-2634 david Sat, 13 Feb 2010 05:00:13 +0000 http://communicatejesus.com/?p=4102#comment-2634 Hi Steven, It came to me via email (from an american christian enewsletter i read). Sadly i deleted the email, but it seemed to be based on the inclusional of sexuality into the list of things that are already defined as hate crimes. There's some background at http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2009/julyweb-only/128-42.0.html http://blog.christianitytoday.com/ctpolitics/2009/10/senate_passes_h.html The email i got was headed with a picture of a preacher with his mouth gagged (like a hostage or prisoner). I understand the email was designed to evoke emotion, but it almost implied that american preachers had nothing to say if they couldn't vilify homosexuals. The connection to your original post was that the advertisement didn't offend you as much as the footer. I figure a good preacher can deliver his message without offence (as the advertisement did for you) without resorting to haranging any particular group of people (like the advertisement footer did). Surely a good sermon can promote godly values, without vilifying those who fall short (which, by definition, is all human beings). As I alluded to in my original comment, sometimes i think sub-standard sermons rely on giving hetero-sexuals a warm fuzzy superior feeling by speaking harshly about homosexuals. For me it's reminiscent of Luke 18:11 Hi Steven,

It came to me via email (from an american christian enewsletter i read). Sadly i deleted the email, but it seemed to be based on the inclusional of sexuality into the list of things that are already defined as hate crimes. There’s some background at http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2009/julyweb-only/128-42.0.html
http://blog.christianitytoday.com/ctpolitics/2009/10/senate_passes_h.html

The email i got was headed with a picture of a preacher with his mouth gagged (like a hostage or prisoner). I understand the email was designed to evoke emotion, but it almost implied that american preachers had nothing to say if they couldn’t vilify homosexuals.

The connection to your original post was that the advertisement didn’t offend you as much as the footer. I figure a good preacher can deliver his message without offence (as the advertisement did for you) without resorting to haranging any particular group of people (like the advertisement footer did). Surely a good sermon can promote godly values, without vilifying those who fall short (which, by definition, is all human beings).

As I alluded to in my original comment, sometimes i think sub-standard sermons rely on giving hetero-sexuals a warm fuzzy superior feeling by speaking harshly about homosexuals. For me it’s reminiscent of Luke 18:11

]]> By: Steven Kryger http://www.communicatejesus.com/2010/02/dont-ridicule-your-customers/comment-page-1/#comment-2632 Steven Kryger Sat, 13 Feb 2010 03:04:08 +0000 http://communicatejesus.com/?p=4102#comment-2632 Hi David, I hadn't come across those new laws - are you able to send me a link? I agree that if sermon content is classified as a hate crime we need to look at the content, although the definition of 'hate crime' could be quite telling. For example, could telling people that they are under the judgement of God be classified as a hate crime? Hi David, I hadn’t come across those new laws – are you able to send me a link? I agree that if sermon content is classified as a hate crime we need to look at the content, although the definition of ‘hate crime’ could be quite telling. For example, could telling people that they are under the judgement of God be classified as a hate crime?

]]> By: david http://www.communicatejesus.com/2010/02/dont-ridicule-your-customers/comment-page-1/#comment-2631 david Sat, 13 Feb 2010 02:55:58 +0000 http://communicatejesus.com/?p=4102#comment-2631 i don't know the company, but it sounds a little like they are ridiculing the people who *don't* buy their product. Presumably, this gives a good feeling to their loyal customers, and persuades anyone (who might be wavering) to continue being a customer avoid being a 'prude'. Sadly, i think church messages (including sermons) often portray non-christians in a negative light - possibly with similar motives. For a company it's understandable (though not admirable) because they need only a particular demographic to sustain their business. But the church is not called to reach a certain demographic, or a certain sub-culture. It is called to reach all people. ps. did you see where american churches are worried about new anti-vilification laws, because they are concerned it would restrict pastors from preaching 'biblical messages'. Surely if a "sermon" has content that qualifies it as a 'hate crime', we should perhaps be looking to see just how biblical it is. i don’t know the company, but it sounds a little like they are ridiculing the people who *don’t* buy their product. Presumably, this gives a good feeling to their loyal customers, and persuades anyone (who might be wavering) to continue being a customer avoid being a ‘prude’.
Sadly, i think church messages (including sermons) often portray non-christians in a negative light – possibly with similar motives.
For a company it’s understandable (though not admirable) because they need only a particular demographic to sustain their business. But the church is not called to reach a certain demographic, or a certain sub-culture. It is called to reach all people.

ps. did you see where american churches are worried about new anti-vilification laws, because they are concerned it would restrict pastors from preaching ‘biblical messages’. Surely if a “sermon” has content that qualifies it as a ‘hate crime’, we should perhaps be looking to see just how biblical it is.

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