Driving through Indiana yesterday we saw this sign, a cheery invitation for visitors to Cornerstone Church: New Pastor! Fresh Approach!
I wonder what kind of thinking runs through the minds of people who think an advertisement that their church has a new pastor with a fresh approach will bring new members. One could take this a number of ways, I suppose, but the most glaring, it seems to me, would be a serious caveat emptor, since another way to say "new pastor, fresh approach" is to say, We have such little regard for the ministry that we are letting the world know how unpopular, stale, and worn out our old pastor was. How can a church with such a disdain for the pastor be a welcoming place for anybody?
Now the question is, Who wrote this sign? The people? In which case I pity the poor new pastor and advise him to watch his backside. Or, perhaps, the new pastor himself, in which case I'd be inclined to quip that what goes around comes around.
In any case, this definitely qualifies as creepy.
Pastors are called to preach Christ, not themselves. Did the old one preach Christ and now the new pastor will try something better? Did the old pastor not preach Christ and now the new one will preach Christ?
ReplyDeleteMaybe, maybe not. This is simply in line with good marketing. In the marketing mindset questions such as these likely did not even come up. Addiction to what is "new" and "fresh" numbs the mind and stifles the approach. It puts everyone in a box.
"FRESH NEW CHRISTIANITY FOR A FRESH NEW AGE PEOPLE! COME HEAR THE REVITALIZED MESSAGE THAT WILL SET YOU ABLAZE! ALSO, WE HAVE CAKE!"
ReplyDelete*sarcasm off*
Hmm.... I'll keep my Crucified Christ thank you. Although, I wouldn't mind cake, provided it is the appropriate liturgical color for the season.
Judging from the marquee, this organization's "fresh approach" consists of its promotion of 10 pillars, while the Muslim community has marketed but 5 for some 1400 years.
ReplyDeleteWas this on Route 30, by chance?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteYes, it was on Rte 30
ReplyDeleteLate to the commenting game, I know, but... That sign has been there touting all its "NEW!!" & "FRESH!!" goodness for at least a year or two.
ReplyDeleteIrony abounds...