Dipping Things in Cheese Doesn't Always Make Them Better
Just as I was thinking about putting together a Passion Happy Meal graphic to point out the striking stupidity (sacrilege?) of calling a Passion Coffee Mug a witnessing tool, I came across Spencer's Article, "When Passion Is Reduced To A Doorhanger". Great article!

Honestly, I can't wait for this movie to come out. I'm not against it. Just the marketing I see going on constantly here in Tulsa and apparently around America. I know some people probably won't see it because of the hype being generated by church™. I mean, do we really want people to associate this movie with the other greatly promoted gems like Omega Coce, Left Behind, and The Champion? "Perhaps the greatest witnessing tool in 2000 years"? Who came up with that crap?

I agree with what Scott posted on his blog at theopraxis.net:

I understand the excitement and the desire to communicate the message, and if this film prompts questions from honest seekers, then by all means we should be prepared to answer them. But the best opportunity in 2000 years? That stretches the bounds of credibility, and illustrates for me the flawed assumptions on which the "outreach model" is based:

Outreach is information driven

Outreach is event based

Outreach is methodological/program-driven

Outreach is market oriented

Outreach is ecclesiocentric

It seems to me that this model differs little from any secular marketing strategy designed to increase brand recognition. I don't, honestly, find much significance in the term "outreach". It seems a far cry from thinking of participation in the missio dei. Missio dei begins with God and His purposes. It assumes the kingdom of heaven is active and at work in the world, and looks to join with the Spirit in kingdom activity. It looks back to the origins of God's people in the call of Abraham and realizes that God blesses so that we may bless others. A community participating in the missio dei stands in a priestly role as an intermediary between God and world.

Wow - that amazes me. I want to be a part of the activities of the kingdom of God. I think that the "best outreach opportunity in 2000 years" is in joining God's Spirit at work in the world - not passing out pamphlets after a movie.

Note: Yes, the Passion Happy Meal® would come with action figures: the crucifix®, the Roman soldier®, the Pharisees®, and a mallet®. The box would convert to a crown of thorns®.

...and yes, I know this bugs some of you...now you know how I feel every time I see this movie being marketed by dipping it in cheese.
posted by Jimmy at 1:57 PM | |