Comments on: evangelicals, we have a branding problem

By: joao

joao — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 19:17:47 +0000

It’s funny how lately, though I lean right politically, I have been arguing against the many of the typical christian right political arguments.
Maybe it’s obvious to everyone else, but I am really beginning to define in my own mind a line to separate 2 types of issue.

1- I have some political biases and preferences that would place me on the right, conservative side of the isle. I would classify these as just what they are: Political opinions.

2- I have opinions and convictions about what it means to be a follower of Jesus and I will can these: Religious convictions.

What I think I am encountering in a lot in people (including me), is a tendency to mix the 2 categories in just about every issue. And in this country , democracy and the US constitution especially, seem to be blurred with religious conviction.

So any political disagreement seems to place doubts on the person’s religious fervor also.

Case in point: Though I have some serious concerns about the ‘Obama medical coverage’ issue, I have been told by some that it is ‘ungodly’ for violating the US constitution.

My response to that is…so what if it violates the Constitution? I mean, since when is the US form of gov’t more Godly than say, a dictatorship?

I personally think the US gov’t system is the best on Earth and would hate to see us become like Europe (socialist), but that is a political issue, not a Religious one.

By: B...D

B...D — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 04:13:24 +0000

“I have no idea what you are talking about” – SunflowerRae

True dat. Nor what YOU are talking about.
Thanks for clearing that up.

B.een there D.one that

By: Larry Hughes

Larry Hughes — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 03:06:09 +0000

Evangelical, charismatic, penticostal, baptist, protestant or what ever. They all preach the same thing. Salvation through Jesus Christ. It doesn’t matter as long as we follow the scripture of the bible to the letter.

Point and waving fingers. I haven’t seen that since I was a child in the sixites watching an evangelist on a street corner preaching damnation. Get a grip people. We are all charged to win souls to Christ in preparation of the future rapture as well as showing God’s grace and love.

One of the main reasons I prefer not to have association with any established Church or denomination. Seems they all spend all their energy back biting and bad mouthing other denominations all the while evolving into a social gathering of click groups self serving each other with in the church.

When was the last time any of you won any body to Christ? Do any of you participate in out reach programs that actually bring others to Christ? Have any of you poured out love to the disadvantaged and showed them God has a wonderful plan for their lives? Do any of you care?

It is great to sit around and discuss theology as scholars but the Lord says it is all up to us now. Go forth and preach the scriptures to win others to Christ is the message I am getting.

By: ken

ken — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 17:31:34 +0000

Romans 14, I suppose! I think trust has to be earned. If someone is leading in a direction that isn’t where Jesus is going–don’t follow. One can acknowledge a leader who is going in a lousy direction as a brother, an focus on common ground while begging to differ. The point is, because of intense media exposure and the power of this ministries, many pastors have been somewhat intimidated and are reluctant to sound a different note. We shouldn’t be intimidated, though.

By: Jeff Zapor

Jeff Zapor — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 16:48:00 +0000

Ken,
What do I do with the fact that probably a lot of people who started and ran the Moral Majority were honestly walking with Jesus when they did it? Or to ask it more broadly…what should be my response to people who really do walk with the Lord but go about spreading the gospel in a way that I think is ineffective, maybe inappropriate, and maybe even harmful?
I don’t want to have a bad attitude towards other followers of Christ. I don’t want to distrust Christian leaders whom God has placed in those positions. But I also can’t ignore what think, when I think it is what Jesus wants.

By: SunflowerRae

SunflowerRae — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 01:42:37 +0000

I have no idea what you are talking about B…D. I wasn’t born until 1980. I am speaking only of my own experience.

By: Brown

Brown — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 12:59:50 +0000

I’m just catching up on recent posts. Re Don’s idea of dropping evangelical in favor of Christian, I grew up in a denomination that did exactly that, all the way back in the 19th century [Church of Christ]. And still we messed up, since we were so human and had such a talent for messing up. Still, I agree that Christian is the label of choice. One of our slogans was, Not the only Christians but Christians only. And you know what? We still figured out that we were the only Christians! So we need to get the label right – but also the content.

By: B...D

B...D — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 00:40:21 +0000

“How many people are coming to christ with us waving our finger at them for their sins? …Christians today are beginning to see this doesn’t work.”

Are you suggesting that all those hippies that got saved in the 60’s/70’s converted because someone was ‘waving their finger at them for their sins’?

You sure seem to be by saying the Christians of ‘today’ will BEGIN to see this doesn’t work.

You are wrong of course. It was a little before my time, so Parson Wilson may have a better recollection, but as I understand it those hippies like Keith Green and Dan Peeks of America were looking for something more REAL than the drugs they were smoking. No finger-waving brought them in. They were so stoned, the back & forth motion would have probably tripped them out…

Benny D. Hinn

By: SunflowerRae

SunflowerRae — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 04:25:55 +0000

Although I do see this branding problem currently and also experience it, I think my generation (28 yr old) is getting over it and my 15 yr old brothers generation will drop it all. I see in my generation and younger ones that we just want jesus, something authentic, relatable, true, fulfilling. I think this branding problem is on it’s way out. In the mean time just live your life letting Gods glory shine thru you each day so that others may see and believe. This can be more influential than Dobson or Bob Dutko

How many people are coming to christ with us waving our finger at them for their sins? I have not seen any! I think Christians today are beginning to see this doesn’t work and will begin to change how they walk out their evangelicalness (if that’s a word?). I like the saying: Jesus’s idea is for us to catch the fish not clean them, that is His job.

By: B...D

B...D — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 06:40:31 +0000

“Look at what’s happened to the word “liberal” in American politics….It got dropped like a hot potato because of unpopular connotations, and now the label of choice is “progressive.” A brilliant move, in my mind”

I think you’re on to something, Don. Vineyard should not only drop the word evangelical, which it is not.

It should adopt the word…er…PROGRESSIVE…which it is!

haha

Big Dog
And I mean progressive in the MOST liberal sense!