Religion today

Thu Aug 28, 2008 7:23 AM EDT
advertisement

VALLEY CITY — Carol Umsted got more than the word of God during services this summer at the Congregational United Church of Christ of Valley City.

She also got $50 worth of free gas, thanks to winning a raffle. For the local farmer, it was a nice side benefit, at a time when gas was more than $4 a gallon.

Churches nationwide are making similar offers, ranging from gas card raffles to 99-cent gas sales at local stations, to boost attendance during the vacation season and attract new members.

But some Christians question whether a financial incentive should be used to draw people into church.

Robert Kruschwitz, director of The Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University, called the promotions "unseemly" and "misguided."

Umsted, a church official, said a couple of Valley City congregants stopped attending because they considered it "a bribe." But the Rev. Carl Borden, pastor of the congregation, said the overriding goal is to have a little fun and remind people that the church is there.

"It's a method of marketing for the church," he said. "For a $200 investment we've made, we got featured in the local newspaper once, twice on TV, and it's the buzz around town. I can't get a quarter-page ad for $200."

Church leaders have debated for years whether modern marketing techniques cheapen the faith or are an effective — and necessary — means of evangelizing. Even those Christians who believe some marketing is helpful disagree about how far they should take the approach.

David T. Olson, director of the American Church Research Project and head of church planting for the Evangelical Covenant Church, said independent, Pentecostal and Baptist churches with nontraditional ways of attracting new members are more likely to use promotions like the gas raffles. But he said there are other more effective ways of drawing newcomers.

"I personally would encourage them that having people from their church build relationships with their friends who do not attend church, and invite them as their friend, would be a much better strategy," Olson said.

Nathan White, an Atlanta-area Baptist, was troubled by a church gas card raffle he learned about at a Baptist church in Snellville, Ga. The corporate executive, who plans to become a pastor, thinks gas giveaways are shameful financial gimmicks that undermine the Gospel.

"They are appealing to the natural corruptions in unbelieving people ... . The Bible warns very explicitly about the dangers of greed, the love of money being the root of all evil," said White. "Appealing to the selfish motives of people is not Christianity."

The nondenominational Liquid Church in Morristown, N.J., took its gas promotion outside of the church. Members went to a local service station in August, bought $10,000 worth of fuel and sold it for 99 cents a gallon.

"We canceled services that day, and said our service to the community will be our service," said the Rev. Tim Lucas.

"This wasn't a gimmick, 'Hey, come to our church.' There was no bait-and-switch. We didn't try to convert people. We just wanted to show we care," he said.

He noted that the church also provides money to drill wells in African countries.

There, "water is the most precious liquid," Lucas said. "In New Jersey, it's gas."

Michael Cromartie, vice president of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, a Washington, D.C., think tank, said there is a fine line between advertising a church and using what he called "huckster" means to entice outsiders.

He called the gas promotions in general "a clever tool."

"There are a lot of worse things that people can be doing in life than getting people to come to church," he said. But Cromartie said the more important issue is what message people hear once they get inside.

Kruschwitz worries that people who come to church because of the enticements won't stick around long enough to listen to the preaching and join the worship. "Are they being tempted to think the church is about such gimmicks and external rewards?" he asked.

But Borden said he has no ethical reservations about the drawings at the Valley City congregation. He just wished that as much attention could be paid to the church's other work.

"The amount of time I've spent being interviewed ... about all the good things we're doing and only hearing about the gas thing on the news is a little disappointing," he said. "It does show what people are paying attention to."

____

On the Net:

Congregational United Church of Christ:

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseactionuser.viewprofile&friendID17

7177073

© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
  • 4 Votes
  • Enjoy this article? Help vote it up the 'Vine.

Back To Top

Published to:

What's this?
Who's leading the conversation?
This visualization below allows you to see the impact that each user has on the current conversation. The top row contains the group of users who have had the most impact, the 2nd row the group of users who have had the 2nd most impact (et cetera). Users with similar impact are grouped together, and the average score of the group is shown to the left of the group. The author of the article is also shown on the left, in their corresponding group. Each user's score is based on the number of comments the user has made plus the number of votes their comments have received. The scores are calculated relative one another, so while their absolute value is not particularly important, their relative difference does indicate a larger difference in impact on the conversation.
4.8
0.9
{"commentId":2621755,"authorDomain":"bclowater"}
clo

It is sickening that this would be done in the name of God! There is a proverb in the bible, "if the blind lead the blind, they will both fall into a ditch".

{"commentId":2621755,"threadId":"342256","contentId":"1795804","authorDomain":"bclowater"}
  • 2 votes
Reply#1 - Thu Aug 28, 2008 1:45 PM EDT
{"commentId":2622298,"authorDomain":"ironhorse"}
Sgt. IronHorse

Luke 6:39

A blind man cannot guide a blind man, can he? Will they not both fall into a pit?

(NASB)

{"commentId":2622298,"threadId":"342256","contentId":"1795804","authorDomain":"ironhorse"}
  • 2 votes
Reply#2 - Thu Aug 28, 2008 2:30 PM EDT
{"commentId":2622382,"authorDomain":"ironhorse"}
Sgt. IronHorse

John 2:14-15

14 And Jesus found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables.

15 He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen then He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.

think Jesus likes this kinda stuff? don't look like it to me...

(not passing judgement... just quoting The Word)

{"commentId":2622382,"threadId":"342256","contentId":"1795804","authorDomain":"ironhorse"}
  • 2 votes
Reply#3 - Thu Aug 28, 2008 2:36 PM EDT
{"commentId":2622501,"authorDomain":"jdl-28"}
jdl-28

If you must be bribe to go to church than it isn't worth your time, I do not believe the preacher are worth two cents. I do not go to church and haven't in forty five years, but I believe in God and talk to him every day. You do not need a middle man when it come to talking to God, he will listen to you no matter where you are at.

Don't support a church with your money, support yourself and family believe me God will be OK with that.

{"commentId":2622501,"threadId":"342256","contentId":"1795804","authorDomain":"jdl-28"}
    Reply#4 - Thu Aug 28, 2008 2:47 PM EDT
    {"commentId":2819458,"authorDomain":"brice-1"}
    Smalltown268

    Wow, I'm sorry you feel that way - you're not alone though - many have been brutally burned by the church, present company included!

    But I take a slightly different stance than you. I'm not perfect, as a matter of fact, sometimes I'm pretty awful in the way I feel, think, and act towards others - but for some reason, God saw me worth saving & growing.

    There's a pretty powerful section of verses out of Malachi where God lays it on the line for the people of Israel - talk about being burned! These people were being led all over the place by their "spiritual leaders" - into idolatry, sexual practices in worship of Baal, human sacrifice - nasty stuff. Yet God said that the reason they were wandering aimlessly is because they had stolen from Him... by withholding their first fruits - or tithe. They were doing what you just advised: Holding onto their time, finances, and talents. God told them to test Him - to give their tithe to the church (yes, people can and do misuse those funds), but the whole point is God asking His people - "Do you trust ME - forget about anyone else, do you trust ME?" His promise is more than just financial stability - it's health, security, protection, provision - and more importantly, contentment.

    After 45 years, you have a unique perspective on culture, values, family life - why not use that experience to step in and let God use you to heal hearts? Hearts like yours and mine who have been burned by PEOPLE. I have a pretty strong feeling God could do a lot of good through you just pouring into lives (whether you did it through a church or just "on His behalf") but I also know God told us to not give up the gathering together - He knows we have strength and support when we have friends to travel the road with us.

    Just a thought.

    {"commentId":2819458,"threadId":"342256","contentId":"1795804","authorDomain":"brice-1"}
    • 1 vote
    #4.1 - Mon Sep 8, 2008 1:36 PM EDT
    Reply
    {"commentId":2626562,"authorDomain":"Jojo50"}
    Jojo50

    When God calls you to come to him, if you choose to answer him you will go to church some where! You will not need a bribe!
    IronHorse you said it"The blind cannot lead the blind"

    {"commentId":2626562,"threadId":"342256","contentId":"1795804","authorDomain":"Jojo50"}
    • 2 votes
    Reply#5 - Thu Aug 28, 2008 8:27 PM EDT
    {"commentId":2629032,"authorDomain":"tlharmon123"}
    oldcrankyman
    But the Rev. Carl Borden, pastor of the congregation, said the overriding goal is to have a little fun and remind people that the church is there.

    I'd say that's near the truth.........the overriding goal is to have more people under their control. Period.

    I often wonder what Jesus would make of the little chrome fishies on the BMWs, Mercedes, and Cadillacs. Something tells me he wouldn't be impressed.

    {"commentId":2629032,"threadId":"342256","contentId":"1795804","authorDomain":"tlharmon123"}
      Reply#6 - Thu Aug 28, 2008 11:51 PM EDT
      {"commentId":2821258,"authorDomain":"brice-1"}
      Smalltown268

      Well, I agree with you - but for different reasons than I feel you embrace.

      1) I DON'T have a chrome fish on my bumper for the sole reason that I know my driving probably would do more harm to Christ's reputation (at least as it is reflected through me) than good! (How many times have you been cut off by a vehicle with a fish on it - or watched in frustration as one flew by going about 20 miles over the speed limit!?!?!)

      2) I think it's fair to say that it's not a question of whether Christ is lord of your bumper but whether he's lord of your life. Two of the greatest quotes reflect that very sentiment - Ghandi is quoted as having said, "I would be a Christian were it not for Christians." (He explained that the Bible claims to have incredible power to transform lives and change the world - yet so few Christians even know what the word of God says, much less live transformed lives.)

      The second says that "The world has yet to see a life lived in total surrender to the will of Christ - we cannot even begin to imagine the change that believer would be able to affect."

      God is about seeking out hearts who will be fully devoted to Him - those are the ones He pours love, peace, truth, and power through. Sadly, I think most of the people in this country who claim to be believers believe God on Sunday, but the other 6 days of the week wouldn't give Him the time of day.

      On a more light hearted note... seriously, do Cadillacs really fall under the same category as BMW & Mercedes Benz??? Seriously? I would have gone with a Hummer or a Land Rover myself!

      Let's just say I would hope that people could spend 5 minutes with me and realize that there is something different about the way I live my life - not better, not higher - just a way that makes people want to know more about the God who saves and who is constantly in the process of transforming my life...

      {"commentId":2821258,"threadId":"342256","contentId":"1795804","authorDomain":"brice-1"}
      • 2 votes
      #6.1 - Mon Sep 8, 2008 3:08 PM EDT
      {"commentId":2822741,"authorDomain":"tlharmon123"}
      oldcrankyman

      Had to toss in an American made car, didn't want everybody to think I was bashing foreigners.

      {"commentId":2822741,"threadId":"342256","contentId":"1795804","authorDomain":"tlharmon123"}
      • 1 vote
      #6.2 - Mon Sep 8, 2008 4:09 PM EDT
      Reply
      {"commentId":2819215,"authorDomain":"brice-1"}
      Smalltown268

      Wow - let's step back and look at this from a true biblical perspective. You've quoted only 2 verses - both taken completely out of context. These are not the blind leading the blind. These are children of God doing whatever they can to "shine like stars in the universe as they hold out the word of truth". They are not money changers in the temple (which if you knew anything about the temple in that day, they were running a con. "Oh I'm sorry, your dove has a blemish, but if you'll step over here, my friend can sell you an approved dove for sacrifice." "Oh, I'm sorry, we don't accept denarri here, but if you'll step over to my friend here, he can exchange your currency for approved currency - at a mark up of course, but it's necessary." THAT's what Jesus was outraged by.)

      Everyone calls this gas buy down a travesty and an abomination. Really? So is it a travesty to buy someone who is hungry a meal and then share your faith with them? Aren't you guilty of the same "bribery"?

      Or what about homeless shelters - we feed them physically and spiritually. Isn't that the same thing? You're "bribing" them with food and shelter so that you can share your faith with them? Is that really how you view ministry people???

      Read the book of Matthew. Each time Jesus walks the streets, He MET FELT NEEDS. He healed, he fed, he comforted. THEN He spoke and taught.

      Consider Paul, who when looking for a point of relevance to the Greeks and Romans, entered their cities and observed their "monuments" and "temples". He discovered one dedicated to "the unknown god" and used that as a starting point to evangelize an entire stadium! In so doing Paul himself said, "I have become all things to all people, so that by all possible means SOME might be saved."

      I shudder to think what would have been said of him on this message board by "believers"!

      People are hurting. People are struggling to make ends meet. People are losing their homes. Why SHOULDN'T the CHURCH be stepping in and meeting felt needs. You stock your food pantries and your clothing drives, but you refuse to put gas in someone's tank??? Why?

      Why is it so deplorable to you meet needs. We are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden, neither can a lamp be hidden under a bushel. Yet here you clamor and judge those who are putting their finances on the line, meeting felt needs - and unlike these message boards which chastise service and sacrifice - they're actually drawing people TO Christ, not chasing them away.

      You ASSUME that because they are "marketing" their church, they MUST have a washed down message, so therefore, the act of service is improper. You ASSUME that your message is so great that you need do NOTHING to let people know it exists - they'll just simply stumble through your church doors one day and hear and be changed.

      How will they know if no one tells them? How will they hear if no one teaches them? How will they be found if no one goes looking for them?

      Get off your high horses, get on your knees and pray, then open your dusty pocket books and start pouring into peoples' lives, not staring down on them. The fields are ripe for the harvest. GO.

      {"commentId":2819215,"threadId":"342256","contentId":"1795804","authorDomain":"brice-1"}
      • 1 vote
      Reply#7 - Mon Sep 8, 2008 1:24 PM EDT
      {"commentId":2918887,"authorDomain":"jasonmersman"}
      jasonmersmanDeleted
      {"commentId":2920693,"authorDomain":"tlharmon123"}
      oldcrankyman
      So is it a travesty to buy someone who is hungry a meal and then share your faith with them?

      Yes it is.

      {"commentId":2920693,"threadId":"342256","contentId":"1795804","authorDomain":"tlharmon123"}
        Reply#9 - Sat Sep 13, 2008 11:35 PM EDT
        {"commentId":10406028,"authorDomain":"breelaboy"}
        breelaboyDeleted
        {"commentId":10435201,"authorDomain":"brianalampton"}
        brianalamptonDeleted
        {"canLink":false,"threadId":"342256","isPrivate":false}
        Leave a Comment:
        You're in Easy Mode. If you prefer, you can use XHTML Mode instead.
        Newsvine Privacy Statement
        As a new user, you may notice a few temporary content restrictions. Click here for more info.
        {"threadId":"342256","contentId":"1795804"}
        Start TrackingStart Tracking
        Stop TrackingStop Tracking
        Back To Top | Front Page