I saw that ad and cringed mightily for the reasons you so eloquently point out. I know some of those people who thought it was fantastic and what I've asked a few of them is simply this: If someone were to see that ad and come to your church looking for this Jesus, would they be welcome? If they were homeless and dirty? If they were drunk or high? If they were gay? Would they be welcomed just as they are? I know the answer. Saw it in their eyes and heard it in their vociferous protestations. If we were truly the hands and feet of Jesus, we would be dirty and calloused right alongside those we'd be serving. Sadly, that is not why most church folks go to church. They go to be seen in all their finery, to rub shoulders and scratch backs with local politicians and rich folks, to look good and moral. Whitewashed sepulchers. I remember them when I was down, when life was rough and ugly. I remember them when I was a 20-something raising a toddler by myself, when I was the least of these. God sees the heart.
I love everything you stand for. I’ve been a Christian since I was a child but I no longer call myself one. I don’t want to be identified with what I see done in the name of God these days. I will just stick with my personal relationship with him.
Picture this: all that money spent on feeding the hungry, providing shelter for the homeless AND the exact same commercial flooding social media (for FREE) with itemization of how the money was spent and a statement, “This is how we chose to spend the x number of $ it WOULD HAVE cost for a Super Bowl ad.”
We are meant to BE and to EXEMPLIFY, not to bully, push and guilt. Your words are beautiful and you express so many doubts and questions I had about my faith that I either didn't even know existed or didn't know how to speak to. Thank you. Jesus is so beautiful and look how he led. Lol, could you imagine what Jesus would say about this ad? About so many of the 'Pharisees' using his name to grow their own power and pocketbooks? He'd be throwing a lot of stuff.
Sending you so much love. I know it's hard to share truths that go against this institutional B.S. and I'm grateful for your talent and your ability to be vulnerable and brave.
I didn’t watch the Super Bowl, but couldn’t agree with you more. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father…” You’re exactly right-it’s easier to plunk down a billion dollars than to walk next door and love your own neighbor.
IMHO, the money spent on a Superbowl ad that was supposedly reminding everyday people how Jesus "gets us" is the antithesis of that very message. In a country filled with people, many of whom are children, who go to bed hungry at night, how do you justify spending a billion dollars on that when one thinks, really THINKS about how many bellies a BILLION dollars could fill or bodies it could clothe and/or shelter. You know, actually DOING for "the least of them" among us. We don't get to feel all warm and fuzzy about God's love while stomachs rumble and people shiver with cold. That in no way is part of "spreading the Gospel." that Jesus intended. Jesus' entire message was his life of service, not his financial contributions at Temple on Sabbath. I, too, was offended, MK.
I am struggling to see how your argument is either reductivist or a straw man. When I first saw these commercials many months ago, they were talking about refugees, immigrants, the outcast. I was very curious to see what organization was behind the ads. I realized that I was deceived by the message because it is meant to be deceiving. The ads are paid for by the owners of Hobby Lobby, and what I thought was the message of the ads when I first saw them is not the type of Christianity that they live or preach, so I assume that the ads are meant to mislead people into believing all are welcome, so that those who pay for the ads can try to convert them to their form of Christianity which excludes many groups as you point out. I am greatly disturbed by this apparent trickery. One point of yours that I don’t understand fully is whether you still believe that you must be a believer in Christ to be saved. Because if salvation (or a happy afterlife - or whatever you choose to call it) is not reserved for those who are Christian (and I don’t believe it is), then that billion dollars spent on this campaign IS truly wasted; it is not our job to save the souls of others by trying to convert them.
Man I agree with you so much. I also love how you are able to eloquently word so many things I believe. Our spiritual journey has many similarities. Thank you for your posts.
I think that people that have never learned or know about Christianity is perfectly fine. I think it’s wrong of us to tell them that if they don’t believe, then they are bad. It’s not up to us to scare them into Christianity.
I saw that ad and cringed mightily for the reasons you so eloquently point out. I know some of those people who thought it was fantastic and what I've asked a few of them is simply this: If someone were to see that ad and come to your church looking for this Jesus, would they be welcome? If they were homeless and dirty? If they were drunk or high? If they were gay? Would they be welcomed just as they are? I know the answer. Saw it in their eyes and heard it in their vociferous protestations. If we were truly the hands and feet of Jesus, we would be dirty and calloused right alongside those we'd be serving. Sadly, that is not why most church folks go to church. They go to be seen in all their finery, to rub shoulders and scratch backs with local politicians and rich folks, to look good and moral. Whitewashed sepulchers. I remember them when I was down, when life was rough and ugly. I remember them when I was a 20-something raising a toddler by myself, when I was the least of these. God sees the heart.
Preach🙌🏻🙌🏻I love you and your heart♥️and the fact that you speak out and take shit for it but stand your ground. Jesus is smiling😊
I instantly felt sick to my stomach when I saw that ad. Full on ew. I agree with everything you said. The religious hypocrisy is rampant.
I love everything you stand for. I’ve been a Christian since I was a child but I no longer call myself one. I don’t want to be identified with what I see done in the name of God these days. I will just stick with my personal relationship with him.
I completely agree with you! Hugs
Picture this: all that money spent on feeding the hungry, providing shelter for the homeless AND the exact same commercial flooding social media (for FREE) with itemization of how the money was spent and a statement, “This is how we chose to spend the x number of $ it WOULD HAVE cost for a Super Bowl ad.”
OMG - YESSSSSSS!!!!
We are meant to BE and to EXEMPLIFY, not to bully, push and guilt. Your words are beautiful and you express so many doubts and questions I had about my faith that I either didn't even know existed or didn't know how to speak to. Thank you. Jesus is so beautiful and look how he led. Lol, could you imagine what Jesus would say about this ad? About so many of the 'Pharisees' using his name to grow their own power and pocketbooks? He'd be throwing a lot of stuff.
Sending you so much love. I know it's hard to share truths that go against this institutional B.S. and I'm grateful for your talent and your ability to be vulnerable and brave.
I didn’t watch the Super Bowl, but couldn’t agree with you more. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father…” You’re exactly right-it’s easier to plunk down a billion dollars than to walk next door and love your own neighbor.
IMHO, the money spent on a Superbowl ad that was supposedly reminding everyday people how Jesus "gets us" is the antithesis of that very message. In a country filled with people, many of whom are children, who go to bed hungry at night, how do you justify spending a billion dollars on that when one thinks, really THINKS about how many bellies a BILLION dollars could fill or bodies it could clothe and/or shelter. You know, actually DOING for "the least of them" among us. We don't get to feel all warm and fuzzy about God's love while stomachs rumble and people shiver with cold. That in no way is part of "spreading the Gospel." that Jesus intended. Jesus' entire message was his life of service, not his financial contributions at Temple on Sabbath. I, too, was offended, MK.
I am struggling to see how your argument is either reductivist or a straw man. When I first saw these commercials many months ago, they were talking about refugees, immigrants, the outcast. I was very curious to see what organization was behind the ads. I realized that I was deceived by the message because it is meant to be deceiving. The ads are paid for by the owners of Hobby Lobby, and what I thought was the message of the ads when I first saw them is not the type of Christianity that they live or preach, so I assume that the ads are meant to mislead people into believing all are welcome, so that those who pay for the ads can try to convert them to their form of Christianity which excludes many groups as you point out. I am greatly disturbed by this apparent trickery. One point of yours that I don’t understand fully is whether you still believe that you must be a believer in Christ to be saved. Because if salvation (or a happy afterlife - or whatever you choose to call it) is not reserved for those who are Christian (and I don’t believe it is), then that billion dollars spent on this campaign IS truly wasted; it is not our job to save the souls of others by trying to convert them.
Man I agree with you so much. I also love how you are able to eloquently word so many things I believe. Our spiritual journey has many similarities. Thank you for your posts.
an arrow aimed in love?
Thank you.
I didn't see that commercial but heard about it and that was enough to make me never want to see it.
Jesus expects better.
I think that people that have never learned or know about Christianity is perfectly fine. I think it’s wrong of us to tell them that if they don’t believe, then they are bad. It’s not up to us to scare them into Christianity.
Well said . Right to the point. Keep shining the light. Love you MK.🥰🤗
Thank you for eloquently saying what I have thought and believed many times.