words are not enough » [live... from planet earth]

Part of my job involves event planning, and we usually raffle off prizes (usually good prizes) to attract more people. We even tried to get a used car to raffle off at the Gumbo Cook-Off this year (it didn’t work out). There’s no question that if you want to attract a lot of people to an event, give away some good stuff. But that’s just one event. It’s a one-off. I can get a lot of people to show up somewhere just once, as long as I’m giving away a lot of stuff and they think they’ll get some of that loot for themselves. For a non-profit organization that provides services to the community (a not-for-profit business), that’s a good thing.

Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God we do not lose heart. But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. -[2 Corinthians 4:1-6, ESV]

Every year I read about half a dozen megachurches offering expensive Apple products or even cars as incentive for showing up or bringing people to church. I’ve been told that people will accept an invitation to church on Easter 85% more often than other Sundays. Easter and Christmas- people show up if you ask them. Good. Great! Ask people to your heart’s content.

But what exactly are we giving away? How you get people to show up is how you’ll keep them around. If you give them an iPad this year, you better offer something bigger next time, and the next time, and the next time. If you’re resorting to cheap gimmicks to get them to show up, they’ll probably keep coming for the handouts, regardless of the message. Their incentive to show up isn’t to worship God or learn more about Jesus; you’re all but paying them to show up, raffling off prizes in hope they’ll get a little Jesus in the bag with that sweet iPad 2. Moreover, the underlying thought is that maybe if they win that iPad, maybe they’ll feel obligated to keep coming. Even put a little money in the bucket.

And if you only d it once or twice a year- does that make any difference? Are these people sticking?  If the surpassing grace that comes through Jesus’ blood isn’t enough, then what is? Do you really think the chance to win a car somehow makes a person more attuned to the Gospel?

What are you giving away? The Gospel you preach produces the churches you get. You can promote a false gospel through gimmickry; sucking people in by promising material things as if that’s what Jesus did… as if the Gospel of Jesus himself isn’t enough…

For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. … For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. -[2 Corinthians 5:14-15, 21, ESV]

If that isn’t enough… if the life, death, and resurrection of  Jesus isn’t enough…

then nothing ever will be.