I’ve never called a psychic hotline. I’ve wanted to several times. I’ve wanted to call and give a fake credit card number, then wonder if they knew I was going to do that. I’ve only seen a few different psychic type things on T.V. on those late night commercials. You know the ones…. with the Jamaican lady that says things on the commercial that relate to you sitting there in the dark at three in the morning. Somehow she knows that I am about to make a “large financial decision” and that an “old friend is coming back into my life”. She knows that “new things are on the horizon” and will tell me what it is if I call and give her my credit card number.
Fortune cookies are the same way. They are just general enough that they leave you feeling like something amazing is about to happen. Something “big is in your future”, all you have to do is “persist”. They tell you that you are about to “embark on something exciting” and get your mind reeling on what that could be. It gets you excited. Psychics know what they are doing. Fortune cookie writers know what they are doing. They are selling you nice feelings. They are telling you things that are general enough to leave you feeling good and then cashing your checks.
I grew up in a grounded Christian home. I went to church every Sunday, sometimes on Wednesdays, and even brought my Bible most times. Even now there is rarely a time where I hear a Bible verse and don’t recognize it as something I have heard before. I have heard all the stories, and even understand several of them. I know what verses to think about to be encouraged and I know what verses to think about when I am acting wrong. And then I stop and wonder if these verses have become like “fortune cookies” to me.
Now before anyone freaks out, this thought just hit me yesterday and I haven’t really thought through it all that much. The thought hit me when I was flipping through the radio stations in the truck yesterday and it landed on the local Christian radio station. Some well-know artist was reading a Bible verse to encourage the listener (me). It was a simple verse and there was no context included. It was only two sentences, and left the listener (me) inspired and ready to tackle any hardship that came my way. This well known musician must know what the listener (I) am going through and knows exactly what the listener (I) needed to hear. Am I being marketed to? Am I being handed neatly packaged good feelings that are sitting on top of the bill for my dinner? And worse of all is the Bible being used in a general enough sense that there’s no way to feel lost and hopeless?
Christian radio stations, and church marketing people know we want to feel good the same as psychics and fortune cookie writers. They know what we want to hear and to keep us coming back to the buffet. They know what’s going to keep us on the phone just five more minutes at $3.99 a minute. But what happens when we see through the fake Jamaican accent? What happens when the good feelings that come from the inspiring thought fades and we are stuck with reality that there is no exciting future prospect? And what happens when the radio is off and we are back to feeling completely abandoned? That concerned me today.
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that’s a tough one to answer shortly. the first thing that comes to mind is “is it a relationship or a religion”? because if someone has a true relationship that is flowing and active with Jesus Christ the future is always exciting and ordinary bible verses become power verses that allow us to use the authority we have in His name renew our minds and change our circumstances everyday. Good feelings come and go - Truth stays the same - there are days when I don’t always “feel” the Holy spirit but i know that He is there because The Word of God never lies or changes. BUT if its just a religion, then we’re missing the big picture. We’re missing the “more” that Jesus died for because the Jesus I know, the Jesus that I love and the Jesus that hung on a cross for me would never abandon me or anyone who ever called on His name. just my initial thoughts.
When you got Jesus on your side he’s alway encouraging you and he will never abandon you. Hold strong to Jesus, he’ll never let you go.
yeah, i have to agree with you. you know, i became a christian in high school but never even opened a bible until college and had i not gone to a christian school, who knows how long it would have taken. the church i attended, mostly known as “rick warren’s church” does not really support further learning but supports jesus serving you to make your life better. i recently took a class that was focused on reading the bible for all it’s worth and it was the best class i have ever taken. i dont think i could ever just look at a verse without the context anymore, there is so much more if you just take the time to read it all! it’s funny, some people think christianity is all about good feelings and life being happy, but its so much more, and does not claim to even have that. it worries me, these many “good life” chruches that are focused more on numbers and happiness than looking at the bible and learning who god is and how we can serve him, not the other way around.
i think i got off topic, so sorry, but the realization that there was more to a verse than the good feeling it gave me, completely changed my life.
That’s a great thought and well-spoken… err, typed.
The first thing that comes to my mind is a talk I heard by John Piper about the holiness of God.
He explained that at the end of the day, that’s where our hope is. Period.
Verses used out of context (and I think post people have no idea how out of context they use verses) can be somewhat helpful, and I really believe that the Holy Spirit uses them to encourage people. But at the end of the day, if the verses aren’t pointing you up to think about the greatness and uncompromised holiness of God, then they’re a weak form of encouragement.
I hear, “My God shall supply all of my needs according to His riches in glory.” And it’s encouraging, but I think, “Yeah. But how? And today or next year? And what if God is teaching me something or punishing me or something.”
But, I hear, “I am the Lord. That is My Name. I will not give My glory to another, or my fame to any idol.”
And I rest.
Whoa dude.
You just went deep.
I think you hit on something that’s been bothering me for a while, I just didn’t know how to say it. Thanks.
that’s where my wife and I are. Haven’t gone to church in 4 years. Sick of it all. Trying now to decipher what’s real from what’s bullshit and figure out what to do next.
Brody,
I agree that ten second Bible verses on the radio can mislead people, esepcailly if that is all they have. But a real Christian no matter how weak, strong, old, new, has a real relationship with Jesus, the Father, and the Holy Spirit and that is far greater than any Bible verse or fortunate cookie message. In the past two years, I’ve graduated a private Christian college (loads of debt!), had two close relatives pass away (1 very unexpected and a really painful sad situation), and am trying to do what God has called me to do in the music business (making basically minimum wage), gone through 6 months of joblessness, and dealt with being a witness to an ugly, ugly ethical issue around an individual at the radio station I worked at, I’m not complaining at all. Jesus has been there every single step up with the way and that is the difference. Even when I didn’t feel like it, even when I wasn’t praying or reading the Bible even when I was really, really hurting Jesus was with me. That I wouldn’t trade for anything in the world. That is what is bringing me through. At the same time, God has used some small stuff to really encourage me and draw me closer to Him, like MercyMe’s song God With Us I’ve been listening to it a ton lately because it is a good reminder God is with me even when I don’t deserve Him. I hope this is helpful and relates.
Hey brother,
I hear what you are saying and I think I know where you are coming from. People tend to forget that the call of Christ is about a revolution and not some sort of religion.
It is so dangerous when people start pulling little tiny pieces of scripture out of the Bible and try to mold them into something they are not meant to be. Context is the key. the problem with context is that it takes a lot of work to get to the heart of what is written. Which to me brings up another point. Do we really know what the call to be a true disciple of Christ involves? And are we really willing to out into being a disciple what is truly asked. It even goes beyond the study of scripture, but that seems to be where we are focussing right now.
I believe A LOT of american christians are just plain lazy. In every sense of the word. They snack on crumbs that they did not have to work for instead of really diving into the meat of things. For example. I love Rob Bell. I believe he is one of the finest teachers of scripture I have ever heard, but if I took his words as the whole “gospel” and did not study, pray, and meditate over what he saying, and also continue to go into the direction that he is pushing me, then that’s just lazy. And it’s dangerous.
If anyone quoting scripture, a pastor or friend or homeless dude or anyone, does not encourage you to dive deeper then they are dangerous to the revolution. (My opinion only). And I believe it can go both ways. people hijack scripture to make others feel good, “The Lord will bless you with money” as well as to feel bad. “God hates Gays, Your going to hell if you have an abortion” etc.
Maybe i am rambling here, who knows. But I also have to question any scripture that is thrown my way. In fact i am veru cautious when i quote scripture, actually, now that I think about it, I very rarely quote scripture.
Shalom.
I’d be careful with too quickly bashing all “church marketers.”
When you blog, you are marketing Brody. When you help others blog, you are marketing them.
Good marketing is just good communication. Period. Christians shouldn’t be so glib about bashing marketing. Instead, they should realize that when they make a racist or homophobic or republican comment to a neighbor they are “marketing”—and doing a poor job of it.
We could all benefit from more careful treatment of scripture—but somehow your post makes it seem like big churches (that do “marketing”) or radio stations are more likely to be guilty of poor exegesis. In fact, small, “deep” churches are just as awful at it.
I hear what you are saying Rich, and I do realize that anything I blog is a form of marketing myself. I completely agree with you about the racist or homophobic or republican comments and that being a poor representation of Christianity. I would like to point out though, that I never mentioned anything about the differences between “big churches” and their marketing and small or “deep” churches.
I just think there is a trap that we as believers have the potential of falling into and taking these verses out of context and applying them to our lives where we want them. That is what I am saying. I feel like at times these verses are just thrown around and we can apply them where we want.
That is what I find dangerous.
Good thoughts, and needed.
I just spoke at NRB and part of what I told them was that it’s not about them, it’s not about the technology, it’s not about the marketing, it’s not about the church, it’s not even about the altar call.
It’s about the change on God can bring. To often we are quick to get people to act but slow to make sure they follow through.
I resonate with this particular blog particularly. It’s a somewhat human tendancy to pick a topic and then find biblical “proof” to support it. (i.e. A 3 point sermon entitled Why God Wants Us To Cry Alot: 1)Jesus Wept 2)Jesus’ feet were cleaned by tears 3)Jesus cried in the garden)
Actually, that really doesn’t have much to do with the blog, it just struck me as slightly funny. I think Colette Ashley said it best. -Peace, hope and love-
I am a very spiritual person, do not attend church at this point in my life. Instead of worrying about why they market the sayings, just enjoy the feeling of a positive moment.
[...] 15, 2008 · No Comments Read a blog by Brody Harper this week and watched a video noted by Steve Fee. Both thoughts (and questions) [...]
Thanks for those points Brody. It is not easy. How about when we choose to do the “right” thing but left discouraged because the person you told you “have decided to follow Jesus” through your actions as able through His strength tell you just don’t understand and works really hard to discourage you when they know better. Thank God for Him because it is so very easy to give up in that instance…[takes a deep breath], walking with Jesus may not be easy but at least it is rewarding and has an eternal perspective.
I need God at all times and realize that my satisfaction could only come from Him alone. I may not be perfect, but I want to please Him with my every breath. Sometimes, I do not know what to do and I just want to hide in Him and not think about relationships and past/present hurts…It hurts because the more I know Him, the more I know that I do not belong to this world and want to be in His presence NOW. Yet, I must be patience because He has a reason for all I go through and where I will end up. I pray to fix my eyes on Him and put my faith in Him as I go wherever He pleases and do all that He desires even though I get beaten down for my decisions–at least I know He is faithful and will never leave nor forsake me even when it feels as if I am all alone for I am never abandoned by my Abba Father.
Brody, thank you and thanks to God for using you to set me free from a bondage/burden for I was actually crying when I wrote my prior post, but between then and now, He led me to prayer…I am confirmed free in Him and I know He will never abandon me or anyone one of His children come what may.
2 Timothy 1
[6] Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
[7] For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Amen for such precious promises!!!!!