‘Marketing’ For Jesus!

        I once had a conversation with a young lady concerning evangelism. She stated that her aggressive nature helped bring in people into her Church and for it she has been given commendations and awards. This should be a good thing but it just didn’t sit right with my spirit. And here is why. She argued that she is a very aggressive person at her place of work; the attitude had not only fared her well in her job but had paved way for her promotions. She believes that since it is working in her present position at work, she had used the ‘talent’ in the church to bring in as many souls as she could. When I reminded her that such an attitude was not part of Christ’s; she insisted that her Pastors beg to differ. In fact, they encourage them to be very aggressive in ‘marketing’ for Jesus! This attitude, according to her has yielded results in the Church as she has won awards for bringing a lot of people to the Church using same attitude. So, according to her, it must be a good thing! I then asked her, how many of the people she has brought in aggressively returned and are committed members of the Church. She was confused and upset as she felt it was not her duty to make them return or remain but the job of the Pastors; hers is to aggressively bring them in by using any means necessary as long as the goal is achieved! 

       It is true that management and leadership gurus argue and convince students of management and leadership to use the expertise that grew their companies to grow the society as well. For this reason, some have brought in their expertise into the Church and they are yielding awesome results for the Kingdom of God. However, in this case, an aggressive attitude that may be seen as an asset in the secular world goes against the attitude of Christ. In fact we saw the Apostles in their letters pleading with and enjoining the people rather that threatening and using subversive words to win the audience. Being aggressive is not a virtue in the Body of Christ, on the contrary, Christ said: “You have heard that it was said ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth’. But I tell you don’t resist and evildoer…And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to the one who asks you and don’t turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you” (Matthew 5:38-42). Aggressiveness may be an asset when one’s secular job is marketing but in Christ Jesus, God has not called us into marketing for Him. When you aggressively bring the people in, can you aggressively keep them in the circle of God’s love? There lies the oxymoron: You cannot be talking of love using aggression! Jesus Christ, our example, is not aggressive; rather He is gentle, humble and kind. In His time, He confronted this attitude by flogging it out of the Temple: “…He overturned the money changers tables and the chairs of those selling doves, and would not permit anyone to carry goods through the temple complex…” (Mark 11:15b-16). “He told those who were selling doves, ‘Get these things out of here! Stop turning My Father’s house into a marketplace!’” (John 2:16).

        Friends, no matter our zeal for God’s house, we cannot use attitudes that negate God’s word to serve Him. The attitude may take you through the door but it will not keep you in the room. A vice may be working for you in the secular but such will be counterproductive in the Body. If truly we claim to have put on the New Man, then we must completely do away with everything that is worldly within us (Colossians 3:5-11). Enough of the aggressive marketing for souls, but we should put on the attitude of humility and walk as Jesus did so that those that come in as a result of our actions and words will grow to become committed members of the Body. May the Lord help and teach you to win souls for the Kingdom as He did in Jesus Christ name. God bless you!