The stage was set. Hundreds of men had been involved, hundreds of hours
had been spent, and millions of dollars had been invested. And tonight was to
be the night they all had waited for. R&D had developed the new product, a
new dog food superior to any on the market. Production had adapted it so it
could be efficiently produced, accounting had made some budget cuts to make the
formula feasible, and marketing had come up with attractive packaging, a way to
make 40 pounds in a bag look like 44, making an additional 10% on each bag sold,
and tonight the new name would be announced. And the dog food would finally be
available for sale. After many exhausting hours of research, focus groups, and
legal investigations of trademarked names, the executive committee had narrowed
it down to three. Rumors had spread about which one it would be, bets were
placed, and as the excitement grew, they awaited the announcement in
anticipation. But were shocked when none of the final names was chosen, but one
named for the president’s dog. A name no one could pronounce, it wasn’t even
catchy, but satisfied the old man. Honored him. After a pause, the national
sales manager once again whipped up the room into a furor, hats and t-shirts
with the name and logo were passed out. The sales force was so excited they
couldn’t wait to get out and sell their new product, and their wives in
attendance with them were writing on napkins the increase in their husband’s
commissions, and what they would buy. The room was brought up to a fever pitch
of excitement, and then just to make sure, that no problems existed, that
everyone understood the new product and the marketing effort, the president
stepped to the mike, and after a brief statement, opened the floor to
questions. He hoped it wouldn’t last long as he wanted the excitement of the
meeting to carry on tomorrow, but it ended shorter than he had anticipated. One
new guy in the back raised his hand, and asked one question? “What do the dogs
think of it? Do they like it?” And the room became quiet, sullen, and no
answer was provided. The one thing they had neglected, the one thing that would
make it a success, the dogs liking it and eating it, had never been addressed.
They had forgotten the end user, the ultimate consumer. And suddenly names,
marketing, production, and accounting prowess didn’t matter. No one had thought
to ask the dogs.
A scenario of a classic fail. Yet we have real life examples, the Edsel,
NEW Coke, and do you recall BIC underwear, disposable? Worked for pens and
lighters? Real life failures, that failed because no one wanted them, they
filled a need that didn’t exist, or a desire that wasn’t there. The Shamwow!
guy of marketing has taken over, and if it feels good, looks good, and better
yet makes us look better, then we’ll buy it. Maybe even trade on an old name.
But only once if we don’t get the desired effect we want, not what we are told.
And today’s church is no different. Too many programs, processes, and
procedures. Too many meetings, too many budget hearings, and ways to market
Jesus. Well meaning men and women telling you “we cannot fulfill God’s plan
without your money.” Providing us with things that tickle the senses, but do
nothing for the soul. We leave entertained, a good time, but yet empty. For
like the dog food story, they mastered all of the worldly efforts, but left out
Jesus. The author was neglected, and the end user was reduced to a number, and
not a person. It has become a system of numbers, the more attendance, the
better the church. The more money donated, the better the message. All built
around the marketing of Jesus, but neglecting the power of the holy spirit.
Having a form of godliness, just without the involvement of God. They have
forgotten the one in 99 Jesus went back for, bragging on their 99% success.
Jesus saw the one, who might be you. For years I thought that the world had
invaded the church, and I was wrong. The church invited the world in, then
shut the door behind it and won’t let it out. Today we have board meetings,
that have become bored meetings because the spirit is not invited. I sat in one
when the leader told us “tonight we will let the spirit guide us. Now here are
the rules....” Religion has and is rearing its ugly head, and many churches
take on the Shamwow! approach to evangelism. When God tells us it is the inner
man, the spirit that must change first. And without God, we won’t. We will
follow clever words, focus groups, teach and brag about our education, but leave
with little application. Many great services and churches are based on how you
feel after, with little focus on Jesus Christ, the only one who makes the
difference. And it starts and ends with him, not us. Listen and see, all it
takes is that you ask him, then let him guide you. Yet many spend more money
on choir robes, guest speakers, expensive programs and hi-tech presentations
than they do to minister. They don’t let it outside of the four walls, because
they don’t want to. For outside they cannot control it, and so cannot control
you. It is like being invited in to someone’s nice home, but you cannot use the
bathroom. Or the hand towels. Or eat with them, you aren’t special
enough-yet. Enjoy the after dinner mint, just not the dinner. They will show
you how to be better externally, while you are wasting away spiritually. Jesus
tells us we will always have the poor among us, we just don’t get he was talking
about religion and how it has become the norm in many churches. Bumper stickers
and Bible covers do not make you closer to God.
1 Peter 5:7 tells us to cast your cares on him because he cares for you.”
The Greek word for cast means something that will roll back on you. Like a big
rock after being pushed up a hill, wants to roll back. Gravity, a law of the
universe. Yet we recognize gravity, but not the gravity of Jesus telling us in
Matthew 25 to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, give water to the thirsty,
visit those who are sick, and don’t neglect those in jail. And his law of
love. All situations that will occur again and again, and again. Needs that
must be met daily, and like manna from heaven, must be met from God. But
distributed by his sales team, his church-us. If asked “are you in the word?”
does your life show the word, Jesus Christ is in you? If asked “what would
Jesus do?” do you have to ask? Don’t you know? Or have you become a shell,
that needs life to begin inside and grow outward? When Paul told the Corinthian
church to stop their sinning, he just told them “STOP!” Not stop or die, just
stop. Repent, then let the spirit guide you. You can only revive something that
was once alive, and the same for resurrection. You must be alive in Christ, die
to yourself and become a new person in Christ. And when you do, you will see
things differently. Religion is so impersonal, I want as much of Jesus as I can
get. Do you?
But back to the dog food. if your relationship with Christ is more bark
than bite, more church doctrine than Bible, more education than application, you
need to seek Jesus now. Let his spirit change you, and watch as you grow in
grace. The Shamwow! school of religion is alive and well, looking for those it
can seek and destroy. To control, to not let them out from under their
control. It brings attention to itself, but brings no glory to God. And with
no glory, no blessings. But you might feel good for awhile. And soon be hungry
again because you were not filled. If Jesus died for you, isn’t her good enough
to lead you to?
Learn from the parable of the dog food. If church ain’t making it for you,
maybe you need to go right to Jesus. Programs, processes, and procedures. The
dying words of the church. All your best efforts will fail. If only because no
one thought to ask God.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com