An honest question to all - I'm really curious as to folks' opinion of this.
One of our local churches is giving away two free tickets to Super Bowl XLI (including airfare and hotel accommodations) during their 5pm or 6:30pm service tomorrow night. Attend the service, and you have a chance to win.
Does this seem bizarre, disquieting, or weird to anyone else? Or is it marketing genius? Or all of the above?
Is it "cheating" to try and get people to come to your church just because they have a chance to "win great prizes", and not because they want to hear the message?
I also notice they don't specify WHICH service they will be giving the tickets away during, which should encourage folks to attend the early one and then stay for the second one...
2007-02-02 15:45:42 · 32 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
More info: http://www.fellowshipchurch.com/superbowl
if anyone wants to see it.
2007-02-02 15:51:11 · update #1
I think it sounds just like in Christ's time when he came in and overturned all the merchants tables in the synagogue. People will always eventually see through gimmicks and in the end it will do nothing more than hurt their cause. Non-believers will take the opinion that this Christ thing is a scam and it will verify, at least in their minds, what today's media is portraying about Christians.
I believe Churches should do some very basic things and allow God to do the rest. First, the church and its members should be true and faithful to the Word. Supporting each other in times of weakness and studying and learning what the Word teaches. Second, the church should reach out to those in need, the hurting, confused, lost, and abandoned among us and show them the healing Grace. Third, start living by what we call ourselves --Christians-- Christ-like. Christ never condemned anyone for not believing in Him, or for being a sinner (whatever that sin was), He went to them in their world and spoke of the never ending love and forgiveness of His Father.
People will be drawn to us when they learn that we are real, loving, and true.
2007-02-02 16:06:27 · answer #1 · answered by Wookie 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
On one hand, I find it disturbing -given the cost of Superbowl tickets.
Many churches are having a party on Sunday after church. But tickets? they are a lot of money. There is a lot of better things that can be done with $4000 + dollars.
On the other hand if people come to know Jesus because of it, well then it might be worth it. And there is precedent for it. Don't Christian homeless shelters provide food and shelter but require you attend the church service. On some level it is the same thing.
And,as far as cost, if it is one of Chicago's local mega- churches, with 25,000 members- well that's about 20 cents a member.
Of course, in terms of effectiveness- as a Bear's fan myself- I want to know which church- I might just show up to get those tickets.
2007-02-02 16:08:17 · answer #2 · answered by Janice M 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Brainwashing is only too variety a be conscious. Fascism is extra precise. it is the comparable fanatical intolerance that made the Holocaust a probability. he's not any distinctive than the Mullahs that deliver out suicide bombers interior the call of God. different than he's a coward. Makes me desire the Christian paradigm grew to become into genuine. so as that on judgment day he could be greatly surprised to discover himself solid the different way up in a pit of fiery s*it, the place he belongs. i'm not an atheist, yet I despise faith. the only solid i will see in a church is community for the folk. otherwise the training are conserving lower back the human race, insisting we settle for a worldwide view it rather is the two previous, irrational and incorrect. technological know-how has to safeguard itself at each turn from those difficult headed, close minded dinosaurs. It in basic terms took the Catholic church 4 hundred years to forgive Galileo for being suited related to the earth orbiting the solar. present day American evangelists only isn't as open minded as that. they think of they own united statesa., and are to blame of their very own sort of non secular persecution by denying the rights of patriotic electorate to prepare no faith in any respect and nonetheless be considered American. humorous that jap religions are so on the fringe of the findings of technological know-how. Buddhism teaches an exceedingly previous universe, Taoism teaches the uncertainty of reality. are you able to assert Quantum Physics? that's time American Christians take the solid teachings of their faith and discard the fables and myths. Even the final Pope recognized the enormous Bang while he met with Stephen Hawking. The universe is a lot larger and marvelous than something of their magic e book.
2016-09-28 08:41:14 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, it's an idea, and the equivalent of secular marketing strategy, but I just don't look at the church as a collection of unbelieving people, or at least it's not meant for that. Then again, was if it wasn't announced to the general community, it might just be something fun for the congregation to enjoy.
2007-02-02 15:51:54 · answer #4 · answered by ccrider 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I predict this is the beginning of the end for this church if it keeps on like this.
A church should be there to feed the sheep of Jesus..which means, teach the word of God right from the bible. Put Jesus and the word of God at the center first, last and always.
It's embarrassing to turn a church into a den of thieves, and this reminds me of that verse from the bible. It isn't about winning something, it's about learning how God would have us live.
2007-02-02 15:50:16 · answer #5 · answered by Esther 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It sounds too much like a marketing gimmick to me. People are used to marketing gimmicks, why have them think that your church is just another brand trying to sell something? If you make your church welcoming to people, a place where they will find friendship and not be made to feel awkward, then i think God will send people to your church. Try visiting other churches to see what they do, like how they treat visitors, and also visit temples and mosques, to see how they treat visitors and also to gain an insight into what it feels like to be a visitor, like how people of other or no religion feel when they visit your church and what may be helpful to them.
2007-02-02 17:03:06 · answer #6 · answered by Beng T 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Churches are in the business of "saving souls" in order to stay in business they need money. Money comes from the donations of attendees. In order to survive, you do whatever it takes to get more people in. Some churches are Rock and Roll churches aimed at younger audiences. Some aim at couples activities, kind of dating for Christ type thing. Basically the feeling is, whatever it takes to get the word out. "Come to the Sermon on the Mount, free, all-you-can-eat fish and bread and wine".
2007-02-02 15:53:34 · answer #7 · answered by sparkletina 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That sounds pretty pathetic for a church. If they were "real Christians" they would sell the tickets to the highest bidder and use the money to buy food for the poor and homeless.
2007-02-02 15:53:13 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think it's kind of creative. Why not? Nobody is forcing people to go into the church still. Why would this be a bad thing? It's not up to us to judge? Life isn't a contest of something where you can call this cheating.
Maybe I'm a little more open minded?
2007-02-02 15:51:51 · answer #9 · answered by SurfDog 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Make it revevant, exciting challenging and personal. I think superbowl stuff is a bit too much like marketing. Thats just silly. It doesnt seperate companies from churches. No wonder they want churchesto pay tax!!
2007-02-02 15:51:45 · answer #10 · answered by bcooper_au 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋