recently i had the horrific experience of a vacuum salesman coming to my door, and trying to sell a vacuum to me.
it reminded me of my days of being 'unsaved' and what people in the Church would do to get me in the doors of Church.
when i looked at it, really it was the same approach, to selling their product.
i think the church can learn a great deal from not being another vacuum salesman. if it works, it works. no one wants to be sold a vacuum, and no one wants to be sold Jesus.
the best way to sell a vacuum is to use it, and let people see what it does for your carpets.
i think the only way someone will want anything to do with Christ, is if they see Christ in your life, in a real, authentic kind of way.
so... this is how i see it:
vacuum sales:
it's not a vacuum sales company, it's a carpet shampooing company!
church:
it's not a church! it's a coffee shop/class on religion/game night.
vacuum sales:
tells you that there is no pressure to buy.
church:
tells you that there is no pressure to stay.
vacuum sales:
let me show you how this product works!
church:
let me tell you what the church does for me!
vacuum sales:
your life will be so much better with this vacuum!
church:
your life will be so much better with God!
vacuum sales:
they will give you every pitch possible to sell the vacuum, they will read books on how to sell, listen to seminars, and go to motivation meetings.
church:
they will give you every pitch possible to sell God with. they will read books on how to witness, listen to seminars, and go to prayer meetings.
vacuum:
"you can have this vacuum today!"
church:
"you can have eternal salvation today!"
vacuum:
you try to be nice, but eventually figure out the nicer you are, the more they think you are falling for it.
church:
you try to be nice, but eventually you figure out that the nicer you are the more they think they almost have you.
vacuum:
tell your friends and family about us!
church:
invite your unsaved friends!
vacuums:
this vacuum will change your life
church:
God will change your life!
vacuum:
you either have to say that i'm lying & cheating you or i'm telling you the truth about this vacuum.
church:
Jesus is either, Liar Lord Lunatic.
vacuum:
how could you not want this product, it does every thing!
church:
how could you not want eternal life? you'll get everything!
vacuum:
it's not a purchase, it's an investment!
church:
you'll receive the blessings after getting saved!
vacuum:
we make it easy for you, if you sign our pennies a day contract!
church:
just say this simple little prayer!
vacuum sales:
you can have a cleaner house!
church:
you can have a cleaner soul!
vacuum sales:
everyone wants a clean house
church:
who wants to go to hell?
vacuum sales:
so many people have bought this product! it's been around forever!
church:
how can millions of Christians be wrong?
vacuum:
this vacuum is the best selling vacuum in the
church:
The bible is the all time best selling book!
vacuum:
i can prove to you that this vacuum is the best vacuum you will ever see, through science, and studies.
church:
let me show you how science and the bible really are the same, and all of the scientic proof of God.
vacuum:
anyone can use this vacuum! your carpets can be cleaned, no matter how dirty they are!
church:
anyone can be saved! your sins will be forgiven, no matter how bad you have been!
if you don't buy today, you will lose today's special offer!
church:
if you were to die today, do you know where you would spend eternity?
i could go on.... if you think of any feel free to leave more...
i hate being sold to, maybe it's my generation, maybe it's me.
and i never wanted to be sold on God, i think god is far more worthy than a sales pitch, book, seminar, sermon, pamphlet, tape, cd, class, or easily packaged 'rules'.
just be. (link to previous post)
8 comments:
HAHA!That is so on!!! You crack me up girl.
Salesman:
I just want to get together with you over coffee/lunch.
*They never tell you why they really want to talk to you!
Church Guy:
I just want to get together over lunch/coffee.
And then BAM! They pull out there little cheat sheet with the 4 spiritual laws!
It's so sad! Too bad that the Church people don't realize that they don't have to look like an ass to talk about Jesus.
Oh so insightful! What a great post. Thanks!
I never got why the Church thought the God of the Universe needed a better PR person.
And Jesus, really does he need a better sales pitch?
I don't have any clever ones... but the ones you have are so funny, sad, and true!
This good stuff. So the question is how can we help bring people into meaningful relationship with the body instead of selling them the watered down gospel to make themselves feel like they are justified in the religion that they serve instead of a relationship?
Whoa. Run on sentence. Mrs. Jensen would be mad at me for that.
The both sell things that suck?
(I have had a lot of bad expierences with the Church people)
Look, I'm not a Christian (I am a good friend of one of Natala's friends) but I seriously like the teachings of Jesus, and I never understood why people can be so pushy about Jesus! I've read the Bible, and Jesus wasn't exactly pushy.
And he didn't pretend to be cool. What Christians have done to Jesus is shameful. He was about love and peace. I am learning more about Jesus, and I've been witnessed to more times than I want to remember. But the stuff I am reading about Jesus, I have never been taught, or seen in Christian lives.
So I guess what I'm saying is there is no need to sell Jesus, just like there is no need to sell Mother Theresa, or Ghandi, just let people learn about them. If they have questions, or need some sort of guidance, I am sure they would ask.
I don't get if "Christians" believe in the power of "God" so much, why they have to figure out every loop hole to get you sucked in.
Amen to Natala, and amen to Jason! I am so sick of the commercialized Chrisitanity! Let Jesus do the talking through our WALK with the Lord. Sometimes the best "sell" is seeing a Christian in action. Otherwise, you're convinced you're being sold a "lemon".
If my christian walk is supposed to be the best sell, then an unsaved person would have a not so great example to be sold hook, line, and sinker. I'm not Mother Theresa nor am I Gloria Copeland (both who I admire). If an unsaved person really wants to know what is in it for them, I would say you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Also, don't look at the person next to you to judge whether being a
Christian is "working". Lastly, being a Christian does not make me a faint hearted person, it has actually required me to become bold and in my opinion the more I learn what God really wants me to do the more I realize I need to step up to the plate. Reviewing Romans 6 in it's entirety at a bible study recently brought it home for me as to why some ppl are more successful at their Christian walks than others. It was awesome!
Amazing, astute, accurate. And that's just the A's! How much harm have we done to the "real" of being Christian trying so hard to give Him a hand in His plan. The ego of man never ceases to amaze me anyway, that we would consider ourselves worthy of selling someone on His finer points. Ya speak truth with humor. Lovin it!
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