I’m hesitant to criticize how people spend their own money, but I want to get back to the “He Gets Us” campaign. I got to be the critic in the New York Times. Erick Erickson, a conservative talk show host, said he was hesitant to criticize donors but added, “I honestly think the biggest issue is: You want to share Jesus with an unchurched crowd, that amount of money on TV ads is probably not the way to do it.”
The Green family - and I suspect the other donors behind the He Gets Us campaign - walk the walk and talk the talk, in addition to being willing to spend millions of dollars on this campaign. I’ve got no issue here.
Erick, I am a fairly recent fan of yours listening to you over the last couple of years and appreciating your fair mindedness and wisdom. I am glad to see you tone down the criticism on the He Gets Us campaign today.
I have been in ministry for 35 of my 58 years, 18 of which were as a self-supported missionary. There were many times when people I was sure would give to my ministry didn’t, and many times people I thought wouldn’t give were eager and generous to.
One thing I learned is that God is fully capable of providing for many strategies to reach those who are far away. He is not on His last dime to provide for the poor, homeless, orphan or widow. He is more than able to fund all the scholarships, camps and pantries out there.
Perhaps the people who are funding He Gets Us are also involved in other kinds of ministry funding. I bet they are. But they also have a passion to reach the tens of millions of people who are far from God who may not be homeless, orphaned or widowed and may encounter Jesus through media when they wouldn’t otherwise notice Him. God places different passions on peoples’ hearts and gives them different means to participate in giving.
I think we might want to be careful to criticize others to avoid being like the disciples who complained against the woman’s lavish anointing of Jesus, saying the perfume could have been sold and given to the poor. Perhaps we can err on the side of letting Jesus orchestrate His mission through His people and encourage all of us to be generous in giving to the things we are passionate about as God directs us. Thanks.
That is right up there with the kids on a mission trip driving through the war zone neighborhoods and past all the homeless folks on the way to the airport.
Erick, arguing that the money could have been spent on other things misses a major theological point of Christianity, that God is unlimited and that there is a limit to resources. Why do we think that if we spend money in one area that another will suffer or not be addressed? If something is God's will then it will happen. There is also the possibility that touching one heart that God has chosen could also open up possibilities we can't even imagine.
I liked the one about loving your neighbor. It made the point clearly and succinctly. I don’t like the refugee one at all because it oversimplifies the context of both the flight to Egypt and the current issues in Central and South America.
My primary concern with the campaign is that it focuses so much on Jesus’ humanity that it neglects his deity.
When i first heard about the Jesus Ads was days before the Super Bowl and was some what perplexed. First of all “Jesus Ads” just does not sit well even in this day and age, particularly during this event, i question impact. But as mentioned its not my money, although it is my Lord and Savior. Who knows what works in todays world, i like the one on one approach. God Bless and go Witness Today 🙏
I'm absolutely not going to put a stumbling block before anyone who has the means to put an ad about Jesus on the Superbowl. Good for them. Yes, it cost $7mil to do but they can do that. I cannot. Good for them. If your predisposition is to say, "$7mil could be better spent THIS WAY (whatever this way is)" then go and raise you seven million dollars and spend it that way. When we tell folks on our side how to spend the money they made we are no better than the people on their side trying to say we should tax those same people so they can spend the money they made. My opinion, I welcome yours...
When I saw the adverts, I connected back to what you have been saying in recent shows, but I still don't understand what you object to. Your message today helps a bit, but there is more discussion to be had.
I am a "cradle Catholic" who believes deeply in charitable works. When I was growing up, I was taught that the priest on Sunday would read and explain the Bible to me, I did not need a Bible in my home and did not need to read and try to learn. Like many Catholics (65) I struggle with the sins of the church hierarchy. I have bought a Bible (several of them). And I bought a Koran and the Gospel of St Thomas. I have a copy of the Dead Sea Scrolls and have tried to imagine what life would have been like when Christ walked the area. I have read about the Zoroastrians and read the travels of Marco Polo. All in a search for more knowledge. I am looking for the word of God in Everday life.
So, what do you object to with this outreach? The adverts were well done and not WOKE. The Green family lives and walks the WORD. I think people should embrace these ministries while reaching out and asking for contributions for more efforts, not to be blocking these types of initiatives.
Many years ago, I came to believe that God writes straight with crooked lines.
I liked it. The images were powerful and very reflective of our national state of dysfunctional tribalism. The message was simple. I thought it was effective. But my opinion - and literally everyone else with an opinion on the topic - doesn't matter. If the Green family truly felt led by God to create and fund this commercial, who are we to say they were wrong or that they could've spent their money more wisely? It's arrogant to believe we know better.
I totally agree....it is their money. They have plenty more where that came from if they want to fund Christian colleges, food banks, and trail hikers. I love that it drove the libs crazy!
If the wealthy and the heads of the large Corporations were really interested in helping people; they should form mentoring programs in each school district for after hour programs to teach children reading and math to make sure they have a good foundation. Children in our inner city public schools are failing. This will also give the children a place to go after school hours. Note that many "rich" people helped schools buy laptops for kids, but the children had no internet access at home. Another lost program. The best way to help is one-on-one mentoring. Keep the money away from the administrators at the schools. By the way, where did all that COVID relief money for education go?
There are many people walking around, embodying what it means to be a good Christian. Doing the work. Foster parents, running soup kitchens, donating money to help others. Problem is they're pretty quiet about it. The ones who need to see them don't. Sometimes we only find out when we read their obituaries.
I understand the love your enemy stuff. But honestly there is a point where we have to also stand up for ourselves. If we continue to acquiesce to the lefts screaming. Pretty soon we will have nothing left. Covid was just the liberals way to clear their throats. Wait till they really enact their power.
The other thing is these ads prove you can be a Christian and a liberal. It doesn’t work. No Christian acts the way those people did in the videos. Most of them about the right leaning protesters was miss represented.
Lastly. Jesus doesn’t just need to get us. We need to get Jesus. Jesus said “come to me”. Follow me. He didn’t say “yeah I get you I’ll bend to your ways and be ok with your earthly sins so long as you follow me..” nope. That’s not how that should work. Who am I to say, but in my opinion. Those ads are as offensive as the rest of the social just live warrior ads filled with diversity picks.
https://babylonbee.com/news/god-hopeful-the-millions-spent-on-he-gets-us-super-bowl-ad-will-finally-give-him-some-exposure
The Green family - and I suspect the other donors behind the He Gets Us campaign - walk the walk and talk the talk, in addition to being willing to spend millions of dollars on this campaign. I’ve got no issue here.
Erick, I am a fairly recent fan of yours listening to you over the last couple of years and appreciating your fair mindedness and wisdom. I am glad to see you tone down the criticism on the He Gets Us campaign today.
I have been in ministry for 35 of my 58 years, 18 of which were as a self-supported missionary. There were many times when people I was sure would give to my ministry didn’t, and many times people I thought wouldn’t give were eager and generous to.
One thing I learned is that God is fully capable of providing for many strategies to reach those who are far away. He is not on His last dime to provide for the poor, homeless, orphan or widow. He is more than able to fund all the scholarships, camps and pantries out there.
Perhaps the people who are funding He Gets Us are also involved in other kinds of ministry funding. I bet they are. But they also have a passion to reach the tens of millions of people who are far from God who may not be homeless, orphaned or widowed and may encounter Jesus through media when they wouldn’t otherwise notice Him. God places different passions on peoples’ hearts and gives them different means to participate in giving.
I think we might want to be careful to criticize others to avoid being like the disciples who complained against the woman’s lavish anointing of Jesus, saying the perfume could have been sold and given to the poor. Perhaps we can err on the side of letting Jesus orchestrate His mission through His people and encourage all of us to be generous in giving to the things we are passionate about as God directs us. Thanks.
Erick. Agreed.
That is right up there with the kids on a mission trip driving through the war zone neighborhoods and past all the homeless folks on the way to the airport.
Erick, arguing that the money could have been spent on other things misses a major theological point of Christianity, that God is unlimited and that there is a limit to resources. Why do we think that if we spend money in one area that another will suffer or not be addressed? If something is God's will then it will happen. There is also the possibility that touching one heart that God has chosen could also open up possibilities we can't even imagine.
I liked the one about loving your neighbor. It made the point clearly and succinctly. I don’t like the refugee one at all because it oversimplifies the context of both the flight to Egypt and the current issues in Central and South America.
My primary concern with the campaign is that it focuses so much on Jesus’ humanity that it neglects his deity.
I thought the ads were awesome, and touched many people.
I am somewhat perplexed by your criticism….
When i first heard about the Jesus Ads was days before the Super Bowl and was some what perplexed. First of all “Jesus Ads” just does not sit well even in this day and age, particularly during this event, i question impact. But as mentioned its not my money, although it is my Lord and Savior. Who knows what works in todays world, i like the one on one approach. God Bless and go Witness Today 🙏
I'm absolutely not going to put a stumbling block before anyone who has the means to put an ad about Jesus on the Superbowl. Good for them. Yes, it cost $7mil to do but they can do that. I cannot. Good for them. If your predisposition is to say, "$7mil could be better spent THIS WAY (whatever this way is)" then go and raise you seven million dollars and spend it that way. When we tell folks on our side how to spend the money they made we are no better than the people on their side trying to say we should tax those same people so they can spend the money they made. My opinion, I welcome yours...
Erick,
When I saw the adverts, I connected back to what you have been saying in recent shows, but I still don't understand what you object to. Your message today helps a bit, but there is more discussion to be had.
I am a "cradle Catholic" who believes deeply in charitable works. When I was growing up, I was taught that the priest on Sunday would read and explain the Bible to me, I did not need a Bible in my home and did not need to read and try to learn. Like many Catholics (65) I struggle with the sins of the church hierarchy. I have bought a Bible (several of them). And I bought a Koran and the Gospel of St Thomas. I have a copy of the Dead Sea Scrolls and have tried to imagine what life would have been like when Christ walked the area. I have read about the Zoroastrians and read the travels of Marco Polo. All in a search for more knowledge. I am looking for the word of God in Everday life.
So, what do you object to with this outreach? The adverts were well done and not WOKE. The Green family lives and walks the WORD. I think people should embrace these ministries while reaching out and asking for contributions for more efforts, not to be blocking these types of initiatives.
Many years ago, I came to believe that God writes straight with crooked lines.
In all things GOD IS GREAT.
I liked it. The images were powerful and very reflective of our national state of dysfunctional tribalism. The message was simple. I thought it was effective. But my opinion - and literally everyone else with an opinion on the topic - doesn't matter. If the Green family truly felt led by God to create and fund this commercial, who are we to say they were wrong or that they could've spent their money more wisely? It's arrogant to believe we know better.
I totally agree....it is their money. They have plenty more where that came from if they want to fund Christian colleges, food banks, and trail hikers. I love that it drove the libs crazy!
If the wealthy and the heads of the large Corporations were really interested in helping people; they should form mentoring programs in each school district for after hour programs to teach children reading and math to make sure they have a good foundation. Children in our inner city public schools are failing. This will also give the children a place to go after school hours. Note that many "rich" people helped schools buy laptops for kids, but the children had no internet access at home. Another lost program. The best way to help is one-on-one mentoring. Keep the money away from the administrators at the schools. By the way, where did all that COVID relief money for education go?
There are many people walking around, embodying what it means to be a good Christian. Doing the work. Foster parents, running soup kitchens, donating money to help others. Problem is they're pretty quiet about it. The ones who need to see them don't. Sometimes we only find out when we read their obituaries.
I understand the love your enemy stuff. But honestly there is a point where we have to also stand up for ourselves. If we continue to acquiesce to the lefts screaming. Pretty soon we will have nothing left. Covid was just the liberals way to clear their throats. Wait till they really enact their power.
The other thing is these ads prove you can be a Christian and a liberal. It doesn’t work. No Christian acts the way those people did in the videos. Most of them about the right leaning protesters was miss represented.
Lastly. Jesus doesn’t just need to get us. We need to get Jesus. Jesus said “come to me”. Follow me. He didn’t say “yeah I get you I’ll bend to your ways and be ok with your earthly sins so long as you follow me..” nope. That’s not how that should work. Who am I to say, but in my opinion. Those ads are as offensive as the rest of the social just live warrior ads filled with diversity picks.
The best thing about those ads are that they anger leftists....