God promotion or promoting sales
I went to a pentecostal gathering on Friday and i must say, i'm shocked and appalled. Lets look at what happens there.
1) Big music, big dancing, big pushes for people to be happy and love God and open up. This all sounds good!
2) Talking about how good it is to give, sharing stories of giving and pointing out that God wants us to give our all, not just what we think its worth.
3) Credit card slips being passed around.
4) Constant anchoring of the action of giving. I saw the pastors hand open up and offer to give the crowd something, thereby opening the crowd up to sharing.
5) Ensuring everyone is happy and ready to give their utmost directly before the offering.
I've been to sales meetings with less salesmanship/hypnosis going on. It makes me sick to look around and see all these happy people conned out of their money to support a system of network marketing with an intangible product, pretending that they are getting God's love when all they are getting is short-term happiness. If it helps people - great! How many people does it help and how many does it hinder?
"You should come to our church, Gav. Its great, you really feel Gods love there."
How do you feel at a rock concert. Compare the two feelings and get back to me.
"Oh.." walks off.
1) Big music, big dancing, big pushes for people to be happy and love God and open up. This all sounds good!
2) Talking about how good it is to give, sharing stories of giving and pointing out that God wants us to give our all, not just what we think its worth.
3) Credit card slips being passed around.
4) Constant anchoring of the action of giving. I saw the pastors hand open up and offer to give the crowd something, thereby opening the crowd up to sharing.
5) Ensuring everyone is happy and ready to give their utmost directly before the offering.
I've been to sales meetings with less salesmanship/hypnosis going on. It makes me sick to look around and see all these happy people conned out of their money to support a system of network marketing with an intangible product, pretending that they are getting God's love when all they are getting is short-term happiness. If it helps people - great! How many people does it help and how many does it hinder?
"You should come to our church, Gav. Its great, you really feel Gods love there."
How do you feel at a rock concert. Compare the two feelings and get back to me.
"Oh.." walks off.