tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6689838439428844486.post2122365498915689913..comments2024-03-15T20:15:34.428+13:00Comments on ξενος: Jesus Heals Cancer: A Tale of Media Hype and Church MarketingUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6689838439428844486.post-6188854027363093222012-03-17T22:22:24.740+13:002012-03-17T22:22:24.740+13:00While on one level, I am completely anti-litigious...While on one level, I am completely anti-litigious, on another, I wonder why advertising like this is not in breach of the Consumer Guarantees Act - particularly, where some kind of payment is made for the service. I am surprised that people have not searched for compensation from churches that have made such claims in the past.<br /><br />But more to your points, it is a National story because we - the Christians - have created it that way. Funnily enough, the nation uses messages like this to contrast to the truth that they occassionally observe. I agree that National media does not print the good news stories of the churches in our communities; however, it does glorify God every time it prints stories about the behaviour of Christians going through adversity. This is our real opportunity to shine as followers of Christ - not when we irrationally claim that we can avoid the said adversity. The public - both secular and Christian - probably view this kind of billboard advertising as hypocritical and divisive.<br /><br />Even the secular world can easily see that this church is trying to differentiate themselves from other churches. To their mind, they are probably thinking that this is cult-like behaviour - and they are lumping this church in with the other American-style churches commonly in the media.<br /><br />Great post and good questions that got me thinking.David and Jane Granthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00488568428274168072noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6689838439428844486.post-8218162647222643552012-03-13T19:50:31.489+13:002012-03-13T19:50:31.489+13:00Hi. It is a national story because that is the wor...Hi. It is a national story because that is the world we are in, ready to swoop on our mistakes, false claims etc. It is part of the ongoing tsunami of anti-Christendom thinking that goes on and on. It is a product of our own mistakes as well. But it is irrational. We have to do everything we do knowing that they are waiting to swoop, and be "wise in the way we act toward outsiders."<br /><br />Your point about "church not as we know it" is a good one. I have seen that used a number of times. It is usually used by people who are unwittingly syncretistic and subtly demean other churches from different traditions. I think we need to be much more thoughtful about the way we relate to outsiders and to each other. Nice work Jonathon.Mark J. Keownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15790396917682891386noreply@blogger.com