What we've all been waiting for...
Ever wonder how you can become a Christian? All you have to do is pray this prayer:
What's even a little bit weirder is the way you get to this page. First...
...go to their homepage. Then...
...think to yourself, "Hmmm, I'd really like to know Jesus..." and lo and behold, up in the right-hand corner, right next to "Contact Us" and "About the [insert acronym here]" you just might notice a little tab that says "I want to know Jesus." So...
...mosey on over to that page, and a few mouse clicks later, you're good to go. Or so it would seem.
I don't really even know where to begin with this - just thought I'd share it and see what you guys make of it. I don't know if we should discuss the efficacy of website evangelistic techniques, the possibility of online conversions, or the questionable theological implications of a prayer that claims that Jesus' death and resurrection purchase a place in Heaven for me. So what, like God has all this empty real estate up in Heaven and the asking price is Jesus' death and resurrection? I mean...seriously?
It's funny, too, how certain evangelical churches (our own esteemed denomination being no exception) might be skeptical towards, or even condemning of, certain types of "scripted" or prepared (read: "liturgical") worship or prayer, and yet this kind of quick-fix prayer is just the ticket to "get 'em saved"...last time I checked, the only way Jesus himself instructed us to pray was "Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name..." (cf. Matt. 6:9-13). But perhaps that is a discussion for another blog.
[UPDATE, 30 sec. later] I was sitting here thinking how glad I am that our denomination hasn't deemed such tactics useful...I mean, check out our homepage, and nope, no "Get Saved" or "I want to know Jesus" tab to be found. But wait...what's this box that says "Visitor's Center - click here to enter - beliefs, churches & more"...? So I click and...aw, nuts...seems I spoke too soon. There it is, in the list to the left: "How to know Jesus." [*heavy sigh*]
I guess we DO have to keep up with the Baptists. At least our prayer doesn't contain that one line that irked me before about purchasing Heaven ... although otherwise it's not a great deal different. And, to be fair, at least the other denomination's version didn't have us saying "I now accept you as my personal Savior." (Snarky aside: "This year, for Father's Day, what do you give the dad who has everything? If he's already got a personal computer, a personal trainer, and a personal assistant, then this year give him the only thing he's lacking: a personal Savior!! That's right folks! Even that special guy in your life can own his very own personal Jesus. And don't worry: there's plenty of him to go around! Operators are standing by!")
Who knows? Maybe these things do get results, and maybe they've got the stats to back it up. Maybe the attitude is, even if it only leads to one conversion, it was worth it. I guess I just wonder if it really IS worth it, though, when what we're doing is giving the impression to our "visitors" that it's just that easy: sitting there staring at the soft glow of your computer screen, read a few lines of text, pray this prayer, and badda-bing-badda-boom, welcome to the Christian faith! Seek out a church, sure, because that's a nice supplement to your new-found, personal Christian faith - it'll probably help you to know some other Christian folks, and to have a place to serve and to give, and to "be fed." Hey, maybe even "get baptized" at some point! (Or not...I mean, whatever suits you...really!) But rest assured you sorted the big one out by yourself already when a website led you to Jesus and you "got saved." (Got Milk? anyone...? Get on it, ye cafe press t-shirt entrepreneurs. That one's a freebie.) As one who stands convinced that the Christian life is anything but easy, and that life in and as the Body of Christ demands far more than what this represents, I just don't think I can accept this...can you?
"Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and I do not deserve eternal life. But, I believe You died and rose from the grave to purchase a place in Heaven for me. Jesus, come into my life, take control of my life, forgive my sins and save me. I am now placing my trust in You alone for my salvation and I accept your free gift of eternal life."Okay, okay...I know the whole "pray the sinner's prayer" thing isn't anything new in the world of evangelistic methods...But, I don't know, this just seemed particularly strange to me to discover on a rather high-profile evangelical denomination's very own sanctioned website.
What's even a little bit weirder is the way you get to this page. First...
...go to their homepage. Then...
...think to yourself, "Hmmm, I'd really like to know Jesus..." and lo and behold, up in the right-hand corner, right next to "Contact Us" and "About the [insert acronym here]" you just might notice a little tab that says "I want to know Jesus." So...
...mosey on over to that page, and a few mouse clicks later, you're good to go. Or so it would seem.
I don't really even know where to begin with this - just thought I'd share it and see what you guys make of it. I don't know if we should discuss the efficacy of website evangelistic techniques, the possibility of online conversions, or the questionable theological implications of a prayer that claims that Jesus' death and resurrection purchase a place in Heaven for me. So what, like God has all this empty real estate up in Heaven and the asking price is Jesus' death and resurrection? I mean...seriously?
It's funny, too, how certain evangelical churches (our own esteemed denomination being no exception) might be skeptical towards, or even condemning of, certain types of "scripted" or prepared (read: "liturgical") worship or prayer, and yet this kind of quick-fix prayer is just the ticket to "get 'em saved"...last time I checked, the only way Jesus himself instructed us to pray was "Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name..." (cf. Matt. 6:9-13). But perhaps that is a discussion for another blog.
[UPDATE, 30 sec. later] I was sitting here thinking how glad I am that our denomination hasn't deemed such tactics useful...I mean, check out our homepage, and nope, no "Get Saved" or "I want to know Jesus" tab to be found. But wait...what's this box that says "Visitor's Center - click here to enter - beliefs, churches & more"...? So I click and...aw, nuts...seems I spoke too soon. There it is, in the list to the left: "How to know Jesus." [*heavy sigh*]
I guess we DO have to keep up with the Baptists. At least our prayer doesn't contain that one line that irked me before about purchasing Heaven ... although otherwise it's not a great deal different. And, to be fair, at least the other denomination's version didn't have us saying "I now accept you as my personal Savior." (Snarky aside: "This year, for Father's Day, what do you give the dad who has everything? If he's already got a personal computer, a personal trainer, and a personal assistant, then this year give him the only thing he's lacking: a personal Savior!! That's right folks! Even that special guy in your life can own his very own personal Jesus. And don't worry: there's plenty of him to go around! Operators are standing by!")
Who knows? Maybe these things do get results, and maybe they've got the stats to back it up. Maybe the attitude is, even if it only leads to one conversion, it was worth it. I guess I just wonder if it really IS worth it, though, when what we're doing is giving the impression to our "visitors" that it's just that easy: sitting there staring at the soft glow of your computer screen, read a few lines of text, pray this prayer, and badda-bing-badda-boom, welcome to the Christian faith! Seek out a church, sure, because that's a nice supplement to your new-found, personal Christian faith - it'll probably help you to know some other Christian folks, and to have a place to serve and to give, and to "be fed." Hey, maybe even "get baptized" at some point! (Or not...I mean, whatever suits you...really!) But rest assured you sorted the big one out by yourself already when a website led you to Jesus and you "got saved." (Got Milk? anyone...? Get on it, ye cafe press t-shirt entrepreneurs. That one's a freebie.) As one who stands convinced that the Christian life is anything but easy, and that life in and as the Body of Christ demands far more than what this represents, I just don't think I can accept this...can you?
Labels: online evangelism, prayer
posted by Brannon Hancock | 11:18 PM
|
7 comments
