False Advertising?

The staff and congregation at the United Pentecostal Church of Harvey, Ill., are convinced you'll like their church--so convinced that they offered $25 to the first 75 visitors who showed up at each of their Sunday morning services. Chicago Tribune article notes--other churches have lured attendees with gas cards, cash and tickets to movies and comedy shows. It's easy to criticize these "tactics," but are they far removed from the advertisements of churches that promise free Starbucks and Krispy Kremes--or even "relevant, practical sermons," "exciting children's ministry" and "upbeat contemporary music"? Ministry is definitely about compelling people to come--and taste and see--that God is good. But do we compel them with what they want or what they need? I'm not sure what I think of all this, but here are two questions I have:

• Is this false advertising? In other words, does this methodology suggest to unbelievers that God and the church are merely another option at the spiritual smorgasbord of postmodern American culture--when in reality, it is the only option?
• Is it "bait and switch"? In other words, does this methodology give people the impression that church is "all about you," but then (once they join) we attempt to convince them that they exist for the glory of God and the service of His Kingdom?

by Matt Green
from The Ministry Report
June 27, 2006