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There are certain products and companies that seem to have particular markets cornered (speaking of the US, not worldwide). For instance, why does Apple sell more tablets or phones than any other single manufacturer? In the PC industry, why do HP and Dell seem to sell more computers than other manufacturers? Why is Amazon the online retail giant that it is? Why does Starbucks have such a foothold in the coffee market? Why is McDonalds such a fast food giant?
The answer to each of these questions is not the same. There is a variety of reasons for the success of each of these companies and products. However, I think that the uniqueness of each success story comes down to 2 things: a competent (or better) product/service and relentless marketing. Apple, McDonalds, Amazon, HP, Starbucks, and the like have had tremendous marketing strategies. Their products are either just as good as their marketing or at least they are good enough not to reverse their marketing.
Christianity's growth has not been, and should never be, the result of strong marketing. If you are a Christian you should not be the product of marketing. In other words, you should not be a Christian just because you bought a sales pitch. As ministers and other Christians we ought not seek to fulfill the Great Commission (making disciples) simply by teaching and presenting a strong sales pitch for Jesus.
People should put their faith in Christ, he should be their Lord, because of TRUTH. Truth sells itself. Marketing exists to counteract truth. Truth sells itself better and most completely when it is fully and deeply examined by the end user. Truth, just like with gold, stands the test of fire. It comes out the other side pure. The truth about Jesus and the truth of God is found in God's truth communicated to us (the Bible). Truth (especially the truth of the gospel) does not need to be hidden, marginalized, twisted, tweaked, or improved.
If you are reading this and you are not a Christian, begin to ask yourself: Is Christianity true? Then begin answering that question. Do the digging. Don't rely on one source but many. I would tell you the Bible is a reliable and trustworthy source; it is fully true and without error. But don't take my word for it. It will withstand your examination.
If you are a Christian I want to tell you two things. First, don't go about selling people Christianity. If you create a convincing enough sales pitch for them to buy into then someone can come along behind you and undo that work. Plus, It's not a sales pitch or set of facts that changes peoples' lives in the first place. GOD CHANGES PEOPLE. He calls them to faith. He calls them to salvation, not your sales pitch. However, Jesus has called us to proclaim his truth. So do that. Proclaim it. Tell people about Jesus, about their sin, about God's plan to save them. Present the facts but know, no matter how convincingly or unconvincingly you do so, it's up to God to change peoples' hearts.
Second, if you call yourself a Christian, don't take your faith for granted (i.e. not blind faith). First and foremost, ask yourself "Is Jesus my Lord." Being a Christian (surrendering your life to Christ in faith) is not simply about intellectual belief or facts. It is about surrender to Jesus as Lord because you believe in who he is and what God has done through him. Once you have trusted him as Lord it does not mean you are done though. You keep digging, keep studying, keep seeking truth until you stand in his presence. Know why you believe and trust the Bible. Know why you have trusted Jesus as your Lord. Know what a Christian is. Know and be able to explain who God is.
After we die and stand in Jesus' presence, we will fully know him (1 Corinthians 13:12). All of our questions about him, and about truth, will be fully answered. One of our goals in this life should be to close the gap between what we know about Christ here and now and how we will fully know then. Even though we will not fully know Jesus now, we should seek to know him as well as we possibly can. That is not an emotionless pursuit of facts or intellectual knowledge. It is a pursuit of knowledge and pursuit of action. It fulfills the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19-20) to know Jesus' commands and to live them. It follows Romans 12:2 which calls us to live differently than the world and indicates that comes from our minds being renewed; when we think truthfully.
Pursue truth, defend truth, love truth, share truth, and let the truth of Christ continue to change you until the day that you fully know truth. Do all this for God's glory.
The answer to each of these questions is not the same. There is a variety of reasons for the success of each of these companies and products. However, I think that the uniqueness of each success story comes down to 2 things: a competent (or better) product/service and relentless marketing. Apple, McDonalds, Amazon, HP, Starbucks, and the like have had tremendous marketing strategies. Their products are either just as good as their marketing or at least they are good enough not to reverse their marketing.
Christianity's growth has not been, and should never be, the result of strong marketing. If you are a Christian you should not be the product of marketing. In other words, you should not be a Christian just because you bought a sales pitch. As ministers and other Christians we ought not seek to fulfill the Great Commission (making disciples) simply by teaching and presenting a strong sales pitch for Jesus.
People should put their faith in Christ, he should be their Lord, because of TRUTH. Truth sells itself. Marketing exists to counteract truth. Truth sells itself better and most completely when it is fully and deeply examined by the end user. Truth, just like with gold, stands the test of fire. It comes out the other side pure. The truth about Jesus and the truth of God is found in God's truth communicated to us (the Bible). Truth (especially the truth of the gospel) does not need to be hidden, marginalized, twisted, tweaked, or improved.
If you are reading this and you are not a Christian, begin to ask yourself: Is Christianity true? Then begin answering that question. Do the digging. Don't rely on one source but many. I would tell you the Bible is a reliable and trustworthy source; it is fully true and without error. But don't take my word for it. It will withstand your examination.
If you are a Christian I want to tell you two things. First, don't go about selling people Christianity. If you create a convincing enough sales pitch for them to buy into then someone can come along behind you and undo that work. Plus, It's not a sales pitch or set of facts that changes peoples' lives in the first place. GOD CHANGES PEOPLE. He calls them to faith. He calls them to salvation, not your sales pitch. However, Jesus has called us to proclaim his truth. So do that. Proclaim it. Tell people about Jesus, about their sin, about God's plan to save them. Present the facts but know, no matter how convincingly or unconvincingly you do so, it's up to God to change peoples' hearts.
Second, if you call yourself a Christian, don't take your faith for granted (i.e. not blind faith). First and foremost, ask yourself "Is Jesus my Lord." Being a Christian (surrendering your life to Christ in faith) is not simply about intellectual belief or facts. It is about surrender to Jesus as Lord because you believe in who he is and what God has done through him. Once you have trusted him as Lord it does not mean you are done though. You keep digging, keep studying, keep seeking truth until you stand in his presence. Know why you believe and trust the Bible. Know why you have trusted Jesus as your Lord. Know what a Christian is. Know and be able to explain who God is.
After we die and stand in Jesus' presence, we will fully know him (1 Corinthians 13:12). All of our questions about him, and about truth, will be fully answered. One of our goals in this life should be to close the gap between what we know about Christ here and now and how we will fully know then. Even though we will not fully know Jesus now, we should seek to know him as well as we possibly can. That is not an emotionless pursuit of facts or intellectual knowledge. It is a pursuit of knowledge and pursuit of action. It fulfills the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19-20) to know Jesus' commands and to live them. It follows Romans 12:2 which calls us to live differently than the world and indicates that comes from our minds being renewed; when we think truthfully.
Pursue truth, defend truth, love truth, share truth, and let the truth of Christ continue to change you until the day that you fully know truth. Do all this for God's glory.