What do you think about this story? Click here to read about a church who said—No More Christians.
Thoughts?
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Hey Mark,
Many ways of looking at this strategy. The link only has a snipet of the article, but it sounds like the church has good intentions to reach a certain atheistic demographic, in hopes of bringing them into discussions where they could hear more about Christ. Assuming that is their intention:
From a marketing standpoint I think it is brilliant. It reminds me of Coke’s attempt to gain market share by changing the flavor, and calling it New Coke. Coke consumers were outraged they would mess with something so Americana and Apple-Pie like, that their sales dropped considerably. Realizing their mistake, they came out with Coke Classic, and the response was so overwhelming, their market share increased by leaps and bounds. Although it was a mistake, everyone thought the whole thing was a brilliant marketing technique from beginning to end. Get everyone upset by changing the flavor (negative campaign), and then come out with New Coke in the old flavor, bringing them all back to Coke.
I read the recent Newsweek article that stated the number of Christians in the US dropped from 86% in 1990 to 76% today (to me still a considerable majority, and hardly “the End of Christianity in America”). And that some are turning to atheism or agnosticism. So, from a marketing standpoint, it is a good attempt to reach those who are falling away from Christianity and looking at atheism as an alternative.
As a christian, from a media standpoint, I can understand how this marketing teqnique can be irritating, considering how much negative advertising is put in front of us each day (ie. Newsweek’s cover with the words “The Decline of Christianity in America” written in the shape of a cross). While it might irritate, it certainly will not shake my faith. So from that perspective, I think it will only strengthen the faith of those who see the “No more Christians” ads, and maybe even get us to voice an opinion.
It also begs the question of what do we as Christians do when we read or hear of something that we do not like initially? The way I see it, there are several reactions we might have when we see articles like Newsweek’s or read a tag that says, “no more Christians” :
1. Immediately get upset and angry at the tag line, but go no further to find out what it is all about.
2. Immediately get upset and angry, see what it is about, and then do nothing about it.
3. Immediately get upset and angry, see what it is about, and then if it goes against what they believe, speak out or do something to counteract its claims.
4. Think nothing of it becuase it does not affect them personally, so why get upset or involved.
It is an interesting study to see how we initially react to seeing somehting like this.
The above dealt with those Christians strong in their faith. What about those just beginning their walk. Woudl a sign like that shake their desire to continue? I do not know, but I am inclined to think they would take a look into it, and then what harm would it be for them to go and find out that it is a Christian organization attempting to reach the lost?
Interesting article. Thanks for sharing Mark.
Brian
By: Brian on April 20, 2009
at 6:05 pm