Gadgets and Gimmicks
Posted on April 28, 2007
Filed Under Brandon Renfroe, The Church
by Brandon Renfroe
“Whatever it takes.†This has long been the mindset of many in the religious world, as they seek to justify practices which are, in a word, absurd. A recent article from the Birmingham News chronicles a most unusual episode—Florence church youth swallow live fish. The author relates that the First Assembly of God in Florence has a “Fear Factor†ministry (?) in which young people are called upon to ingest live fish. Other outlandish activities are involved in the “ministry,†the children ultimately competing for a $250 grand prize. Though some have questioned the group’s activities, the youth minister defended their practices, suggesting such helped the participants develop “a deeper relationship with Jesus.â€
Though the above scarcely warrants a serious response, it is a sad commentary on the depths to which some will sink in their efforts to entertain rather than instruct. Perhaps even more tragic is that unwitting young people succumb to the appeal of such nonsense, wholly unaware that such practices are as diametrically opposed to New Testament teaching as one can possibly imagine. Can one picture the Savior, during the days of His earthly ministry, having His young band of disciples swallow live fish to proclaim their love for Him? If Peter had maintained his faith on the eve of Christ’s crucifixion, instead of denying him thrice, would he have won a monetary prize? “If ye love me, swallow guppies,†was never uttered by the Savior, to be sure.
Paul was fond of comparing the Christian life to an athletic contest, with a couple of notable exceptions. One, the apostle noted that whereas bodily exercise has some profit, godliness is profitable for all things (cf. 1 Tim.4:8). Contrast this with some who value the physical over the spiritual, making sport the idol of their lives. This is an unfortunate mistake, and those committing it fail to realize that the time must come when we put away “childish things†and become “men†(cf. 1 Cor. 13:11). Secondly, the prize the Christian strives for differs greatly from that of the athlete. The apostle declared: “Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible†(1 Cor. 9:25). In short, and in response to the article referenced at the outset, we should not have to be “bribed†to serve the Savior.
The late Guy N. Woods was once posed the following question: “Is it right to divide members of the congregation into teams, reward the teams with ‘points’ for the greatest activity in Christian service, and provide the winning team with a spaghetti supper?†To this, Woods responded: “Often members of the church are far more influenced by gimmicks than by conscience. Denominational churches have followed this procedure for years. Is it not sad that it takes an appeal to the stomach to induce people to serve Christ, who no longer feel the compulsion of love?†(Questions and Answers, Volume 2, p. 68).
As Solomon indicated, it seems the more things change, the more they stay the same (cf. Ecc. 1:9-10). May we renew our determination to proclaim the gospel of Christ in the right fashion, for the right reasons, refusing to stoop to such gimmickry in the attempts to “lure†untaught souls.
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