The “7-M Mandate”
“Our theological bedrock is what has been known as Dominion Theology. This means that our divine mandate is to do whatever is necessary, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to retake the dominion of God’s creation which Adam forfeited to Satan in the Garden of Eden. It is nothing less than seeing God’s kingdom […]
Argumentative or Contending?
Part 2: Contentiously Contending Anton Bosch, a seasoned pastor and church planter of over 30 years, author of Building Blocks of the Church, has been working on a series of convicting articles about the sometimes “contentious” nature of contending for the faith. It is true that discernment and apologetic work can be difficult and frustrating […]
The Tyranny of 3-Legged Branding
“The project of transforming culture into little more than a collection of brand-extensions-in-waiting would not have been possible without the deregulation and privatization policies of the past three decades.”–Naomi Klein, No Logo (Picador, 2002), p. 30. “In July of [1998], Indonesian president B.J. Habibie urged his 200 million citizens to do their part to conserve […]
Contentiously Contending
Anton Bosch has begun an excellent series on the topic of contending for the faith. Below is part one: Contentiously Contending Jude urges us “to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). Many have found this verse a wonderful excuse to be argumentative, contentious, vindictive, loud, […]
Branding the New Breed
This is how you enlist in the Army of God: First come the fireworks and the prayers, and then 4,000 kids scream, “We won’t be silent anymore!” Then the kids drop to their knees, still but for the weeping and regrets of fifteen-year-olds. The lights in the Cleveland arena fade to blue, and a man […]
Re-Branding Global Mission
“Harvard business professor Theodore Levitt published the essay ‘The Globalization of Markets,’ in which he argued that any corporation that was willing to bow to some local habit or taste was an unmitigated failure.‘The world’s needs and desires have been irrevocably homogenized,’ he wrote in what instantly became the manifesto of global marketing. Levitt made […]
Big Box Churches Ring Pavlov’s Bell
“Brand-obsessed shoppers have adopted an almost fetishistic approach to consumptionin which the brand name acquires a talismanic power.”–Naomi Klein, No Logo (Picador, 2002), p. 141. Creating situations that provoke psychological, emotional or sensual reactions in people is a form of behavior modification. This can come through marketing, education and training, or group processes. Triggering reactions […]
What is Idolatry?
A reader alerted us to the relevance of the sermon by J.C. Philpot, entitled simply “Idolatry,” to our recent series of posts. A few excerpts are below. To read the sermon in its entirety go to:http://grace-for-today.com/1745.htm “For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned […]
Re-Branding Christianity
“Image is everything.”–Tennis pro Andre Agassi, 1992 Canon camera commercial [Cited on p. 197 of No Logo by Naomi Klein (Picador, 2002).] This could be the new slogan for the slick marketing campaigns in neoevangelicaldom today. These campaigns aren’t selling a product, per se. They are selling the image of a product. To understand what […]
Las “Vegas in a can” Religion
The Dopamine-Driven Church: Part 8 Dopamine Beverage Co. Vegas In A Can! 16NOV2006 16:45 Published by OrbitalCommanderDopamine Beverage Company is launching a new and exciting product: Dopamine Energy Drink – Vegas in a can! 100% of people who have tasted and compared this drink simply love it! We believe that it is the best on […]