Marketing the Holy Spirit?

 “The fresh air we need is the air of the Holy Spirit “breathing where He pleases,” which means that the windows must be open and we must expect Him to come from any direction. The error is to lock the windows and doors in order to keep the Holy Spirit within our house. The very action of locking doors and windows is fatal.” Thomas Merton

Pharisees

Sometimes I feel choked by the unclean air of pharisaical Christians who “honor God with their mouths, but their hearts are far from Him.” In Isaiah 29:13 the prophet writes, “And so the Lord says, ‘These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. And their worship of me is nothing but man- made rules learned by rote.’” There is no fresh air. No fresh wind of the Spirit. No real gut-wrenching sorrow that leads to repentance. No true freedom (although that word is bounced around and “experienced” more than a basketball at a Knicks overtime game!). In 2 Peter 2:19 Peter writes, “They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption; for people are slaves to whatever masters them.” No true holiness…just a “happy face at any cost” facade. Jesus referred to them as “white-washed tombs full of dead man’s bones.”

Subtly

There is one thing I have seen over the years and frankly, it scares me. It is subtly deceptive. It is almost too close to call. It feels so good as it woos us, but eventually when the dust of it settles, it leaves us flat and dry and back to where we were. Almost like a drug to get you high (I smoked a lot of pot over 33 years ago, so I know!)…you always come back to reality. Could we be setting the stage for shallow ground? “Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn't have deep roots, they died.” (Matthew 13:5-6)

Knowing Christ

It’s all about reaching people with the truth of the Gospel and discipling them into intimacy with Jesus. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations…” (Matthew 28:19) To enable them to know Christ, not just know about Christ! Paul’s goal in life was to know Christ: “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.” (Philippians 3:10-11) It’s not a perfect world and we’re not perfect people. It boils down to discipling His people in such a way that whatever curveballs life throws at them they will always hold on to Jesus.  The goal being that we all would be a people who, in the storms of life, hold on to the Anchor even when it appears that He is asleep in the boat! (Luke 8)

Tiffany’s

Here's what I have discerned: Marketing the Holy Spirit is like putting Him in a Tiffany’s gift box that is exquisitely wrapped, and upon opening it, discovering it empty. The Holy Spirit cannot be marketed by the likes of a Madison Avenue ad agency. Please understand that I am not talking about advertising for our church and the use of social media and other avenues to stay connected and advertise your church family. I’m mostly talking about the manipulation I have seen in worship/teaching/retreat/training venues. (Oh God, that we be men and women of integrity!) Don't get me wrong, we can use computer technology, music, videos (if Holy Spirit led), and powerful, humble preachers for God's glory. However, there's a fine line between human manipulation and Holy Spirit consummation. I’ve seen it in youth ministry and in churches. Now don’t get me wrong…the church must be relevant to the culture without compromise…we must be accepting, comforting and welcoming. “To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some.” (1Cor. 9:22) Many have used very progressive methods, led by the Spirit, who are successful having many people become fully devoted followers of Jesus.

Spiritual Eyes

However, when you see it, really see it (this marketing/manipulation), you’ll know it. You’ll need the discernment of spiritual eyes to see it and when you do, the Spirit within you will grieve. I can’t tell you how many times I have grieved. I’ve seen the life preservers thrown out to the waters where people are drowning. We bring them aboard our “Gospel Ship” and let them cope alone, cold and shivering, thinking that the warmth of discipleship will happen by some sort of spiritual osmosis. Oh sure, our numbers of the “saved” increases, but not our number of “disciples.”

The Preacher/Pastor/Prophet

"I have not sent these prophets, yet they run around claiming to speak for me. I have given them no message, yet they go on prophesying. If they had stood before me and listened to me, they would have spoken my words, and they would have turned my people from their evil ways and deeds. (Jeremiah 23:21-22)… "Let these false prophets tell their dreams, but let my true messengers faithfully proclaim my every word. There is a difference between straw and grain! Does not my word burn like fire?" says the LORD. "Is it not like a mighty hammer that smashes a rock to pieces?” (Jeremiah 23:28-29)

There’s also that idolatrous image of a pastor/preacher whom we “seat at the right hand of the Father.” All the time he/she is really, in all actuality, and personal admission, simply a desperate human being in desperate need of a Savior. Many preachers have led the sheep astray and many have let them down through some sort of moral failure. The preacher must not be put on a holier than thou pedestal. Tim Keller sums up a lot of what I am saying: “Preaching is compelling to young secular adults not if preachers use video clips from their favorite movies and dress informally and sound sophisticated, but if the preachers understand their hearts and culture so well that listeners feel the force of the sermon’s reasoning, even if in the end they don’t agree with it.”

Building Relationships

It’s really about building intentional relationships. Authentic, no holds barred, all walls down, vulnerable, non-judgmental, loving, caring, compassionate, merciful, accountable, and understanding relationships. And not being afraid to build those same kind of relationships with people outside the faith to love them into faith. Listen to these wise words from Brennan Manning.  “To open yourself to another person, to stop lying about your loneliness, to stop lying about your fears and hurts, to be open about your affection, and to tell others how much they mean to you-this is the triumph of the child over the Pharisee and the dynamic presence of the Holy Spirit at work.”

“There are also all sorts of things in our own spiritual life where a thing has to be killed, and broken, in order that it may then become bright, and strong, and splendid.” wrote CS Lewis.

Maybe the church needs to kill marketing. Church: OPEN THE WINDOWS.