The Gospel is NOT a Sales Pitch! What is It?
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- Опубликовано: 24 апр 2024
- Do you have a moment to hear what Jesus can do for your life? If so, you won't be listening to the gospel, because the gospel is not a sales pitch.
So what is it, anyway? Here, I talk about what the genre of gospel is and I give a brief summary of the content of the Christian gospel.
I mention here my book "Arise, O God: The Gospel of Christ's Defeat of Demons, Sin, and Death." You can get it here: store.ancientfaith.com/arise-...
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Father, I was a protestant pastor for years. I remember back in the late 80s. I even wrote that because I didn’t believe in anything the world had to sell, I would become an “accounts representative” for the gospel of Jesus Christ. That’s exactly the model. It’s a point of sale religion. Thank you for your message. -Fr. Theodore
God bless you Fr. Theodore
I am so sick of companies selling the gospel for bible school and every kid in the big city that goes to bible school in the summer gets the same stuff. Back in the day people would do something from the Bible for what was going on in the church.
@@laurac5451 Not sure what you’re trying to say but if the child remains loyal to the faith as they get older or return to it. The hunger for righteousness will lead to grow more in the faith. Hearing the gospel by imperfect means is better than not even knowing it at all.
@@FaithfulComforter I'm saying that different churches have different needs.
@@laurac5451 ok
Omg YESSSSS!! This was another thing that turned me off to Protestantism. I felt like they’d made the entire Christian life into a sales job. Get saved, then sell salvation!
Facts 💯💯
Get saved then sell salvation
are you born again?
@@johnalexis8284 I was, now I’m attending a ROCOR church while still sorta working through my few remaining questions and contentions. I think much of my reluctance is due to the widespread disinterest I’ve received in the last year from the church. I had a hard time finding one close enough to be feasible, no luck finding a confessor, and a community that has been largely unwelcoming. I knew these things were possibilities; I understand their origin; I have been sticking it out. But it has made me feel like there’s something critically lacking from the Christian community here, and I don’t know yet what exactly that will mean.
I'm a Latter-day Saint inquiring into Orthodoxy. Loved what you had to say about the gospel not being a sales pitch because thats all LDS missionaries do. It's to sale the gospel as quickly as possible to and get as many people baptized as quickly as possible. One of the many reason new 'converts' disappear a week after being baptized.
As a former Protestant, I remember it feeling very much this way in my old church as well. While it may take longer for people to come into the church…I love that what we’re actually talking about here has a depth that cannot truly BE expressed in a couple of paragraphs. That’s how it should be. Like the big old Trees in Lord of the Rings say…”Anything…WORTH…saying…is worth…saying….slowly..”
I'm ex lds now orthodox if you wish to speak or ask any questions let me know I'll pass you my email or discord.
I know how hard it is to leave LDS my family is all still LDS.
But nothing compares to the truth , love and beutifull struggle that is orthodoxy
God be with you.
Thanks for the love guys! I'm having a tough time coming to terms with everything. I pray God guides me. I keep crying out "Father show me the way."
@@VloggingCastles sure! What's your discord
Well said Father! Your book on this is a MUST read! ☦️🔥🔥
When I began inquiring into the orthodox church "Arise O God" was one of the first books recommended to me that I read. Great and easy to follow book, I loved it!
I love this ❤! I have lost count how many times I have been approached with “such a sales pitch”. It always made me cringe .
@PentecostalFury you responding in such a manner....
"Pentecostal fury "😂 says it all
@@mannss42884 I was thinking the same thing
Yep, it still makes me cringe even being a devout Christian now.
Thank you, Father. I have your book and this is a great accompaniment video. It is now burned into my brain that the gospel is: 1)Who Jesus is, 2) What Jesus accomplished, and, 3) What Jesus expects. This will now inform my presentation of the gospel from here on out. Glory to God!
I actually did get a vacuum cleaner sales pitch a few years ago, and it followed the protestant evangelism model to the T. Here's this wonderful product! Look how well it cleans and with the right attachments, you can even spray paint your house! (only for the low monthly payments of...) I'm sorry to say I fell for that, and can easily see the parallels with quick-conversion evangelism.
Lightbulb moment of insight about my intuitions about evangelism in evangelicalism (where I am). Thanks for putting your finger on this
One important part of the sales pitch gospel is to first convince someone that they have a serious problem (sin, death, the wrath of God, and eternal damnation), then give them the solution to their dilemma (praying to receive Jesus as their personal savior), which comes with amazing benefits (forgiveness and assurance of eternal life and happiness).
I remember that tract. I'm sooo glad I converted to Orthodoxy
Thanks father. It really hit home when you put it in perspective that the gospel came first, then the response was "what must I do to be saved?" Vs the notion that people ask that question first, then the gospel is shared. Tiny shift in prioritization with huge implications.
This video is such a huge paradigm shift for me as someone in the process of converting. Thank you for sharing, father.
I just finished reading "arise oh God" last night!
Four spiritual laws! What a blast from the past...when I was a proud Protestant in a previous decade haha. I wouldn't be surprised if it's still in the playbook.
Thank you for your reflections. Father, bless.
Thank you for explaining the history of how that was understood, that’s so valuable.
This is excellent. I am passing it on to our priest to share with the many catechumens we are getting.
Elegantly done and welcome, the much overlooked but important point, father Andrew, that it is *_not_* the lack of sin that gives us hope, but the *active, repeated* and *persistent repentance* to overcome the sin committed.
Fantastic video. Adds alot of depth to just who Jesus was and how the idea of a gospel wasn't novel but that these new conditions and the love behind them is what shocked people. Also, absolutely gorgeous prayer corner.
I love this approach! Great work, Father!
Very helpful. Thank you, Father.
John 10:10 NKJV
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly............Jesus came to give us life abundantly NOW and into eternity!
These are so helpful. You are a blessing.
Thank you! Great video. 😊After a very long spiritual journey I am now considering baptism into Christianity (Anglican church). I just purchased your book in audible and look forward to listening! Blessings 🙏
Good video father. I wonder if theres a neoliberal aspect to the sales pitch, ie, everything has to be tied to "making a sale", its all gotta be tied to a market action, capital having dominion over everything! Good vid. Gonna become a catakumen soon, i think. Looking forward to digging thru more of your videos 👍
This makes me think of the comment about Latin mass that Shia Labeouf said when asked why he liked it. He said, "because it's not trying to sell me a car"!
This is a familiar topic people confusing proselytizing for the Gospel. Even I recall back in my Protestant days, hearing the talk about Evangelism and "Soul Winning" where it seemed more like Multilevel marketing companies like Avon, and Amway. The Evangelist or pastor talks about soul winning and their successes like the Ace pilots of both world wars talk about the planes they downed. It's almost like putting notches or crosses in their Bible for every person they got to "Pray the Sinners Prayer" And this is so different than most of the Evangelism we actually see in the Bible, even with that of Philip the Evangelist by and large Evangelism is a group, community effort, where the Church exists and casts the nets like the fishermen of old, rather than the modern fishermen trying to go after individual fish here and there with his fishing pole.
This video will change your life!
I’m reminded of a popular atheist meme that is the painting of Jesus knocking at the door. He says, “Let me in!” “Why?” “So I can save you.” “From what?” “From what I’m going to do to you if you don’t let me in.”
Or the t-shirt that says, “Jesus, save me from your followers!!”
I keep trying to remind myself over and over of what my priest says, which is “Less talking…more living holy lives..”
One of the interesting points I learned a few years back is how big scale Protestant evangelism Ministeries like Billy Graham even conceded that their Revivals only worked when they worked because of the grass roots efforts of the people in the area. 90% of the people attending are already Christians and most of the agnostics or uncommitted that come forward to get saved etc.are people who local Christians have been witnessing to for years, they are their friends and relatives that invited them to the meeting to hear the sales pitch. Very few unchurched, unbelieving people come by themselves like 1 in 1000. Anyway, learning this confirmed my suspicions because being an introvert I was never at home with the Protestant concepts of evangelism they always seemed unnatural to me, and the longer I live the more I realize how those hunches and perceptions are correct. It is like the ultimate virtue signaling topic, where people are always cutting against the grain of social psychology, and social conventions in order to do what looks pious and is so different than anything out of the time of ancient Israel or the early Church. Back in the old days, hospitality was huge for not just church life, but also Evangelism. It was part of the fabric of ancient society, and the Church understood it and utilized those customs of hospitality for a higher good.
are you born again?
@@johnalexis8284 I would give this answer ruclips.net/video/8E8seWMm9NQ/видео.html
Thanks to The Lord of Spirits podcast, Michael Heiser, and Matthew Bates' books, I've been incorporating this understanding of the Gospel into my teaching. It clarifies so much and cuts through easy believism.
Thank you Father for this succinct and illuminating video!
That is truly fantastic knowledge
Insert head explosion guy meme.
I love the book. Love the video.
Thank you father for this wonderful talk about our Lord Jesus Christ. You have a very interesting approach (or perpective) that makes you unique. I guess we all are unique. God bless ☦️
Thank you
I had a crisis in faith in the early 1980s. After thoroughly reading all of the historic critics of our faith (Freud, Nietzsche, Hume, Marx, et al), I maintained my faith. However, I concluded i could no longer be involved in corporate worship. The reason? Sermons had become sales pitches. When sermons are sales pitches, congregations are no longer disciples, they are customers. And when that occurs, denominations become for profit corporations. Today, a successful ministry is measured by 2 metrics. Have you increased your membership? Have you increased your monies? Everything else is irrelevant. These concepts are taught in nearly all seminaries and Christian colleges. They are marketing and selling the Gospel just like any other product.
This is actually very similar to the same critique in famous protestant sermon "Ten Shekels and a Shirt" by Paris Reidhead. Some have called it the greatest sermon of the 20th century.
Saw a bumper sticker that said "Is your life not working? Try Jesus." 🤦🏼♂️
So you mean my choices aren't just between "A lifetime (eternal) subscription that I can get just by agreeing that someone else already paid for it?" and "A monthly subscription model (by confessing my occasional refusals to accept the subscription) with free updates and then really sticky fine-print that after I die I have to settle the difference between what I accepted and what was offered?"
I’ve read you book, Fr. Andrew and I like your exposition of the Gospel. My question is, but what of sharing the gospel in this age when the concept of sin, angels and demons appear mere fantasy. After 30 years in the death of agnosticism and atheism and unrepentant sin I KNOW sin is real, but even angels and demons are hard for me to wrap my mind around. I have no idea how to communicate about what sin is, and why we need repentance of it.
I think the perception that these things are fantasy is growing less now, to be honest. Everyone experiences demonic forces. This is part of what I describe in the book, too.
I really love this lesson. It hits the nail on the head philosophically. I suppose you could say that your presentation says "God became man", without saying it directly. This video is psychologically pure because it opens the door to psychological freedom by the announcement. Well done father, bless me...
I find Jesus in brokenness.
The more I realize how utterly broken and not worthy of redemption I am.
Thankful for our GREAT King Jesus Christ.
Our redeemer.
Our friend,
Our salvation.
Perfect
good one!!
😂 My Grandma always did love her Rainbow Vaccuum
Praise the Lord
Luke 2:9-14 is where the Gospel is first proclaimed. 😊
GOSPEL - A announcement of a victory, a proclamation
1. Who the victor of battle is.
2. What the victor has accomplished and the benefits of living under his rule.
3. What the Victor and new ruler expects of everyone.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ
1. Who is Jesus?
2. What did he do?
3. What does he expect?
It’s like a public service announcement- it has happened whether you like it or not.
The true Gospel is about Jesus. It’s not about you. 😊
Amin
👍🏻👍🏻
Hey, Father, I have a question regarding the third point - What does Jesus expect of us? Does this point mean that God's love and our salvation is conditional? Is God's unconditional love a false doctrine? The way I understand it is when Jesus gave His life, He set the example of what we should do to follow Him. He made the first step and is waiting for us to make our steps towards Him. God's love is not conditional, because He already did His part, and He is just waiting for us to do our part. Is that a right way to think about it?
God's love is not conditional. Salvation comes by grace through faithfulness. God will not force salvation on anyone.
What is a good, one sentence answer to "what is the gospel?"
Jesus Christ is the God-man Who defeated His enemies and has inaugurated His Kingdom in which those who love Him keep His commandments.
@PentecostalFury "if you love me you will keep my commandments" something Christ himself said.
@PentecostalFury yeah I wasn't inferring that I think the thief on the cross is evident enough.
@PentecostalFury what is salvation? A get out of free ticket from hell? Or a connection with God that involves love and relationship?
I have been trying to look into this. Do we have any recorded examples of an evangelion?
Here's one: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priene_calendar_inscription
N.T. Wright also has several pages on this in "Paul and the Faithfulness of God." Most of what's out there about this is in academic sources, but the pattern is apparent if you look at the NT.
And here is a blog post with a big list of pre-Christian uses of the word: glenandpaula.com/wordpress/archives/2010/02/25/pre-christian-uses-of-gospel
@@frandrewstephendamick
“As exemplified in the Calendar Inscription of Priene, this Koine Greek term εὐαγγέλιον was used at the time of the Roman Empire to herald the good news of the arrival of a kingdom - the reign of a king that brought a war to an end, so that all people of the world who surrendered and pledged allegiance to this king would be granted salvation from destruction.[citation needed] The Calendar Inscription of Priene speaks of the birthday of Caesar Augustus as the beginning of the gospel announcing his kingdom, with a Roman decree to start a new calendar system based on the year of Augustus Caesar's birth. Some Christian historians have compared this with the opening of the Gospel of Mark: "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God." Mark 1:1”
☦️☦️☦️
Borough? You from new England area?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borough_(Pennsylvania)
Was this whole video a sales pitch for your book?!
(Joking... I've read and was edified by your book)
What about Grace and Mercy? How does that fit into what God expects in light of Christs victory?
From St. Paul
Acts 20:24 "...to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God."
Titus 2:11 "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men,..."
Titus 3:5 "He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,..."
To be gracious and merciful, as God is Himself gracious and merciful, is part of following the commandments, which is the faithfulness through which grace saves us.
Huh. I guess, what I am trying to understand is when what He expects is repent, be baptized, be incorporated into the church, live a life of faithfulness, keep the commandments. Then how am I saved by the grace of God? Is the grace of God experienced through these acts of faith/faithfulness? Does grace come before I can do these acts of faith, or through them, or after them. I want to experience the saving grace of God and I am trying to understand. I hope this makes sense. Thank you for bearing with me and being patient and kind.
Grace is what gives the path of faithfulness, what brings the opportunities to become aware of it, what enables us along the way, what transforms us as we are faithful, and what exalts us to be equal to the angels. Grace is nothing less than God-at-work. We cannot escape grace, but we can fight against it. Faithfulness is how we work with it rather than fighting against it.
Thank you! That is a very helpful answer. May the Almighty have mercy on me and help me cooperate with His saving and sanctifying grace 🙏 Amen.
What are "good works?" How does one know if enough "good works" are being done?
Not being argumentative; I'm trying to understand.
"Enough" is never how the Scriptures put it, but nonetheless, everyone will be judged by God according to his works. The fact that God does the judging and not us means that the "enough" question is not useful for us to expect an answer to, because then that would be to put ourselves as the judge.
Good works are to do the works of God rather than the works of demons. (There is no neutrality in this.)
@@frandrewstephendamick
Thank you for your response, Father.
I suppose the better question would be 'what are the works of God?'
BTW, I downloaded your book and reading it now. Love the first chapter so far 🙂
Is that a rhetorical or leading question? I don't know what your religious or educational background might be, so I don't know how to read that. Do you have no background in Christianity?
Faithful loyalty, nice Heiser reference
So in Texas can we say yee haw new sharf?
Protestantism is the religion of capitalism. Why wouldn’t they evangelize using a sales pitch. Mega churches anyone?
Capitalism was basically birthed by calvinists needing proof they were saved so material success became the proof.... Fr. Andrew talks about it a bit in Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy. It starts with the puritans and then it morphed until it became the health and wealth prosperity grifters we see today.
It's all a sales pitch whether you're being bribed with goodies or extorted with judgment
See the animals "Solo Leveling" episode 1
Anime tv show, not animals
The protagonist enters a dungeon, he is given three commandments- worship God, praise God, and then prove thy faith. Seems like it matches well and I watched it recently.
A sales pitch implies someone has a product to sell which he wants others to buy so that he benefits from it. The product itself doesn't speak for itself, so it needs a pitch to make it look better than it is. I don't think the average preacher is profiting from his evangelizing like the mega church preachers do. I don't think he thinks of the Gospels as a product needing a pitch because they aren't all that great themselves. The Gospels do offer gifts or graces from God though. It's not a gift to be bought or sold. Peter rebuked Simon the magician for trying to buy the charism of the Holy Spirit. The grace of the Holy Spirit can't be bought. He is not for sale. He is priceless. No one can earn enough to pay for him. No one can earn enough to pay for salvation either, except Christ who paid the price. Though good works can't earn the grace of God, they are required for the grace of salvation. Required doesn't mean earn. When good works are done with good will (charity) and in good faith (trust), they are evidence of faithfulness. The grace of salvation is bestowed on the faithful, however God's grace does work on those not yet faithful in order to bring them around to repent and become faithful. Love + faithfulness = fidelity. The Good News is like a priceless jewel with many facets, ie, Christ, Spirit, salvation, theosis, faith, hope, charity, grace, etc. It isn't sold. It can't be bought. It's a treasure hidden in a field you are willing to sell all you have to buy. The field is bought, not the treasure. All you have isn't enough to buy the treasure, but it's enough in exchange for the field. The field is that hidden place in the soul called the renewed heart where Christ hides his Spirit. Give up all, divest of youself, in order to get him, but you don't possess him as he possesses you.
Wouldn't the preacher's promise of instant and "eternal salvation" be sales pitch.? Wouldn't he lure more people into his private business he calls "church" by offering it.? More people = more $$$.
@@johnnyd2383 I'm not Protestant, so I don't know what goes on in the average Protestant churches. I think these 'free-gracer' preachers really believe it. They don't pretend to believe it in order to lure many people to financially support them. The mega-church preachers might. They probably tweek their sermons though to tickle the ears of people to keep them in their churches. Other Protestants believe faith saves, but you still need to obey Jesus' commandments. They don't believe in free grace. Being under Christ's lordship is required and their faith must bear fruit.
I don’t understand why people call you father ? God is our father and we shouldn’t put any human equal or above God . I would find it very difficult to call you father and I don’t see it biblically.
Being a father doesn't make someone equal to or above God. One can be a father to other people without being The Father. It happens all the time. Using the same word in different contexts yields different meanings. Even St. Paul says that he became a father to the Corinthians (1 Cor. 4:15), and he certainly didn't consider himself equal to or above God. And every man who has children is quite rightly called a father. The word gets used for different relationships that all have a certain similarity but aren't identical.
The gospel of the Bible is the finished work of Christ on behalf of his people, his elect, believers in him. It is not about what we do for him, what he expects, what the Spirit does within us, etc. "Repent and believe the gospel" is not the gospel, any more than "Go outside and mow the lawn" is the lawn.
The gospel is good news - God's Son dying for our sins. NOT about what God expects from us. Thank you.
This is funny. A sales pitch video on how the gospel is not a sales pitch.
I'm going to sell you on the idea that the gospel is not a sales pitch. We sell everything when we desire someone to believe what we believe will be good for them. What is the price they are paying? Then after this, the question becomes what is the reward? Very simple when you see it.
of course its a sales pitch. you just want to tone it down.