AUDIO
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Archbishop Peter Jensen's Christmas Message 2011 on the centrality of Jesus to human history
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Watch Dominic Steele give his critical insights on the Jesus All About Life campaign at Sydang TV
Christians in the Media's Dominic Steele writes the Jesus All About Life campaign has a brilliant opening line but will flounder unless we put a lot of thinking into the next ten words of our answer.
In the West Wing Presidential Debate between President Jed Bartlett and Governor Richie, Richie makes a brilliant catchy statement "We need to cut taxes for one reason, because the American people know how to spend their money better than the federal government does." President Bartlett's reply:
"There it is! That's the ten word answer my staff have been looking for the last two weeks. There it is! Ten word answers can kill you in political campaigns. They're the tip of the sword. Here's my question. What are the next ten words of your answer? Your taxes are too high, so are mine. Give me the next ten words? How are we going to do it? Give me ten after that. I'll drop out of the race after that."
Ever since it was announced that Jesus All About Life was coming to New South Wales I have been struggling to think of the next 10 words that I want to say after the advertisement's brilliant catchy statement: Jesus is all about life.
But what are the next 10 words I am to say to my friends?
It's OK that the TV ad undersells Jesus. I can live with that in the ad. What's said in the ad is true, it just doesn't paint the full picture. It's different to most of the other ads on TV, where the product oversells and underdelivers.
And we can fill things out in private conversation.
But to be honest the official follow up material leaves me pretty underwhelmed. And I am not prepared to run with a default prosperity line of Jesus came to give us the immediate abundant life.
I am concerned that because each one of us hasn't thought through an excellent next ten words that we might end up playing a dead bat and not make the full benefit of this campaign and that would be a tragedy.
But it's easy to give criticism. It's harder to come up with something that rolls off the tongue well.
I am looking for a gospel presentation in the categories of Jesus All About Life that doesn't undersell sin, judgement or Jesus. (Christian gospel presentations have often undersold sin and judgement. If we don't think carefully about the next 10 words we risk our last word not just underselling sin and judgement but also underselling Jesus.)
Here's a suggestion from me as a starter for discussion:
Me: You seen the Jesus ad?
Them: Yeah, What did you think?
Me: I thought it undersold him!
Them: Huh?
Me: Yeah I thought it undersold him " which is so different to all the other ads on television " which oversell and underdeliver!
Them?: What do you mean?
Me: Well the ad said "I've looked into it a little bit and a lot of the things that Jesus said makes sense." But, I want to go further ...
My suggestion is to then look for the opportunity to have a substantial coffee shop discussion about Jesus and Life and to make a series of points from the book of Revelation 1-5, 21-22:
1. Jesus is the living one. Jesus said he was dead and is now alive for ever and ever (Revelation 1:18)
2. Jesus wrote a letter of life. Jesus taught us how to live. (Revelation 2-3)
3. Life is all about Jesus. Go beyond the ad and show that it's Jesus that gives life purpose. The end point of life is to be gathered around the throne of Jesus (the lion) who was slaughtered as a lamb, that we might have life. (Revelation 4-5)
4. Jesus is all about life. Jesus promises eternal life, a tree of life, a river of live and a city of life lived in the presence of the living God Almighty and his Lamb, to those whose names are written in his book of life. There's also a warning of eternal death. (Revelation 21-22)
I am presuming that John Dickson's Life of Jesus course will also function as an attempt to present a 10-word answer.
But really we need to be having significant discussions now in every home group so that, as Jed Bartlett says, all of us can give the next 10 words? And the 10 after that.
It will be too late to start thinking about this on September 15, when the on-air campaign begins. This is the conversation we need to have now.
What are your comments on my suggestion? And what's your suggestion?
I found the headline "Steele slams Jesus campaign" a bit over the top...
What local Churches do with the opportunities is the real issue- they can and will do a variety of things ranging from the brilliant to the banal and vacuous... but I reckon it has great potential.
There will I think be three ways of the Jesus All About Life impacting from September.
1. The main way. Individual conversations between Christian and their friends who have seen the add. My concern is that this will only happen well if we prayerfully have everyone brainstorm and train on the next ten words - and think about that now. We each need to imagine ourselves into those conversations.
2. Invitations to Jesus All About Life formal activities organised by each of the churches (which as Martin suggests will range from the brilliant to the banal). Again this will be easier and better if we brainstorm collectively on ideas - and collectively do less banal and more brilliant. (What are your thoughts so far on what you guys are doing Martin?)
3. People ringing the 1300 number at the end of the add and being sent out the Jesus All About Life follow up pack. As a ministry that will be vigorously participating I would like the pack improved before we get to September.
Martin have you read it through? It's not the out of date translation of the gospel of Luke at the back that we were non plussed about. It's the earlier bit, which is not wrong, just too vague.
Good to hear from others about what they thought of the follow up material.
It would be excellent to hear from others on what their corporate ideas are for September.
It would be best of all to hear how your brainstorming has gone on the water cooler conversations.
Dominic
Re your comment
"To be fair, any advertisement will undersell Jesus. In 30 seconds it would be impossible to say all there is to say about Jesus, or to sufficiently describe him in all his glory. But the ad isn't trying to do that - it's trying to spark conversation by listing one aspect of Jesus that might prayerfully engage the viewers and prompt them to think about Jesus. Only an advertisement of infinite length would be able to tell the true worth of Jesus - here's (one way!) where He differs to an advertisement for a car, holiday or new tv show."
I agree. So I was trying to think about how I would get the conversation going in a creative way. My friends will expect me to be positive about the add. So to say 'undersells' allows me to come out of left field, be a bit more provocative and have a longer discussion.
Cheers, Dominic
Re your comment:
"I found the headline "Steele slams Jesus campaign" a bit over the top..."
The campaign is a great initative and kudos to the Bible Society for making it happen.
Of course it could be better. I wish there were more non-anglos in the adds. I wish the follow up material was better.
Our ministry is full of critical thinkers (as is much of the Anglican Church). So I think the best way to get our people on board is to acknowledge reservations at the start, then say but now lets not nitpick. Lets get totally on board and team play with the wider group for Christ.
So we have educated our people, answered objections and now are calling for full involvement.
Cheers, Dominic
ps Steve, I don't think we've met but I like your articles on this site and like your http://communicatejesus.com Keep up the good work at Church by the Bridge.
My wife just suggested another one to throw in the mix that might work for someone - 'Yeah the Sun Herald's magazine is called 'Sunday Life.' So they are claiming to be all about life as well. I guess Jesus and the Sun Herald mean very different things.'
Cheers
Dominic
its a great conversation starter. everyone knows it won't seal the deal.
my next 12 words:
what do you think life's about? have you seriously looked at Jesus?
I think it would be helpful to hear from Bill Salier on the follow up material - especially considering he is one of the authors. Have you taken the issue to him Dominic?
Re your comment:
I tried hard not to have that tone, but see what you think when you check out the talk that I gave nine days ago on this.
And in regards to ...
I did ring Bill and talked over my concerns and then later emailed him the above article before it went online.
Bill and I have known each other for a long time (having lived next door when I was a student and he was starting as a lecturer (well Craig and Robyn Blacket lived in between us) and there is no risk to our friendship from this kerfuffle.
Yours in Christ,
Dominic
unfortunately these two articles are the only context i have for the moment
I don't read the articles as a matter of tone - the substantive concern is that the booklet is a deficient follow up tool because it undersells key doctrines. you have graciously said as much. you are (irenically) suggesting that the way to start up a conversation is to use the ad negatively. yet to acknowledge reservations then get on with not nitpicking ironically comes across as nitpicking I fear.
I would say just use its strengths and then upsell what you think is important - and as you encourage - be ready to do it.
the headline is sensationalist - but thats media isn't it ? - what a kerfuffle - I have done it myself in blog titles - it gets attention. tempting as it may, we can't tut tut natasha or the editor for stirring controversy and allowing a spicy headline. you are (to at least some degree) slamming it in that you think it is deficient .I suspect it is weak on the doctrinal aspects you mention.
that's why I'd like to hear from Bill Salier, and get his take on its aims, its strengths and weaknesses, his intention.
there is a perennial tendency to downgrade sin and judgement - all the more reasons to hear a response from Bill on JAAL. I would be very surprised if he has downgraded but lets hear soon.
personally I am more concerned about collaboration with a church that we confess to have erred in matters of faith and practice. I doubt I am alone
in him
Shane
Should create some space to fill in any gaps, I'd say.
As for me and Youthworks Camping, we're certainly giving this some serious thought as we link in JAAL to the outdoor ministry we do with the 20,000 school kids each year.
I reckon I'll get my key staff to read this article and comments, so they can be particularly aware of what to say when it comes up in our Christian Discovery sessions.
And, it's nice to see the Bartlett Administration continue to have an influence...
has anyone aside from Dominic (and me) phoned the number . received the material then discerningly reviewed the follow up material?
its been a while since I looked at it, I can only remember impressions and was hoping for another perspective while I re read it .
looks like this one is going on ice, which is a shame because there seems to be some substantive discussion that needs to had, but maybe this isn't the time or the place.
@ Shane. I expect people are reluctant to comment on a resource written by a MTC lecturer without actually seeing it.
Further comment may come after the Smith review.
I think it's really difficult to make an ad about Jesus, and I reckon they've done a pretty good job. I can't think of how you could do that better.
There used to be a lot more Christian tv advertising when I was a kid. There was that "How come there's a sun" ad, and that one with the one hand drawing pencil pictures of bible stories. And there were a couple of ads featuring Trevor Filewood and his guitar too, I recall.
Was there a conscious decision to move away from tv commercials?
Dominic says above that is runs a and in the other article that it undersells sin and judgement.
and this
I feel it is more in the category of "vague" or his marketing term "underselling" - rather than outright wrong.
there is no doubt that it is intentionally pitching at the difference Jesus makes to Life now. is this what theologians call a more realized eschatology?
@ Craig
I showed it to a group recently at church - and we thought about how to use it - and the overwhelming response was they were glad it wasn't daggy like the old TV stuff we used to do!
ps loved this quote from p7 - "The objective with this target group is to minimise the likelihood of apostasy" and can't wait to work it into our next chuch vision statement :)
Mark
I was in Canberra when this campaign took place there, and for about 5 weeks our Bible study groups were cancelled, and we all met at the church on Tuesday nights to consider how we might use the ads to start gospel conversations. It was a great time of meeting together to spur one another on in mission.
I've just found one of the books that was used in follow-up. It's got testimonies, Luke's gospel, and some great, very readable articles about Jesus.
I agree with Dominic - let's start thinking about how we can use the ads to springboard conversation. They will be a great opportunity for gospel conversations.
Let's not nitpick the ad, but rather be thankful that it's happening and that we have the chance for Jesus to penetrate the mainstream media channels.
Just reading your last comment above I realised I need to be clearer about where specifically my comments are directed.
I am interacting with different aspects of Jesus All About Life and have different comments on different aspects.
The TV ads themselves essentially say Jesus is the teacher who makes sense of life. I think the ads are good and this is an understandable acceptable undersell. As someone above pointed out it is impossible to say everything about the living Lord of the universe in 30 secs.
And so my suggested follow up comment is 'let's go further.' 'The ad undersells him so let me tell you more about how Jesus is all about life...' (and head towards a coffee and Revelation 1-5, 21-22).
I am suggesting this as a way to respond as an alternative to the conversation going down a efault prosperity line of Jesus came to give us the abundant life now. I am certainly NOT suggesting that the JAAL ads or literature go down the prosperity line. However, I am suggesting this would be an easy default error that we could unintentionally make (unless we put thought into it - hence my call for thinking about the next ten words).
We need to do this thinking through the next ten words ourselves (which will be a good thing to do anyway) because we won't get much help from the published official follow up material which I think is too vague on sin, judgement, atonement etc.
I hope that clarifies above Cheers,Dominic
Yes.
My prayer is that the follow up material would be not only readable, well packaged and engaging (which it is) but also blindingly clear on sin, judgement, atonement etc.
Cheers,
Dominic