Jesus being sold like a commercial product

 

Does Jesus need advertising like a commodity?

In many towns across America people post Jesus signs in their yards at
the direction of a local minister.  Some evangelists seem to believe Jesus should be sold like a commercial, while some Christians wonder if it is necessary to "sell" Jesus like a commercial product. 


It isn't just unbelievers this leaves wondering, the selling and commercialization of Jesus,  but believers as well as there are people within the Christian community raising the question and the concern.

Matthews Paul Turner some years ago wondered about the commercial aspect of Jesus, as he asked the question and wondered about the impact of selling Jesus and whether or not Jesus really needs the militant, almost door-to-door salesmanship that is ordinarily used for commodities.

Some of those in the public relations campaign maintain Jesus needs name recognition.  So that's why
folks put Jesus on signs.  It also helps to identify the people at the home or church they live under the banner of Jesus.

People wear crosses around their necks, sometimes young people as pieces of jewelry.  Some wear crosses for earrings or use Jesus words on slogans worn on t-shirts.  Jesus is on bumper stickers and all sorts of paraphernalia.

One website chronicled the various ways Jesus is displayed, from billboards on the highway, to cryptic notes on doorways, balloons and even chopsticks.

They use the name of God to protest laws on homosexuality in the United States and some of the more extreme groups, like Westboro Baptist Church, would show up at funerals of fallen soldiers and heckle families and those memorializing the dead. 

What's in back of this push, this commercialization of Jesus?

Is Jesus so unusual most people don't know the name in America?

Is identifying a home or church with a big sign important to identify the people inside follow the message of Jesus better than others?

Religion sources wonder about these issues and question if Jesus needs hype and sold like merchandise or a political candidate when sometimes it's difficult to tell the difference from the signs that are stuck in the yards.

Signs of the times in some places are these banners about Jesus.  That's why religious sources are wondering now about commercializing the name of Jesus or using the name for a political purpose.

It is especially true during elections or when one wants to advertise a cause, with a sign with Jesus name on one window and a flag hanging out of the other, as if no one would wonder if they were demonstrated as of equal worth and if there were that many people who needed to know the fact someone is an American and Christian that the symbols need to be prominently displayed.

(Updated from issues raised in 2010)

Eco-friendly public relations: Go paperless

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Samantha Greenbaum---PR, or public relations, is an essential part of business. Many businesses have explicit techniques in place for PR information. The constant processing of PR information leads to a negative effect on the environment from wasted paper. Companies are searching for new ways to approach the press and market their products. The world of technology has seen numerous advances in recent times, and the route to paperless PR campaigns is becoming clearer. Is might be possible run an entire PR campaign on an eco-friendly, paperless strategy.

Electronic Press Kits

When searching for a paperless route, it is important to understand the process and what it entails. How can you go about making initial contact with press members and garner positive attention? Electronic press kits are regarded as an excellent and resourceful option to make your outreach efforts more effective.

An electronic press kit is a simple method of letting press members know who you are and the products and/or services being provided by your company. Having success in this field is dependent upon being brief and focusing on quality. A long-winded electronic press kit will be deleted and rendered useless.

This paperless option can be combined with other online methods to produce an all-encompassing PR campaign.

E-mail Blasts

E-mail campaigns have had their ups and downs over the years. Most press members prefer receiving e-mails for PR information, as it is easy to sift through and keep organized. Yet, there is a balance to maintain: anything regarded as being 'spam' will have minimal effect.

The incorrect use of e-mails can lead to a negative effect on a company's brand and image. You do not want to see the entire image fall apart because of a poorly developed e-mail campaign.

Social Media Presence

The world of social media has become a safe haven for companies looking to target an unlimited audience. The options are endless, and the ability to garner business is excellent. Social media is an excellent resource for PR campaigns and establishing a positive image in the eyes of the media.

Ease of Being Eco-Friendly

In the modern age of business, being eco-friendly has become easy and almost mandatory. Most press members prefer the paperless route. It is easier to handle and does not come in the way of their work. The information is able to be processed within minutes of being acquired.

Business should look at the current developments in technology as an added bonus. All PR campaigns can be produced and conducted in a manner that is cheap and eco-friendly.

Drawbacks

There are minimal negatives to a paperless campaign involving social media presence, e-mail blasts and electronic press kits. The only real drawback is the risk of having your information deleted and/or disregarded.

It is important to get the initial phase of PR work done with an focus on quality. Developing a positive image of the company in the eye of press members is essential for short- and long-term success.