Interesting thread... All of it. Though I think Brother Phil hit a key point for me. I think the question for me is "What are you selling?" even if there is a word like "Christian" somewhere in the ad.
There is a lot of advertising done for Churches. One person speaking to another, High Tech TV stuff, billboards, newspapers. And as you filter through it you notice some very different messages coming through. Some seem to be selling "the world", a persons image, secrets of personal wealth, a social club, a "come to my church not his". Some are clearly offering The Word. Plain or flashy, personal or broadcast you can still see either the Word or the World behind it.
Rom 10:17 So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Doy asked for a paradigm. Ours has been that if your motives are clearly in line with this (and/or a hundred other scriptures) and its clear to the audience that you are talking abou the word, great. If you have to stop and ask wonder about your motives or what people will think you are offering... you probably already know the answer.
On the other hand, if you are clear in your mission and that mission is clear in your message then...
Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
... seems like a mandate to use whatever tools get that message across. And have the congregation ready to deal with the influx of people.
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I just love to quote Paul. Any Paul
