I recently had the misfortune of switching to Directv. They enticed me with alluring bargain prices for digital TV, phone & internet. I’d get a DVR! When they promised free installation, I couldn’t resist. Sadly, the “bait” rate had a huge hook in it.
After getting everything installed I got bills from AT&T (their phone/internet partner)
and Directv totaling over $300 for not-so-free installation and the first month. After hours on the phone with both AT&T and DirectTV “customer support” supervisors, I asked Stephanie if it was “metaphysically possible” to get the promised service at the advertised price. When she said, “no, it is not” I knew I had been dishonestly reeled into that 2 year contract.
Here are some of their deceptive tactics:
- Bait and switch – they promised “HD channels included.” Yet, the ad price only gets you a non-HD receiver. So they send the signal in HD, but you can’t SEE HD for that price.
- Misleading promises – They promised “free installation in up to 4 rooms” but if you get installation in more than one room, the monthly charge increases greatly.
- Dishonest – the ad says “unlimited local and nationwide calling,” but AT&T will only give you a limited number of minutes for the price.
As I fumed, I wondered why companies would do this. Misleading customers in the short run cannot produce long run returns, can it? Then it hit me.
Non-believers probably feel this way about the church.
Churches sometimes bait and switch. They advertise fun events and then switch into spiritual inquisition. If it’s an evangelistic event, they should promote it appropriately.
Some churches have misleading promises. If the website says it’s a free concert you shouldn’t guilt people to make a “love offering” for the artist. That’s just religious double-talk.
Worse, sometimes churches are dishonest in how they describe themselves. Don’t call your music great if it isn’t. Stop calling your preaching “practical” if it is not. And if no guest has ever described the church as “friendly,” don’t say you are. Because you WANT to be friendly does not mean you are friendly.
If you do this, stop it. It’s not helpful. It leaves your guests angry, annoyed, and possibly farther away from Jesus.
Remember that just like I told you about my horrible experience with Directv, they’ll tell your community about how they were misled at your church. That’s not good for you or the gospel.
What are some other ways churches and non-profits are misleading in what they promise?
Every so often I read something like this and just start laughing. It’s easy to attack the non-specfic church and sound like you’re doing it a favor by attacking it. You’re not. It’s easy to complain about Direct TV as well and I am sorry you had a negative experience with them. I bet you never read the contract that is posted online or took the time to ask for in writing what you’re getting. I agree that if it’s a free concert it should be free but at the same time artist trade on the promise of bringing an “in between” show to a small group that couldn’t otherwise afford it. For the record almost all churches do indicate in their advertizements that “LOVE OFFERINGS WILL BE TAKEN,” effectively giving the people a chance to respond to the spirit or quality of music. Also when it comes to the ministry of evangelism and outreach, if you go to a religious concert or service project you are getting a religious experience and you know it. The non believer tends to have less objection to it than do most lukewarm Christians. It’s when I go to concert by a leading non religious artist and get preached at about politics that bothersome but if I know that they do that at their shows then I am cool with it and expect it. To write a blog putting down the very institutions that brings so much to so many and expecting them to get it right every time show a certain naive understanding of the efforts churches make. Most churches are friendly but we have culturally bought into desperately begging the world, “To Like ME” mentality that is never healthy. If they church is going to reach a lost and confused world it has to have the courage to let some people perceived them as unfriendly when they stand on the very standard and vision God has for their church. I only offer this response because you’re writing caught my eye and I just expected more. Kindly Yours Jason Stone. 9196041731
Jason, thanks for the feedback. I think you misunderstand the purpose of the post. I’m not putting down the church. I’m calling church leadership to be more honest and less like deceptive businesses.