Christian Chaff
Face in the Foam
by Clay Staggs
I think this is the first advertisement to be submitted for Christian Chaff:
Apparently a British group called Churches’ Advertising Network will place this ad with a caption reading “Where will you find him?” Their stated intention is to spark discussion about where people find God.
This has ticked off the anti-drinking advocates, who say it will undermine anti-binge drinking campaigns. What exactly about this image is supposed to incline folks to funnel beer is not exactly clear to me.
However, I am at a loss to understand how this furthers the gospel. Does this mean that you can find Jesus in your beer glass, or not? From what the group says, I think they mean no, but, just to look at the ad and the slogan, it’s by no means clear.
It really brought to mind Tim’s sermon from last week about how Christians should desire excellence and discernment. Without getting into the relative merits and demerits of mass media advertising for Jesus, I think it’s pretty clear that this is not even excellent advertising, because its message is so confusing. What’s the non-believer supposed to take away from this? Is he or she supposed to see the face in the foam and miraculously convert? Or is the non-believer to be shamed for drinking a beer?
Either way, I call this chaff.
Posted by Clay Staggs at September 15, 2006 03:04 PM
I think this definitely qualifies as chaff. Especially since I couldn’t even find the Jesus face in the foam until Clay drew it out for me on the screen. I probably would have seen the ad and not even known who the “him” was about whom they were asking. Now that’s what I call excellent advertising!