Christianity at its best : The Direct Mail Campaign

So. I have written a number of things about God and religion not because I am religious, but mostly because I get grumpy with how some people use (or misuse) God and religion and the Bible.

With that said, my friend sent me a mailer he received from Saint Matthew’s churches with a mailing address of Tulsa (not picking on Oklahoma although I am still a little pissed about having to pay a $3.50 toll every time I tried to drive on any paved road in the state). Anyway. The mailer.

Not only could I use a prepaid business reply card to get a free “golden prosperity faith cross” but I could also check a box (although I assume I could check multiple boxes) for:

Pray for my finance

Pray for me to receive a continuous money blessing

Pray for ‘I need a job’

Pray for my blood pressure? Huh? WTF.

Or

“List other needs you have” (so I could order a specific prayer if I wanted)

Ok. I don’t know God. Never met him. But I have been quite near the top of a 350+ employee organization. So. With all that goes on in that position, I did tend to filter out some things from employees (“we want French Roast instead of Breakfast Blend in cafeteria”, “why is TV in lobby on CNN instead of ESPN”, “are shorts really appropriate on casual Friday”, “is it ok to not wear underwear” … things like that). I am kinda thinkin’ God, who has slightly more than 350 employees, ain’t focused on answering a prayer so you can afford another big Mac (or Budweiser if that’s your thing).

Ok. Ok. That’s extreme. But. C’mon. Prayers for financial support? (I won’t even touch the blood pressure). This is the kind of shit that gives God an ulcer (assuming he or she has one). Heck. It makes my blood pressure go up (but I promise I won’t pray to relieve it).

Next. While the mailer does not ask for money (I don’t know what you get when you get the cross you requested by sending back the business reply card) it does suggest if you receive this cross wealth will follow you.

It says .. “God has made these promises to you in the holy bible .. for it is He that giveth thee power to get wealth.”

Oh my.

In addition. If you doubt the meaning (or are maybe slightly confused on what God is promising), there are some nifty testimonials:

“God blessed me with a home and a gas station”

“I was in need of $2492.00 for income tax. God blessed me the next day.”

“After I received the Cross God blessed me with $1000.35. I was so far behind I was almost broke.”

“I wrote to you to ask you to pray that God would bless me with a larger house. God answered my prayer by blessing me with a beautiful three apartment building. It is called a triplex because it has three apartments and I own them all.”

Wow.

Linking prayer to receipt of wealth scares me (and I don’t scare easily).

Do I mind prayer for spiritual health and well being? Nope.

Do I believe God wants people to have wealth? Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm … spiritual wealth absolutely. Financial wealth I tend to believe he doesn’t really care. (he didn’t seem to have a lot of dinero himself)

If religion (Christianity) ever wonders why it seems like it is always fighting an uphill battle this little mailer becomes a showcase example for why. Soliciting a belief in God using “financial relief if you contact us” in my little packaged goods marketing world would be construed as possible “bait & switch.” And in my wacky world that is illegal. If God were here I would tend to believe he would not only find this direct mail campaign as offensive but also “illegal” in his law of ethics. But that’s me.