IPod Shuffle giveaways have been used to lure people to open bank accounts and buy cars and as bait by online hucksters. Well, now even churches are getting in on the craze.
Leaders of the Interfaith Unity Church, 1731 W. Baseline Road in Mesa, are hoping to capitalize on the gadget's popularity and entice people to try out their 10:30 a.m. Sunday service.
"What we really want to do is we want people to know that we want them to come, we want them to possibly shuffle in and soar out," the Rev. Julianne Lewis said. Lewis said whether someone wins the Shuffle or not, she hopes the church's message sticks with people and they continue to come back after the promotion ends June 11.
So here is what I am thinking... Let's take this whole thing to the next level. Religious podcasts. Get your religion and sermon for download on the new iPod mini and you really don't need to show up at the church anyway. Hell, pay your tithes via Paypal.
Now to each their own, but imagine if your hard earned 10% that you give in tithing is going to buy iPods for giveaways. "Shuffle in, soar out." Yep, a little batch of religion sprinkled in with a free iPod. That is how we are going to convert the masses. You watch the 700 Club and they tell you about all the progress Christianity is making in Iran or China where people are under threat of death for converting, not that I watch the 700 Club. I hear from the Evangelical crowd about all the progress that Christianity is making worldwide, yet to attract converts in the US who are not under threat of death, giving away iPods is the answer?
How about this... you take the tithing that your current members are paying, and you administer to the poor. You stop giving away iPods and putting on the feel good rock sessions, and instead of lighting and sound to bring in the masses, you spend the iPod fund on missionary work or soup kitchens? If this is what the message of Jesus Christ is... Come unto me my children for it is only through me that thou can download ten free songs off of iTunes...
I know that the ACLU and the anti-Christian folks are out in force, but it is incumbent on our society to call out these folks that use Christ as a business where future revenue of new member's tithes offsets the iPod fund. The Christian Right in this country has become so obsessed with the ACLU destroying Christianity, that they fail to realize that the real destruction and the real disconnect for folks that no longer attend church or pay tithing is from seeing that faith now days is simply an iPod away.