• Home
  • About This Blog
  • Contact Me
  • Subscribe
  • Comment Policy

Attempts at Honesty

Reflections on the interplay of the Bible and Culture

  • Westminster Shorter Catechism Series
  • Sermon on the Mount Series
Home Bible Reflection Great Packaging + Great Product = Integrity

Great Packaging + Great Product = Integrity

Posted on April 21, 2011 Written by Mark McIntyre 1 Comment


Question Mark

As consumers we know that beautiful packaging does not guarantee the quality of the product inside. The photo on the box often looks much better than the content. On the other hand, with the rise of store brands, we know that good stuff can be found in very plain packages.

Visually stunning packaging is done because it sells product. Good products will sell better with attractive packaging. Effort needs to be extended toward development of both.

This morning, I was thinking about three areas to apply this idea. The first is on an individual level, the second is with regard to web media and arena for application is the Church.

Personal Behavior

One of Jesus’ criticisms of the Pharisees was that their behavior did not match how their public appearance.  In Matthew 23, there is a long discourse given by Jesus in which he condemns the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. He says of them in 23:3, “they preach, but do not practice.” Later, in verse 5, he says, “they do all their deeds to be seen by others.” From this, we get the proverbs that we should practice what we preach, or we should walk what we talk. This speaks to personal integrity, something that we should all strive for.

Web Media

Recently, I started paying more attention to site design as I looked around on the internet. I found some web sites that were visually stunning but lacked compelling content. I found some other sites that had great material but the site layout made it difficult to navigate or the format hindered the reading. It seems to me that there needs to be a balance struck between the form and the content. It is not an either/or decision, both the form and the content must be considered. Good content must be presented in a form that is both functional and pleasant for effective communication to take place.

Churches

Impressive buildings, talented musicians and diverse programs are all for naught if they are devoid of solid, Biblical teaching. Paul warned Timothy this in 2 Timothy 3:1-5 where he writes,

1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

It is possible to have a beautiful presentation that is devoid of content. The key phrase in the Scripture above is “having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.” If the function of the church is not based on Scripture and aimed at deepening relationships with God and each other. There is no power in the congregation.

On the other hand, we need to structure the local church body so that it is accessible to the people in the community. The “packaging” should not deter someone from participating in the church. The music, style of dress, decor of the building, etc. should be within the “bell curve” of the surrounding society.  If people are to be offended, let them be offended by the gospel message, not how it is presented.

The Challenge

The word that seems to run all through this is integrity, having our individual or corporate behavior match what we claim to believe. I see two basic steps to living in integrity:

  1. Discover a sense of purpose. Ask yourself, why am I doing this thing?
  2. Continually assess if what I am doing helps me fulfill this purpose.

I heard someone say that the person who knows how to do something will almost always have a job, but he will work for the man who knows why it should be done. The “why” should be asked before the “how” question.

In what other areas do you see needing this balance?

 


Filed Under: Bible Reflection, Christianity and Culture Tagged With: Church, hypocrisy, mission, pharisee

About Mark McIntyre

A follower of Jesus Christ who shares observations about how Scripture should impact the church and the world. Mark is the original author and editor of Attempts at Honesty.

Follow Attempts at Honesty

Honesty in your Inbox

Paths of Righteousness for His Name’s Sake

In Psalm 23:3, King David writes, “he leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” While there is benefit to me in walking a path of righteousness, my benefit is not the primary purpose of God’s leading me. David points to God’s reputation and God’s purpose as the reason for the leading. […]

Hymns

On the singing of old hymns

At the risk of sounding like a curmudgeon, I have to say that sometimes I miss the old hymns in our worship. I do not miss how the hymns were executed, but I do miss the lyrics.

Ism’s that replace the Gospel

The lies that capture us as Christians usually seem to fit well within the borders of our Christianity. Perhaps postmodernism and sexual immorality are not the greatest threats to the church of Christ in our day. Perhaps we are in more danger from the subtle lies that flow from subtle shifts in how we understand the gospel. We have not forsaken the faith, but we may have redefined it in ways that are fundamentally different from the gospel laid out in Scripture.

Thy kingdom come . . .

I doubt that I have ever done a truly selfless act in my life. My actions fall into the range of slightly selfless to fully selfish. I don’t want it to be that way, I pray that it wouldn’t be that way, but it is what it is. When I recite prayers from Scripture and […]

Three

3 Common Discipleship Mistakes All-Too-Easy to Make

Guest author Jeremy Postal provides helpful thoughts on avoiding mistakes in discipleship. Our success depends on our discipleship strategy.

Post Series

  • Westminster Shorter Catechism Series
  • Sermon on the Mount Series
September 2023
SMTWTFS
 12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
« Jun    

Categories

Archives

Blogger Grid
Follow me on Blogarama

Copyright © 2023 · Focus Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in