Where is the Power and Presence of God?

Why do churches and pastors embrace the marketing and messaging strategies of the world to grow?

Could it be that because they have substituted advertising and production for the power and presence of God?

I have to admit that I have been guilty of this very thing. I have forever longed for the power of God to heal, deliver, and transform, but have only experienced it sporadically. And I have, in the past, used the tools of business to market the good news and value of church membership.

However, when I look at the scriptures I see Jesus drawing people to himself with the power and presence of God. The power was consistently and clearly displayed in his miracles and healings. And Gods presence was poured out through the words of life and acts of love he shared. 

Before almost every conversion there was healing, miracles, and exorcism.  These he did, at times, attempting to keep his identity secret.  

The wedding at Cana is an interesting case study. It is not a life or death situation, but one of potential inconvenience and shame. Certainly the miracle of turning all the ceremonial water to wine had significant metaphorical meaning, but practically it saved a wedding feast and preserved the dignity of a family.   It was done at the behest of his mother even over Jesus’ objections. And it was a secret only a few witnessed.  (John 2)

The healing of the man’s crippled hand in the synagogue on the sabbath has almost completely different feel.   On the day of rest in place of worship, surrounded by those who were deeply threatened by him he has the man with the shriveled hand stand. He provokes the religious leader by asking ‘Which is lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?’  And then he heals the man publicly and defiantly.  (Mark 3) He teaches them about the Kingdom of God, describing hidden truths, usually with cloaked stories, but always with words ‘as one with authority’. 

The crowds surged to Jesus because he was changing their lives. He miraculously altered their physical and spiritual reality with the clear power of God and then he shared the mysteries of the kingdom with boldness and compassion. 

The thing we never see Jesus do is promote himself with clever slogans or gimmicks. And we never see him pull the punches on his message to appease the crowds. Rather his power, even when practiced in secret, was so life changing and so other worldly that it could not be kept hidden.  People came running. 

So then, I return to my initial question, 

‘Why do churches and in particular pastors embrace the marketing and messaging strategies of the world to grow?’

Maybe because we lack the power and presence of God.