About a week ago I posted a video, Why I hate religion but love Jesus. First I want to take a second to state that I do not agree with what this video says, there are some points that are valid, but I disagree with the message of the video. But that really doesn’t matter, the video was posted here to spark your thoughts and hopefully we did that.
This video has caused quite a stir around the internet. When I first decided to post the video, there were less than 10,000 views of this video on GodTube. The video, however, caught the attention of many others and after being written about by numerous blogs and being shared on Facebook and Twitter thousands of times, the video has been watched over 83,000 times on GodTube and on the more popular YouTube this video now has more than 16,100,000 views.
Today, Rev. Bosco Peters brought something else to my attention about this video. I had not noticed this because I had only seen the video on the GodTube page (that is the video I linked to here) and had not been to the page for the You Tube video. When you do go to the YouTube page and hit the button to expand the page and see more information you will see a description of the video. But continue down the page past the links for the music and past the link for the company that produced the video and you will see something else.
Wanna start helping and serving Jesus in a practical way? checkout the company of the watch I am wearing in the video! They give 10-25% of all proceeds to non profits and the bands and faces are interchangeable!http://www.cruxwatches.com
I’m not quite sure why, but like Rev. Bosco, the fact that the person that made this video is hawking watches along with his video bothers me a bit. Maybe it shouldn’t bother me, maybe I shouldn’t care, maybe these watches are helping people. But there is something just not right.
One of the things that bothers me the most about this, is the fact that this company does not have a unique product here. If you have ever seen the Hello Somebody watches, then you will recognize these watches. Now I’m not sure which came first so I’m not saying one is greater than the other. But Hello Somebody seems more about helping those less fortunate and the Crux Watch site seems more about selling watches.
It is ironic that earlier this week, Jon Acuff, wrote about other companies cashing in on the idea of the Hello Somebody watches. I can’t help but think that this video and the associated plug for the watches might have had something to do with his blog post. In response to Jon’s question about this new-found competition, one of his friends working for Hello Somebody said: ”“At end of the day poverty, hunger, lack of water, that’s our competition. That is what needs to keep me awake at night.”
So if the products being advertised by the maker of this video are going to help people, should we care? I think we should. What concerns me is the message that is being delivered to the children that these watch sellers are announcing that they are helping. Are the watch sellers who are being promoted in this video promoting the message of the video themselves? I don’t know but maybe that is what concerns me.
What do you think? Is this shameless promotion? Is it any different from my website having advertising in the sidebar? Is it any different from a church calendar having advertising at the top of the calendar? Should religion be used to sell products? Is it ok if the products donate a small portion of their proceeds to charity?
I have given you a lot to think about today. Hopefully, I have stirred some thoughts one way or the other. I would like to again thank Rev. Bosco Peters for bringing this to my attention. Be sure to check out his insight on the subject at his blog from yesterday. And he has an awesome video on his blog that is a Biblical response to the original video, but I didn’t want to steal all of his ideas, so be sure to check it out.
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He gives the appearance of coming up with a video to sell watches. Hello Somebody seems to simply sell watches. Seems to be a difference.
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That is the impression that I am getting too. I don’t think that is all together accurate, but that is the appearance. And I wake up this morning and they are going to have him on the CBS morning news today. Is he promoting Jesus, or himself, or watches?
Thanks for your thoughts, and the enrichment of the points I make.
Possibly one way forward is to acknowledge that this is not a black/white, right/wrong issue – more of a spectrum. I am a priest, I receive income through my ministry – I can live a reasonable standard of living. I receive interest from my bank account.
I run a website – it in fact has cost me to do so. (I currently don't but since you mention it) I might place advertisements to reimburse that, and if I end up with more than my costs – well there's a coffee or two, or a book I can pay for. I cannot see significant issues there.
If I were an independent clergyman, running a church, demanding 10% of each's income, and not having any check on my total income from this – I hope there would be a pause and questions asked. I find such activity compromises the message.
I cannot say where this very professionally made video, viewed by over 16 million people, sits on that spectrum – but I think pausing and asking the questions is not inappropriate. I'm not sure if the heart of the gospel is actually expressed in: I hate religion but I love to sell watches for Jesus.
Blessings
Bosco
Thanks for visiting and thanks again for bringing this to my attention. I agree with you, and I even wondered if I were being hypocritical since I have advertisements on my website as well. But as you stated it is not quite the same. And I doubt any of the ads on my little spot here will ever pay enough to cover the costs involved.
I think it is good to ask the questions. Asking questions leads to thought and hopefully after some contemplation leads us closer to Him.
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