Comments on: War-Like Imagery in Christian Ministry: A Bad Idea? http://philcooke.com/battle_cry/ Change Revolution Fri, 18 May 2012 18:10:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Tony Figueroa http://philcooke.com/battle_cry/#comment-2606 Tony Figueroa Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://philcooke.vintom.com/Battle_Cry#comment-2606 <div>You got me thinking about the documentary <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0486358/" rel="nofollow">Jesus Camp</a>. Pastor Becky Fischer’s “Kid’s on Fire Summer Camp” where kids are taught to become dedicated soldiers in “God’s army” and are schooled in how to take back America for Christ. Pastor Becky says that she wants the same level of religious frenzy among the youth at her camp as exists at schools that train youth as Islamic fundamentalist suicide bombers. She says,"I want to see them as radically laying down their lives for the gospel as they are in Palestine, Pakistan and all those different places". </div> You got me thinking about the documentary Jesus Camp. Pastor Becky Fischer’s “Kid’s on Fire Summer Camp” where kids are taught to become dedicated soldiers in “God’s army” and are schooled in how to take back America for Christ. Pastor Becky says that she wants the same level of religious frenzy among the youth at her camp as exists at schools that train youth as Islamic fundamentalist suicide bombers. She says,"I want to see them as radically laying down their lives for the gospel as they are in Palestine, Pakistan and all those different places". ]]> By: Josh Ansley http://philcooke.com/battle_cry/#comment-2607 Josh Ansley Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://philcooke.vintom.com/Battle_Cry#comment-2607 It certainly pits an <em>us</em> against <em>them</em>, <em>we </em>versus<em> they</em>, type of attitude that encourages 'secular culture/society' to disengage from what they may otherwise find to be interesting to listen too.  It appears to me that war-like language used to describe situations, issues, and or beliefs, is a way many Christians think they can heighten the intensity of their resolve.  In other words, sadly, some Christians think that merely strong language in society is not enough to bring change and gain listeners.  They feel they must use the strongest.  But few realize that in doing so they are shutting the ears of those who might otherwise be interested.  They are yelling to loudly in others faces.  Do we not hear enough about war these days and in history?  Perhaps that is why we use such language, simply because it is so prevelant in history and current events.  Perhaps it is so prevelant that it has become the only way we know of marketing the message.  But that is just the trouble.  The message needs to be lived as well as marketed.  If we don't bring anything new and orginal to the world what cause for seeing what we have to say does the world have?   It certainly pits an us against them, we versus they, type of attitude that encourages 'secular culture/society' to disengage from what they may otherwise find to be interesting to listen too.  It appears to me that war-like language used to describe situations, issues, and or beliefs, is a way many Christians think they can heighten the intensity of their resolve.  In other words, sadly, some Christians think that merely strong language in society is not enough to bring change and gain listeners.  They feel they must use the strongest.  But few realize that in doing so they are shutting the ears of those who might otherwise be interested.  They are yelling to loudly in others faces.  Do we not hear enough about war these days and in history?  Perhaps that is why we use such language, simply because it is so prevelant in history and current events.  Perhaps it is so prevelant that it has become the only way we know of marketing the message.  But that is just the trouble.  The message needs to be lived as well as marketed.  If we don't bring anything new and orginal to the world what cause for seeing what we have to say does the world have?  

]]> By: Empty Vessel http://philcooke.com/battle_cry/#comment-2608 Empty Vessel Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://philcooke.vintom.com/Battle_Cry#comment-2608 <span style="font-size: 7pt; font-family: Verdana">I think what Battlecry is doing is focusing on the impact this imagery will make on the teenagers that go to this event. By using militant imagery and branding they are speaking to some of the major insecurities of our cultures youth. One of the number one needs of teens is to be accepted and part of something larger than themselves. Also so often teens are put down and told that they can't make a difference, that they won't amount to anything, and that Military feel gives them a sense of power. So they go to these events and say to themselves "Hey! I can be part of this powerful army where together we can prove people wrong and actually make a difference!" I've attended these events before and have close friends who have worked with the ministry and what they are doing is definitely WORKING.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-family: Verdana">I think the question is  A) Is empowering teens more important then offending outsiders? or B) is their some other imagery that would have a similar effect?</span> <p> </p> I think what Battlecry is doing is focusing on the impact this imagery will make on the teenagers that go to this event. By using militant imagery and branding they are speaking to some of the major insecurities of our cultures youth. One of the number one needs of teens is to be accepted and part of something larger than themselves. Also so often teens are put down and told that they can't make a difference, that they won't amount to anything, and that Military feel gives them a sense of power. So they go to these events and say to themselves "Hey! I can be part of this powerful army where together we can prove people wrong and actually make a difference!" I've attended these events before and have close friends who have worked with the ministry and what they are doing is definitely WORKING.I think the question is  A) Is empowering teens more important then offending outsiders? or B) is their some other imagery that would have a similar effect?

 

]]> By: Leslie I T Assih http://philcooke.com/battle_cry/#comment-2609 Leslie I T Assih Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://philcooke.vintom.com/Battle_Cry#comment-2609 Whether we like it or not we are in war in this life. One thing is for sure the motive behind it is more powerful than what you may think or see on a branding level. Not everything is to be done please people. Hear what they have to say. At least thank God these young people are gathering for Him not doing their own thing and being selfish and living for their own personal dreams without Christ Jesus as Lord. It's bad enough the world hates its believers who are real its worse when we do it to ourselves. Look the world does not like us period. Jesus said it so why are we so surprised. Let us just focus on the Master Who really and truly cares for this world because He demonstrated that Himself. One problem I have observed from Westerner Christians is their compromising and hunmanistic ideology warped into biblical truth and they don't mix well. Until we come to the place that there is nothing good in our flesh we are just wasting our time. I am very involved in the media and thank God I have learnt to put God first no matter what the clients think and amazingly a lot of them are not Christians but they see that what I do is true and holds virtue especially the way we treat the female staff. That always blows them away all the time! But I have paid a heavy price to do that here in the UK. I have lost jobs and been without several times because I did not want to compromise my stand for the Lord. I thank God that I held on and I now see Him bringing me jobs that glorify Him and they are not jobs coming from Churches! In the UK there are so many violent children it is unbelievable. We need something like this to rally the young believers to follow the Lord wholeheartedly or else they will be lukewarm. Let them hot and radical as long as they are doing it in love. Ride ON Battlecry!!! Whether we like it or not we are in war in this life. One thing is for sure the motive behind it is more powerful than what you may think or see on a branding level. Not everything is to be done please people. Hear what they have to say. At least thank God these young people are gathering for Him not doing their own thing and being selfish and living for their own personal dreams without Christ Jesus as Lord. It's bad enough the world hates its believers who are real its worse when we do it to ourselves. Look the world does not like us period. Jesus said it so why are we so surprised. Let us just focus on the Master Who really and truly cares for this world because He demonstrated that Himself. One problem I have observed from Westerner Christians is their compromising and hunmanistic ideology warped into biblical truth and they don't mix well. Until we come to the place that there is nothing good in our flesh we are just wasting our time. I am very involved in the media and thank God I have learnt to put God first no matter what the clients think and amazingly a lot of them are not Christians but they see that what I do is true and holds virtue especially the way we treat the female staff. That always blows them away all the time! But I have paid a heavy price to do that here in the UK. I have lost jobs and been without several times because I did not want to compromise my stand for the Lord. I thank God that I held on and I now see Him bringing me jobs that glorify Him and they are not jobs coming from Churches! In the UK there are so many violent children it is unbelievable. We need something like this to rally the young believers to follow the Lord wholeheartedly or else they will be lukewarm. Let them hot and radical as long as they are doing it in love. Ride ON Battlecry!!!

]]> By: Anthony Rice http://philcooke.com/battle_cry/#comment-2610 Anthony Rice Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://philcooke.vintom.com/Battle_Cry#comment-2610 <span style="font-size: 7.5pt; font-family: Verdana"><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt; font-family: Verdana">Have you ever been to a battle cry event? I don’t think that you have, because if you had then you would see how much difference they do through this ministry. Maybe before you criticize what they are doing for branding you should check out the event. They are doing what they need to do to get the teens of today’s world in a Christian environment. Thousands of kids attend these events every month and all you can do is criticize their branding. If you ask me "change the revolutions" sounds like it has something to do with war. But this is just my opinion and having been to battle cry and seeing my youth group radically changed i think that you may need to rethink your post.</span></p></span>

Have you ever been to a battle cry event? I don’t think that you have, because if you had then you would see how much difference they do through this ministry. Maybe before you criticize what they are doing for branding you should check out the event. They are doing what they need to do to get the teens of today’s world in a Christian environment. Thousands of kids attend these events every month and all you can do is criticize their branding. If you ask me "change the revolutions" sounds like it has something to do with war. But this is just my opinion and having been to battle cry and seeing my youth group radically changed i think that you may need to rethink your post.

]]> By: Phil http://philcooke.com/battle_cry/#comment-2611 Phil Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://philcooke.vintom.com/Battle_Cry#comment-2611 Read the post again my friend.  Nothing in it said anything negative about what happens at the events or the good it's doing in the lives of young people. The issue we deal with on this blog is about the media perception of the way the event is portrayed.  Could another approach have the same positive impact on the kids, without making Christians look like radical fundamentalists?  Watch <a href="http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2007/gods.warriors/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">CNN tonight</a>.  See how they portray the event, and you'll understand my position.  In a media-driven culture, we need to ask these questions... Read the post again my friend.  Nothing in it said anything negative about what happens at the events or the good it's doing in the lives of young people. The issue we deal with on this blog is about the media perception of the way the event is portrayed.  Could another approach have the same positive impact on the kids, without making Christians look like radical fundamentalists?  Watch CNN tonight.  See how they portray the event, and you'll understand my position.  In a media-driven culture, we need to ask these questions…

]]> By: Leslie I T Assih http://philcooke.com/battle_cry/#comment-2612 Leslie I T Assih Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://philcooke.vintom.com/Battle_Cry#comment-2612 <p>Hi Phil. Please check this out; the branding is great for what they are achieving. Please we need to know the world hates what Christ Jesus and He said that. Now we are standing for something and the world takes notice of course they are going to try out and put it out. </p><p>But that said we are to be free in Christ in respect to our honour of God. No matter how we brand ourselves as long as we are believers the world will always do what it wants because it is under the influence of the god of this world. Like Jesus said "There's trouble ahead when you live only for the approval of others, saying what flatters them, doing what indulges them. Popularity contests are not truth contests - look how many scoundrel preachers were approved by your ancestors! Your task is to be true, not popular."</p> Hi Phil. Please check this out; the branding is great for what they are achieving. Please we need to know the world hates what Christ Jesus and He said that. Now we are standing for something and the world takes notice of course they are going to try out and put it out.

But that said we are to be free in Christ in respect to our honour of God. No matter how we brand ourselves as long as we are believers the world will always do what it wants because it is under the influence of the god of this world. Like Jesus said "There's trouble ahead when you live only for the approval of others, saying what flatters them, doing what indulges them. Popularity contests are not truth contests – look how many scoundrel preachers were approved by your ancestors! Your task is to be true, not popular."

]]>