In the name of Jesus?

Thanks to my friend Joe for reminding me not to let this topic go by without comment...

While at the GMHC last week I was blessed to have my table across the aisle from not one, not two, not three, but FOUR, of the most exciting advances in the history of our Christian faith, since the Lord first commanded us to share the Word with others.

What are these amazing accomplishments you might be wondering?

Item A: The EvangeCube. Just by maneuvering the blocks of the cube around, revealing pictures of different parts of the basic Gospel message, you too can easily share Christ with a friend.

Item B: In case operating the EvangeCube proves too challenging, the makers of the EvangeCube now offer the EvangePen. Because you never know when you might be writing a novella and suddenly an opportunity to share the Lord comes by! Well, you'll be ready if you have the EvangePen. Simply pull out the retractable page with four easy-to-recognize pictures that depict aspects of a conversion process and start sharing! (I suggest taping the text of a brief sinner's prayer to the back of the picture, just to be prepared for the windfall of souls -- plus it helps to have it written out so you won't forget something and accidentally not get them saved).

Item C: If that weren't enough, the makers of the EvangeCube and EvangePen now also feature the EvangeBall. This soccer ball (in two sizes, to meet the needs of both adults and children) has panels of black, red, white and other colors which can be used to illustrate the steps of conversion. Man, if they had this in the World Cup last summer all of Europe might have gotten saved! Then I wouldn't have to go back to Austria.

Item D: But surely topping all of the above is ScriptureAid. These would be colorful Band-Aid bandages with, you guessed it, Scripture verses on them. Their tag-line was something to the effect of "helping you deal with all of life's boo-boos". The "boo-boos" part I'm sure of ... what led into it is somewhat hazy now. And I believe nothing more needs be said on the matter.

OK, so I'll stop being sarcastic now. (That was sarcasm up there, in case you missed it).

Maybe, just maybe, someone will actually be blessed by one of these products. And I know the heart was in the right place on all of them. But still. Is this what it's come to in America? Who can design a better crutch for us? Or is the better question "what else can we put Jesus' name on to sell to rich Christians who can't think of anything better to spend their God-given resources on"? God bless the people that made these products and those that sell them, but God help us if this is what passes for evangelism and discipleship these days. Nothing, no matter how clever it is, is going to substitute for Christians living holy & repentant lives in community with those who are lost and dying.