Dyson Vaccuum Cleaners and the Church

I was watching television the other day and on comes a commercial for vacuum cleaners. It was the Dyson series of cleaners. Now the commercial was much like other commercials but it had an element to it that is unique. James Dyson is the guy who actually does the commercials. James Dyson is also the inventor of the cyclone style of vacuum cleaner. Here you have the guy who invented the product telling you about the product. Instead of some slinky model, or funny cartoon coming out to tell us how great this thing is, we get the guy who made the thing. It isn’t a slick commercial; he looks like he is standing next to the work bench where he made his first cleaner. He is dressed in a simple open collared shirt and khaki pants and comfortably telling us about the one thing he knows better than anyone else. Since he is the “horse’s mouth” the commercial, all of a sudden has more credibility than an average commercial. This is the expert! This is the guy who spent years developing this thing and now he is going to tell you about it. Now Dyson vacuum cleaners are expensive, but they are good. Could any other vacuum cleaner company get away with charging this much for a cleaner like Dyson and use a standard commercial to promote it? I don’t think so.

Now, think about this from the perspective of the Church. Many times we provide a standard commercial. We sell a particular program or event or worship service. Services are labeled contemporary, edgy, traditional, ancient modern, relaxed etc.. which is just a word to point to a behavior, it doesn’t really get to the real thing does it?

How much more impact would we have if we “advertized” with the inventor of our product (the Church)? How much more credibility would we have with people who didn’t know they needed vacuum cleaners (I mean a church) by having the one who invented vacuum cleaners (I mean Church) present the argument for having one? Too often we tout slogans, programs or whatever that point to Jesus… shouldn’t we just use Jesus? Can the words of Jesus bring someone to your church? Can the actions of Jesus call someone to a life that is greater than themselves? Can the lessons of Jesus solve the really hard problems in a person’s life? Can Jesus still speak to this generation? Of course!

I just think that in our rush to meet the needs of the post-mod world, or the aging baby boomers or the un-churched or whomever, we are all too willing to tout a form of worship or study or community gathering as the end all when we should just invite them to meet Jesus. Are we wasting time getting the lights just right, or the sound in perfect pitch, and all the time missing the movement of the Spirit in our midst? Are we so self absorbed that we need to put our name on every piece of furniture in the traditional church so everyone knows that it is dedicated to the glory of God in memory of dear Aunt Sally? Do we really need another fast talking preacher in an Armani suit to give us the word or can the Holy Spirit still speak to your heart?

Maybe just once we should take a lesson from James Dyson. Maybe we should allow Jesus to step out on that stage or stand in that pulpit or say something on our church sign… Maybe we should just skip the hype and go straight to the inventor. Maybe we should be more aware of the Spirit in our midst, and like Job put our hands over our mouths and listen, and like he says in Job 42:5 – I had heard of you before God, but now I see you!!