The Brand

Philippians 3:3

I was blessed to work for one of the greatest companies in the USA, and we spent a lot of time on our “Brand”.  3M knew that a strong brand would be identified by name, and that people would have faith that it would perform as advertised.  A lot goes into a product, long before it becomes a household name, it began as a thought and has captured the mind of a person who must sell the idea to those who hold the purse strings of the division, and before the lab is able to go forward it must be funded.  Then often the developing and testing takes years, and still it is not a product; it then requires market studies and the packaging group must get involved and still it is not a product.  At some point it has to be introduced to the market and that requires sales, but in order to sell the product, it must meet and exceed the products that are in that market.  At some point in time, after the customer has used and reused, and found it to exceed all other products in that market, it becomes a brand.  In the electrical business our 33 super + is such a product.

You may be asking how does that equate with Philippians 3:3, “For we are the real circumcision, who worship by the spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh.”  In keeping with the brand or product, this is what Paul is telling us, our “Brand” is proven, it has been in the market place for many years and it has no competitors.  That is unless you try to improve on it, and then it is not our product, it has moved on to some person’s idea, it has become a product of the flesh.

Has the Church of 2011 kept the “Brand” or has it tried adding glitter and pizzazz to the gospel of Jesus Christ?  The world’s tactics are always opposite to God’s ways.  Is drawing people to our churches using the glitter and pizzazz of the world system working?  Could it be that our neighbors, communities, and our Nation is looking for Christians who believe in there “Brand”?  I wonder what would happen if the Church of the living God but no confidence in the flesh?  I have no doubt the “Brand” far exceeds the expectation of those in darkness, but the light of the church has gone dim from those who believed it needed updating.  Less we forget, Jesus said,  “I am the way, and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”  (John 14:6)

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice