The new Alpha advert has just appeared – or, at least, just crossed my limited horizon. Have a look:
What is this saying about Christian faith:
- it has credibility because a famous bloke likes it?
- it has credibility because if a macho man (a ‘real’ man) likes it, it must be good?
- it is for self-sufficient blokes who look pretty good in their place of ‘despair’?
- it is useful for getting you out of tight spots?
- it is useful for attracting attention?
There will be more possibilities than those and not everyone will like it. I guess, if you love Alpha, you will not hear any criticism of it and if you loathe it (for whatever reason), you will never be open to the good it does. This probably says less about Alpha than it does about us.
And my response to the advert? I think it’s a bit silly and confusing (in terms of the messages it sends); but I hope it gets a good airing, awakens the curiosity of women (who fancy macho-Christian) and men (who wish they were macho-Christian… or, just macho) and reaches the parts the rest of us don’t reach. I remember the old evangelist who responded to some criticism of his evangelistic methods with the retort: ‘I prefer the evangelism I do to the evangelism you don’t do.’
September 8, 2009 at 9:33 am
I’m not sure the advert is intended to say much about the Christian faith, but to grab people’s attention using a well known personality doing what he does. This seems to me to be fairly common practice in the advertising world.
This summer two former parishoners, who came to faith through an Alpha course we ran, were ordained as priests so you won’t find me knocking Alpha.
September 8, 2009 at 10:01 am
I personally feel uncomfortable with much of the limp wristedness that goes on in church, but that’s just my own insecurities I guess. Maybe it’s a mutual thing also. Maybe much of it depends on what you have to do as a living and the type of people you have to be surrounded by all week. Does it make any of us more, or less worthy?
September 8, 2009 at 10:45 am
All a bit over the top really – I thought it was an advert for an exotic holiday! It also perhaps gives the impression that Alpha is for extra-ordinary people rather than normalrun-of-the-mill ones.
I actually think the Alpha Course is one of the best things since sliced bread; so who am I to criticise a slightly over the top, wacky advert?
Anne.
September 8, 2009 at 1:27 pm
[…] Nick Baines thinks it’s a bit silly and confusing (and he might have a point), but let’s stop and ask ourselves what advertising is all about. Is it just telling people the details about the product? For example, what about this famous offering? […]
September 8, 2009 at 2:06 pm
I guess I am left wondering if the advert, and its use of a celebrity, buys into the prevailing celebrity-obsessed culture? Do we need celebrity endorsement for our message to appear valid, normal and attractive?
Genuine question as I struggle continually, like all ministers, to tread the line between engaging with culture to communicate the Gospel effectively without buying into it so much that the message of a distinctive, transforming way of life gets lost.
But also I think we can be a bit too precious about things so maybe that’s just what I’m being just now?!?
September 8, 2009 at 3:50 pm
Re: Phil’s comment above.
For me, the Alpha Course opened the door to the storehouse of treasure which is Christianity.
And 15 years on from doing Alpha, I’m to be licensed as a Lay Minister(Reader)this October.
Anne.
September 8, 2009 at 3:58 pm
Phwoar!
I’m not a fan of Alpha, being more an Emmaus kind of girl. And I’m usually MUCH more interested in your basic Colin-Firth-in-Bridget-Jones type of man. But I could definitely get interested in attending an Alpha course alone on a desert island with Bear – shirt as optional extra.
September 8, 2009 at 5:50 pm
Anne, that’s brilliant. Which diocese?
September 8, 2009 at 8:39 pm
And I thought that we Americans had the most ridiculous adverts. Looks like I will have to reconsider this opinion now that I have seen this British concoction.
Kurt
Brooklyn, NY
September 8, 2009 at 8:44 pm
Kurt, we are learning to compete with the USA!
September 9, 2009 at 9:01 am
Thanks Nick, my licensing is in Salisbury Diocese.
My cousin when she realised this is definitely happening said “I’m surprised Anne that you’ve become involved with the Church because you always seem to enjoy having fun!”
What image of the Church do non-churchgoers have? If only we were able to portray more of the abundance/fullness of life which Jesus gives us, wouldn’t that be good!
Anne.
September 9, 2009 at 12:04 pm
We can only change the rumour about God and the church by being different. Enjoy your ministry!
September 10, 2009 at 2:29 am
He seems to be reading Revelation when the ad begins; he tries using the Bible to be saved, but it doesn’t get him anywhere so he discards it; then he writes ‘I did Alpha’ in the sand but that doesn’t get him anywhere either. Are we sure the ad isn’t one for Richard Dawkins?
September 10, 2009 at 12:32 pm
Am I the only person who’s reminded of that awful eighties cinema ad: “Overcooked pasta and simplistic theology… IF you’re drinking Bacardi”?
@Erica: fight ya for ‘im? leg wrestling, best of 3?
😉
September 11, 2009 at 8:37 am
I now do a lot of Alphas now on the ‘If you can’t beat ’em join ’em’ principle. I do tend to present the material in a neutral way:
This is what the manual says
This is what some other Christians say
This is my opinion
What’s yours?
And by the way, that quote; Gypsy Smith if I’n not mistaken. I love it.
September 11, 2009 at 11:10 am
Nick, thanks for your reminder in blog 12. Don’t complain that you wish things were different, but as I think Ghandi said “Be the change you’d like to see”!
Anne.