Don't Bite on the Bait and Switch

by Reba Collins

I’m not much of a sports fan, but a sports-channel promo caught my attention the other day as it flashed across one of the gym’s many TV screens. Because there was no sound, I had to rely only on what I saw. At first, it looked as though it was for an upcoming car race. The stars were decked out in their hyper-sponsored, one-piece jumpers. This was followed by a shot of the winner’s circle with a big trophy and lots of nice-looking people celebrating.  Then they put up an image of speeding boats, and it made me think it was for power boat racing. This sudden switch of images hooked me, of course, which is what made it a good promo. But then, the final video revealed that they were pumping us up to watch the high-octane sport of – bass fishing!

BASS FISHING? Are you kidding me? Bass Fishing? 

I felt completely conned. 

Maybe it’s because I’ve done some fishing, myself. It never was all that glamorous, full-throttle exciting. In fact, the slightest sneeze might scare the fish and you’d be going home empty handed. I just couldn’t relate to the promo’s reality based on my own past experiences. In fact, I was SO totally deflated by this bait and switch (yes, all puns intended) that I couldn’t have cared less about what was next up on the program.

 

Obviously bass fishing really, really does ignite some people’s passions. Just not mine. In a similar way, some church types really, really ignite people’s passion for God. Others do not. One thing that defines our interest in a sport, or a church, is our own past experiences. Some of us search for a church like one we’ve experienced in the past. Others of us would never go to a particular type of church again – as if the devil was at the door.

 

Both church searchers and churches need to remember that not everyone gets hooked by the Spirit in the same way. For church searchers, you need to know what types of churches will catch your interest. The Church Guide Website has several tools to help you figure this out, including a Spiritual Style Inventory. (www.thechurchguide.net/search-tools)

Churches, your promos need to be very clear about which type of fishermen you are. Church searchers who look at your Website won’t like being hooked into a bait and switch, and they’ll throw you back. 

Just as not every fishing expedition will produce a good catch, not every church search will produce a great match. But everyone – fishermen of all types -- should still hold the promise of another day to cast their lines into the water and hope for “the big one” to bite.