Many of you may have seen the well done, now-famous PC vs Apple computer commercials where the two computers are symbolized by two people: The Apple Computer, who is “cool” and likable, and the PC Computer, who is “nerdy” and uptight. If you haven’t, you can view them online at the Apple website.
Well, the Community Christian Church has produced some parody commercials using the same format, but to compare and contrast what they call “Christians” with what they call “Christ Followers.”
The commercials are very well done, and they do illustrate a real problem that Christian Churches, like the LDS Church, often struggle with. The contrast between being a “Cultural Mormon” and a Latter-day Saint is a frequently discussed topic.
It is always good to remind ourselves that we should be following Jesus Christ, and not merely going through the motions. These commercials are helpful in that regard.
As long as the videos inspire introspection and re-dedication they are wonderful. But at the same time, I wonder if they perpetuate caricatures that are, in the long run, more damaging. Is it really healthy for our spirituality to go around comparing our piety to those around us and doubting the sincerity of their efforts to be Christian? I don’t think that it is. It kind of reminds me of the line at the beginning of “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” where a teenage Jones gets separated from his scout troupe and realizing that he is not with the group declares “Everybody’s lost except for me.”
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
-Isaiah 53:6
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Thanks for passing that along. I love the way they remind us that our faith is not based on our appearance.
These are well produced, but I sympathize with your critique. The principal accomplishment of the commercials is to poke fun at the pseudo-pious guy, with only a line or two about how the other guy is Follower. I’ve met people who love to obsess about how judgmental other Mormons are, how image conscious they are, etc., without noting that by dwelling on that, one is being just as judgmental. It just feels cooler to judge someone judgmental than to judge someone poor or marginalized in some other way. I like Paul’s brief reminder, Judge thyself. (I generally find there’s plenty there… Not to say that I’m any paragon in this regard. Just trying.)
I enjoyed your thoughts on those video. You seem to have some good insight. Here is a link to my thoughts on those videos. http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=8ab3e32caeaaecf43355