BY Carson Choate, The Western JournalFebruary 11, 2023
1 year ago
BY 
 | February 11, 2023
1 year ago

Millions to Hear About Jesus Through Super Bowl Ads, But Not All Are Convinced It's What It Seems

Christian ads set to air during the Super Bowl on Sunday are drawing both praise and criticism for how they're presenting Jesus to the public.

A company by the name of Haven is paying $20 million to show two of its "He Gets Us" campaign ads during the game, buying a total of 90 seconds, WXMI-TV reported.

The campaign seeks to get the public to reimagine the life and struggles of Jesus by telling his story in a way that people can relate to.

Haven is a marketing agency funded by anonymous sources that reportedly include the family that owns Hobby Lobby and several evangelical groups, according to The Christian Post.

The company has already spent $100 million on commercial slots during high-profile sporting events and plans to spend $1 billion over the next three years, WXMI reported.


However, not all Christians agree with the way Haven is communicating its message, and others have pointed to the large price tag as a possible red flag.

One person said of the campaign on Facebook, “Its doing ABSOLUTELY nothing but spreading the illusion that our sin is ok because… ‘He gets us’. There’s not one thing in there to encourage sinners to turn away from their sin. Not one word mentioned about Jesus giving himself as the sacrifice for all sin. No mention of Jesus resurrection. No mention of His return.”

Another person referred to it as “watered down victim gospel.”

"This is nothing more than progressive 'Christianity' and blasphemy," one Facebook user commented.

Jason Vanderground, president of Haven, acknowledged some of these concerns to WXMI.

"When people would hear, 'Oh, you're spending $100 million,' they're like, that's a lot of money. And I think people are rightly skeptical," Vanderground said. "They've seen marketing be used in ways that manipulated and took advantage of people."

He continued, "We understand that. We actually think that's healthy to be skeptical about it. But we look at Jesus and just say he was like the perfect communicator. And he used the tools and the means that he had available to him to get his message out. And that's all we're doing here."

The group also rejects claims that it's politically motivated, saying on the "He Gets Us" website that it is “not ‘left’ or ‘right’ or a political organization of any kind.”

 

The self-professed agenda of “He Gets Us” is “to move beyond the mess of our current cultural moment to a place where all of us are invited to rediscover the love story of Jesus."

“We simply want everyone to understand the authentic Jesus as he’s depicted in the Bible -- the Jesus of radical forgiveness, compassion, and love."

This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.

Written by: Carson Choate, The Western Journal

NATIONAL NEWS

SEE ALL

Supreme Court Rejects Arizona Voting Machine Lawsuit

In a noteworthy decision, the Supreme Court declined to hear a lawsuit challenging Arizona's use of electronic voting machines filed by both Kari Lake and…
7 hours ago
 • By Staff Writers

Ivanka Trump Spotted In Manhattan, Avoids Father's Trial

Ivanka Trump was seen in Manhattan earlier this week, signaling a rare visit since her move to Miami. This sighting occurs when her father, former…
7 hours ago
 • By Staff Writers

Conservative MP Mark Menzies Resigns Amid Financial Scandal

In a stunning turn of events, Conservative MP Mark Menzies has announced his resignation amidst a flurry of allegations regarding the misuse of campaign funds.…
8 hours ago
 • By Staff Writers

President Biden Announces $7 Billion in Grants for Low-Income Solar Projects Amid Criticism

In a significant step towards advancing solar energy, President Joe Biden is poised to bolster solar installations across the U.S. with a $7 billion federal…
8 hours ago
 • By Staff Writers

Kansas Supreme Court Ends Oversight of School Funding Case

In a significant legal decision, the Kansas Supreme Court has released jurisdiction over the Gannon v. State school finance case. The Court's action reflects the…
9 hours ago
 • By Staff Writers

DON'T WAIT.

We publish the objective news, period. If you want the facts, then sign up below and join our movement for objective news:

    LATEST NEWS

    Newsletter

    Get news from American Digest in your inbox.

      By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: American Digest, 3000 S. Hulen Street, Ste 124 #1064, Fort Worth, TX, 76109, US, http://americandigest.com. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact.
      Christian News Alerts is a conservative Christian publication. Share our articles to help spread the word.
      © 2024 - CHRISTIAN NEWS ALERTS - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
      magnifier