Image Consultant.
Have you ever seen Disney’s “The Kid”? Bruce Willis plays an image consultant. He tells people what to wear or do with their hair, etc in order to “get ahead” in their career. Sadly, his own life is a mess. (It is a great movie though with an interesting twist).
This past weekend an event happened in Major League Baseball. Alex Rodriguez (aka A-Rod) hit his 660th career home run. That is news worth shouting about…except if you are the New York Yankee brass. Because of A-Rod’s tainted past (admission of PEDs and full-season suspension last year) they have refused to publicize it or to honor a $6 million clause in his contract. They have removed him from any publicity and never once said anything about his accomplishment in the media. Reasoning? Bad media image by A-Rod.
Frankly, I don’t care. In my mind neither should he since he is still earning multiple millions per year for playing baseball. If I was his consultant I would say, “Let it go. It looks better.” After all…that’s what an image consultant does. Right?
In our media-saturated age, image consultants are invaluable (to some). Athletes. Movie stars. Politicians. CEOs. Even religious leaders. Make a mistake? Have your consultant clean it up for you. Do something good? Have your consultant do the requisite publicity. ( I realize there are some good men/women out there who do things for the right reason).
What about those of us who follow Jesus? What kind of image are we sending?
I think the people that say they are following Jesus send the same image as those that don’t follow Jesus. Some good, some bad, most in the middle. I don’t think it is a plus or a minus.
I wish it was more of a plus Jeff. I would like to see us different (in a good way).
You can hope. I think most Jesus followers spend most of their time trying to impress other Jesus followers. Non Jesus followers like me just consider it a fairy tale that fails to impress.
i sense some cynicism. 🙂 I would agree most do try to impress, but there are some who genuinely care.
No cynicism here. I just think believers don’t understand how much nonbelievers are not in awe of the Jesus story. I know some people that care. Some are Christians.
Can anyone do anything good and not go about announcing it to everyone and anyone?
It would be nice…
We should be seeking the image of Christ. That would solve a lot of image issues.
Very true. But how difficult is that?
I would hope we, as Christians, would always reflect Christ’s image to the world, but I know there are times I mess up. 🙁 So glad my Lord is there to pick me up, brush me off, and say, “Try again!”
Blessings, Bill!
Yeah, know what you mean. I fit in your “wagon” Martha.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we as Christ followers were so appealing and loving that we drew people to want to know Him. That’s what He wants for us. Praying to do a much better job. Blessings!
Yes it would be absolutely wonderful Deb. What a difference it would make!!
So very glad the one I am following is perfect because this follower is not. I don’t expect others to be perfect, good thing too because I have yet to meet a perfect person, Christian or not. And the perfect Christ accepts anyone who believes in Him and who He says He is. Anyone one looking at me to be perfect will be sadly disappointed. Knowing someday I will give an account for my works here on earth motivates me to strive for the high calling of God. I don’t mind saying I am sorry I fail but I can boldly say, I know one who never failed to meet God perfect standard. It gives me freedom to care about others because I know they are like me, not perfect. There has and always will be prideful self righteous people who judge Christian…let them judge here on earth for someday they will meet the real judge. So while we are still here on this earth we need to be spreading the good news of Jesus and not the news that we are something special. He is the special one. Yep, I am a Jesus freak…but not a perfect one.
Same boat Betty. I am so aware of my shortcomings. There are times I sincerely hope no one is watching I do such a bad job. But I also hope they are watching as God picks me back up, brushes me off, and sends me back out into the fray.
I love it that the men and women Christ used the most were those who were so far from perfect. But as they followed the Savior their desire to live for others, to be like Him, to spread His message of Him being the Redeemer they begin to grow like Him. Love the comments.
I don’t know if you watch American Idol, but I’ve loved that contestant Clark Beckham hasn’t let them mess much with his image. He just wants to stay true to who he is, both in looks and in music. Granted, he’s a good-looking guy who can sing, so his image doesn’t need much tweaking… ha. What does God want to do with my image? I need to think more about that….
No I don’t watch it. Never have really. Gotta like it when someone is comfortable in their own skin.