Packaging is powerful. Whether we like to admit it or not, we are greatly influenced by packaging. Somehow the box of real Wheat Thins always taste better than the generic brand. Sam’s Choice soda just isn’t quite the same as a real Pepsi, and there’s something about Western Family ice cream that just doesn’t seem as tempting as the Breyers right next door. And I know that in these instances there really is a taste difference, but why do I buy real Tylenol instead of the generic brand? (and I’m kind of ashamed that I do) Why do I buy real Windex? Something about the brand, the label, the way it’s presented makes me believe that I’m getting the real thing.
Or what about when companies revamp the packaging but want to make sure we know the product is the same? “New Look, Same Taste!” we may see on the front. They do this because they want us to know–the stuff inside is the same, but they’ve provided a more pleasing package for us, so we have one more reason to want to grab our favorite item again and again.
I’ve been thinking lately about my own packaging. During communication class this last term, we had a guest speaker who shared at length about the importance of scrutinizing ourselves and evaluating what impression we leave on people. She encouraged us to ask our friends what they thought of us when they first met/saw us. What was their first impression. Were we approachable? Kind? Closed off? Proud? Intimidating? Insecure? What message do we send out when we just exist, when we just “are”? I was scared to ask the girl next to me this question. In seminary I have the tendency to be quiet and reserved around the people I don’t know well. I don’t automatically make conversation. So I could see how someone’s initial impression of me would be that I’m closed.
But even past first impressions, our guest speaker asserted that whether we like it or not, when we are communicating a message, our audience will either accept or reject us. We may not like to admit this, but it is frightningly true. We may be speaking the truth, but if our demeanor or attitude is abrasive, offensive, or unconvincing the pill of truth won’t go down.
Now I’m reading a book on marriage counseling, for a summer class I’m taking with Jeff. In the introduction I read that one of the most significant indicators of whether or not a marital counseling situation will be successful is if the counselors and the counselees can connect in a relationship within the first two sessions. So basically, this means that even if you have all the right wisdom or techniques or counseling advice, if your personality is abrasive or you have an inability to connect with people in a loving, genuine way, your attempts at counseling and bringing marital reconciliation will be stunted. If the couple don’t like you, it won’t matter what you say!
This reminds me of another piece of advice I’ve heard before. Paul tells Timothy, his young pastoral protege, “Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you” (1 Tim 4:16). Take heed not only to your message, not only to the gospel, not only to the sound doctrine and right thinking and truth of what you communicate to the world, but take heed to yourself as well. How is my gospel packaging? Is it authentic? Is my life pure? Do I ooze pride or self-righteousness? Am I cool or disinterested? Do I really believe that the gospel is the most treasured, precious, life-changing thing on earth? Is there anything about my personality that repels rather than attracts? Now obviously not everyone is going to like us. I’m certainly not preaching an overly self-focused approach to preaching/sharing/evangelism. But what God’s challenging me with is just to be aware that packaging matters. My attitude, my demeanor, my personality, my appearance. And on a deeper level, the integrity of my life, the way I treat my parents and my husband, the depth of my personal devotional life…how is my gospel packaging? Am I taking heed to both myself and my doctrine, that the product would be pure and packaging pleasing? It’s a lot easier to just say “Oh well, not everyone will like me so I just need to be me!” (which is often a true and healthy thing to say), than to say, “Lord, I seek to ultimately please only you. But I also want to reach as many people as I can with the truth of who You are. Please show me if there are things in my person that repel people or keep people from embracing Your truth. Give me an honest heart to change anything You’d want me to.”
Now again you may be thinking, Why is this such a big deal? Check out the second half of 1 Tim. 4:16–for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you. That’s how important this is. May there be nothing in the way we conduct ourselves that would prevent people from knowing and loving Christ. In taking heed to both ourselves and our doctrine, those who hear our message will be saved. This is our goal. That’s why this is a big deal.
How’s my vessel that carries the treasure of Christ? How is my doctrine and my life? Is my product pure and my packaging pleasant? Let’s ask God to give us a supernatural repackaging if need be. “New look, Same Taste!” Or perhaps even our product is off. We’re to take heed to ourselves and our doctrine. Let’s examine both, and consider our product and consider our packaging, that others may reach for Christ more than ever before.