Wow. I have to say that I totally agree with you on this. $3 million? They can do what they want, but it feels like a waste to me when so many kids could be helped.

I couldn’t agree more with you. $3 million is one big ole chunk of change, and I think Brent had it right when he said this really boils down to a political ad/move for FOTF. I keep reading the scriptures and I can’t find a PSA anywhere! But what I do see is the disciples, and later the body of Christ, moving and taking care of people by feeding them, clothing them and taking care of their needs. Great post, and great way to stir the pot a bit.

Nice discussion indeed. I tend to side more with Compassion/World Vision/Charity:Water etc… but I can totally understand Tal’s point of view. If anything, this debate makes you think. I’m definitely going to be chewing on this for awhile because let’s be honest – while there may have been donors is specifically designated funds for a Super Bowl commercial, I can’t for the life of me recall any specific ad from last year.
Nice post, Nicole.

If your argument is that FotF should spend the money doing something more social conscience, don’t we all have issues?

Have you bought a cup of coffee at Starbucks recently? Did you know that you could have had Folgers and give the rest of your money to help thirsty African children? http://www.water.cc/initiatives/onedollarwater/

Or may coffee isn’t your thing, but you went to go see U2 is concert and spent $100 doing so. You could have listened to their latest album on iTunes for $10 and given $90 to charity.

Or maybe we should start to question how much each of our churches spends a year in marketing? I bet your church–even the most traditional or rural or tiny churches have spent enough money on local promotion that they could have fed a hungry family at least one meal.

When we start challenging how OTHERS spend money, we start sliding down the slope. Let FotF decide how they are going to spend their money just like we let Pepsi and Budweiser choose how they are going to spend their money.

From a non-US perspective (FoF isn’t exactly a well known name down here, though James Dobson’s name has a bit more profile), and also from someone who makes big financial decisions on how other people’s money gets used – both in business and in church – I basically agree with Tal on this. I can’t comment on the ministry/mission/politics side-discussion that’s been going on though :)

It is easy to say that money could have been better spent. There’s so many aspects we don’t know for sure, and this may well be God’s plan for that $3m dollars, and the money He wants spent on poverty relief is to come from somewhere else. We’re not God, and we’re not the stewards of that $3m. Like Ken said, we can only be the stewards of the money we do have, so listen to God’s prompting on where to sow what we have, rather than concerning ourselves with how God is leading others to allocate the resources that they steward.

Not usually someone who walks the line, I’m going to have to say I see both sides of this equation. My first thoughts were that the $3M could have definitely been used in a different way to reach more people effectively but then I have to remember that my definition of what effectively reaching people might mean is likely different than others. I like Tal Prince’s perspective and he is right. FOTF has a mission and they need to do what God has told them to do and how He has told them to do; I can’t argue against that thought process at all. If I had $3M I would spend it differently but that doesn’t make it right or wrong just simply different. Great discussion though.

I am profoundly on the ‘money could be better used elsewhere’ side of the issue. Yes, it is FOF’s money and they have the right to spend it in whatever way they choose. But in the wake of this week’s events in Haiti, I am hard-pressed to justify spending 3 million dollars hoping that someone will be moved to possibly accept Christianity as opposed to spending 3 million dollars to provide food and water and shelter for untold millions of God’s hurting children world-wide. Seems like a no-brainer to me.

Engaging discussion! What, if any, direction do we have from Jesus’ teaching? What do teachings like the Sermon on the Mount have to say? Especially curious about how we understand the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25:31 – 46? Does that speak into the issue?

I like what Ken has to say, but I wonder why he concludes that because we spend money on concerts and coffee, money that could save lives, that spending 3million on a tv ad is OK. Is it possible that two or three or four wrongs don’t make a right? Maybe we shouldn’t, as Jesus’ people, spend money on Starbucks when our brothers and sisters are dying from lack of clean water. Why isn’t that a legitimate conclusion given Jesus’ life and teaching?

I’m not convinced Jesus would see this a mater of opinion, like we seem to. He clearly and specifically told us to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and give water to the thirsty. He never told us to invest 3million in a Superbowl ad. Just saying, in the midst of all the grey on this one, it’s pretty clear that one side of the equation has Jesus’ endorsement – he commanded it and said we would be judged based on whether or not we do it.

Unfortunately, I had a hot chocolate at Starbucks today, so I don’t fully believe this yet, but I’m trying.

Just a couple more points as this one has been on my mind a great deal today. I think we need to be very careful in how we discuss this, and this discussion has been very civil and cordial.

I think there are two Scriptures that are very important to look at here.

The first is 1 Corinthians 12:12-31. This is Paul’s passage about the Body of Christ – all parts are needed. I think that’s true when it comes to ministries as well. God has placed passions and vision for different types of ministries in many people. He then equips them to pursue that vision. He then brings alongside people with similar passion and vision, that have the ability to fund that vision and passion. Who are we to disagree with that? Those ministries need to stay focused on their God given mission.

I know that Compassion International, World Vision and Blood:Water Mission are all very popular right now. They resonate with our generations, and we all like what they do. But, they don’t typically get involved in domestic tragedy, right? And they shouldn’t. They have a different mission and vision – and God has provided funding for them, and continues to do so.

We are all called to be and work in different parts of the body – none is any more important than another. Follow the passion and vision God has given you, and focus your time, talent and treasure on that.

The second passage is Matthew 26:6-13. Now when Jesus was at ​Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table. And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? For this could have been sold for a large sum and ​given to the poor.” 10 But y​Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 For z​you always have the poor with you, but a​you will not always have me. 12 In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it b​to prepare me for burial. 13 Truly, I say to you, wherever c​this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told d​in memory of her.”

The estimates on the amount of money the jar would have cost vary, but it was at least a year’s salary – an obscenely offensive gesture at the time. Much like $3 Million for an ad today. Does Jesus see it as a beautiful thing that these donors gave this amount of money? I believe it was given sincerely and generously, and God has to be pleased with that. Why should we be indignant and ask as the disciples did, “Why this waste?” Jesus reminds us, starkly, the poor we will always have with us.

With a Super Bowl audience of 93.2 Million people, Focus on the Family is spending roughly $30 per person to show a well done commercial with one of the most prominent college football players of the past few years. His mother was advised to abort him. Thankfully, she did not. The hope is that one, or more abortions are avoided as a result. Even if only one – was it worth the price tag?

Thanks for the comments folks! Maybe I should disagree with Focus more often ;) Seriously, I am so glad to see so many good friends posting here. Tal, Brad, Ken, and Alex… thanks for dropping by… It was really, really nice to hear from you guys on this. I respect your opinions so much. Even when we don’t agree :)

MPT – How did I know we’d agree on this??? Hope all is well in Uganda my friend. Love reading your blog this week and I can;t wait to talk when you get home. Also, thanks for allowing me to use your pictures.