The chatter about the “He Gets Us” commercials aired during the Superbowl is fiery. My initial reaction was: I loved it. I loved to see the name of Jesus proclaimed to millions of people in the middle of a highly-watched Superbowl game.
As a Christian, washing the feet of my enemies, those I disagree with, those who are different then me is *exactly* what I want to portray. The background song paired with such mismatched people coming together in the name of love nearly brought me to tears.
I knew immediately there would be controversy, no only because He Gets Us is a source of disagreement among Christians, but because some of the images used are similar to those portrayed in progressive Christian circles to advocate for LGBTQ affirmation.
But, I also knew that the founders of Hobby Lobby are major backers of He Gets Us — and I know that family has a pure heart for the Lord. They aren’t the only funders, though, and some of the others are not Christians, which is concerning.
The commercials were the 2nd most engaged of the Superbowl, which is saying lot due to the emphasis on commercials specifically during this event. Conversations are happening and I think that’s, generally speaking, a good thing.
I fully understand the concerns many Christians raised:
This could be a confusing message to some — portraying sin as “ok” or that it’s fine to continue living in your sin. Josh Howerton explains this a bit here.
This appears to be a simplified version of “social justice Jesus” that is one many progressive skeptics already believe in (but they will still call us Christians hateful if we hold to conservative theology.)
It’s about US, not HIM. This was one reaction I had immediately — isn’t Christianity supposed to be about glorifying God — not appeasing us and “who we are"?”
The words “Jesus Didn’t Teach Hate” implies that there are whole bunch of us saying he did, that if we don’t “affirm” some sins, we are hateful. Maybe that’s not what they meant, but it felt that way.
That being said, there is something about meeting people where they are that matters. I have concerns about the portrayal, but also…washing feet? That’s a good message.
Some people were really upset that they didn’t show like a liberal activist washing the feet of a MAGA supporter. Folks have said the commercial made it seem like only the “conservative haters” were the ones that needed to wash feet. There were a few images that were more neutral and I’m not 100% sure what they were implying but…
I agree — they could have expanded the imagery a bit. And I loved that we were washing the feet of the woman outside of Planned Parenthood, but hated that the folks holding signs were portrayed as hateful. That just plays into harmful stereotypes about pro-lifers that are just generally untrue. Most people are outside of clinics praying for people in authentic gestures of love.
All that said, I was convicted by one thought: We’re a bit too proud.
We’re a bit to proud to stop worrying about reputation and say yeah, I should be washing your feet. Sure, they didn’t do this commercial the way I would have. But, lets wash feet. Period.
I love how my friend
put it:“I think so many people are so afraid of what the ad might have been trying to say that they missed what it actually said.”
Let’s stop worrying about if people think we’re “affirming.” Let’s just wash feet. And when we get into conversation with people, we can share the Gospel.
Just yesterday, a Christian pastor put out his version of the ad, calling it “He Saves Us.” I admit I LOVED this version so much — probably more than the original, but the two aren’t enemies, as one man put it:
Here’s “He Saves Us”:
I’m not trying to “nuance” this thing to death, friends. I fully appreciate the major pushback the original ad has received. But, this is just where I land in the discussion.
A Related Note
This all reminded me of a parenting thing…I’m trying to learn to be a more patient parent and all the parenting advice says this: Kids just want to feel seen.
They want to KNOW that you hear them and feel the depth of their pain even if you don’t understand it — even if it’s because they can’t find the yellow marker and they just *really* need it right this second. That’s SO upsetting. And it feels ridiculous, but the only way they will calm down and talk to you is if you put away your protestations and listen.
I’ve been doing it. This morning, my son was so angry at me for not waking me up in time to catch the bus (despite the fact that I had woken him up early & he just didn’t get up.) He started freaking out, crying and yelling. I stood there and said “I’m sorry you didn’t make the bus. I know it doesn’t feel good because you planned to ride the bus. I love you and I get that you’re upset.”
Maybe you tell me I’m being a wimp and kids just need some discipline.
I think a lot of people suffering today were never taught how to feel, never seen as kids, are still learning how to be adults because no one ever taught them.
And we can reach people in this gentle way of understanding.
We don’t have to subscribe the critical theory ideas to simply see people in their pain. To wash their feet. In this, we share Jesus. We open relationship. We show them we aren’t the stereotype they thought we were.
And maybe we stop arguing about how good the “washing feet” ad was, and actually go wash some feet! I know that many of us already do this, but perhaps a good reminder to step it up.
I pray this commercial moves people toward Christ, that their hearts are prompted to authentically pursue Him and the Holy Spirit moves in miraculous ways.
I always say if we pursue God with a pure heart, He will never leave us out to dry. It’s the advice I give doubting friends. Seek God with an open heart, read scripture, pray honestly and ask Him to guide you to Truth.
So, yes, the ad had issues — but I also saw the light in it, and it reflected my own sin back at me. And maybe, for us Christians, that was the point.
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Personally I was split by the commercial. It was good to have the action of Jesus, washing feet, put before the public, and the revelation of His Name at the very end, but it would be highly questionable as to whether very many lost souls would understand the meaning of the action. Also, in some of the images, it can easily be construed to believe that Jesus is giving, at the very least, tacit affirmation of some lifestyles that most likely will lead to destruction and eternal damnation.