Marketing Jesus: The Promise and Pitfalls of 'He Gets Us' Campaign

Marketing Jesus: The Promise and Pitfalls of 'He Gets Us' Campaign

By Rev. Daniel Matthews, M.Div.

February 13, 2025 at 06:54 AM

The "He Gets Us" campaign represents a significant $100M+ Christian marketing effort targeting modern audiences through emotionally resonant Super Bowl ads and broader media presence.

The campaign's 2023 Super Bowl ad "What Is Greatness?" showcases people performing acts of kindness and compassion, set to Johnny Cash's cover of "Personal Jesus." Notable scenes include an organ donor with their recipient and an embrace between a John 3:16 supporter and Pride parade participant, concluding with "Jesus showed us what greatness really is."

The campaign aims to transcend political and ideological divisions through an impressionistic, image-based approach that creates emotional connections rather than detailed theological exposition. While this strategy may effectively capture attention and generate curiosity about Jesus, it presents several challenges:

  1. Context Collapse: The message "Jesus gets us" works better for those already seeking salvation rather than a general audience that might interpret it through a lens of self-affirmation.

  2. Ambiguous Messaging: The campaign's attempt to bridge political divides sometimes creates unclear positions on complex issues like abortion and LGBT+ rights, potentially diluting the gospel's transformative message.

  3. Dated Appeal: Despite modern production values, the campaign's underlying approach may be out of step with current cultural shifts, where many seek definitive truth rather than relativistic acceptance.

While "He Gets Us" demonstrates strengths in digital engagement and overcoming anti-Christian bias, its effectiveness may be limited by:

  • Prioritizing emotional response over theological substance
  • Avoiding uncomfortable but necessary conversations about sin and salvation
  • Reflecting an increasingly outdated vision of religious engagement

As American culture evolves, there may be growing demand for direct engagement with Christian truth rather than impressionistic representations. The campaign's three-word slogan approach, while memorable, may not address deeper spiritual hunger for substantive answers and authentic transformation.

Gospel Fluency book cover design

Gospel Fluency book cover design

The challenge remains: balancing modern marketing techniques with timeless gospel truth in ways that maintain both relevance and theological integrity.

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