I read an article some time ago about the Honda line of electric cars. Actually, the article was much more about the business plan for these cars. Apparently, Honda had decided that they could design these new power trains to fit their existing designs. The thought was that since their cars were so popular, being able to sell this new “green engine” would simply offer another option, and sales would increase. But the exact opposite occurred. You see, though Honda was the first to develop this technology, Toyota introduced its own hybrid car which began to sell like hot cakes. Honda couldn’t believe it. Why were Toyota’s cars selling so much better than their cars, given that they were the first ones to develop electric technology?
Honda did a great deal of research and discovered the problem. It was determined that people who purchased this kind of car wanted to make a statement. They wanted their cars to invoke interest and conversation. But the Honda models didn’t do that because all the cars looked the same. Toyota, on the other hand, had created very different looking designs, which in fact did create the kind of attention owners of this kind of car wanted it. Honda determined that they would redesign the look of their hybrid cars to do just that… create attention.
A few years ago, George Barna, a Christian pollster, determined that being a Christian did little to make one stand out in the community. Christians didn’t vote differently, they didn’t deal with social problems differently, they weren’t even any more generous, though they would likely give to different organizations. In other words, Mr. Barna decided that with the exception of church attendance, Christians looked and acted just like everyone else.
A quick look at church growth will reveal that not many are buying. And the trend is not limited to the USA. The European Church is in even worse shape than we are in the United States. English Cathedrals have become museums where the greatest attendance is during summer vacations when the churches are filled with tourists.
So, what do you think the problem is? Could it be that we could learn something from the Honda research? Might it be that people simply can’t SEE why they would want to be a Christian? Should we look different? Should we act differently? Should our faith be the major determining factor in all life’s decisions? Are they?
The answer to that question will give us all plenty to think about this Lent. As with Honda, I hope we have new model designs in the spring.
Father Bill Myrick
