Ah, the power of "a sale" to persuade!
In one of America's favorite coffee shops, there was a small "stocking-stuffer" offered, ON SALE, just in time for the Christmas company coming. I picked one up, and asked: "How much is this?"
The cheerful answer came: "7.95"
Then the second salesperson chimed in: "Buy one, get one free!!"
Sounded good to me, so I picked up a second one and got in line to check out. The bill rang up $11.95 plus tax. Curious math, it seems.
It turns out that the 7.95 was the on-sale price ($4 off). The buy-one-get-one-free was a special at the REGULAR 11.95 price. When I questioned that, the sales crew insisted it was clear. And as I left, after buying the 7.95 deal, they were explaining to each other how all of that was clear.
Once upon a time in the long-ago when I sold shoes and things to pay for college, I had a boss who laughed at his own joke sometimes. He loved to say, "You can offer someone a deal: two for a nickel or three for a dime. Did you know lots of folks will do the three-for-a-dime deal cause they think it's better! Specially if you smile when you say it!"
Not so bad in the nickel and dime business; not so bad even in the coffee business, just small stuff. But when it comes to faith issues, maybe the "sweet deal" that sounds easier-than-Jesus isn't really so good after all. There are lots of "sweet deals" around; maybe we better read Matthew 5-7, and just check if the "sweet deal" actually fits with what Jesus said. Jesus tells the real Good News. Sometimes the other "deals" just aren't real. Check it.
