Marketing is a way to connect us to a brand which can also be a person(s). If the marketing is successful, then we engage. We buy into the brand (literally) or to the person(s) with our loyalty, support, follow, likes, and shares. A great example is a social media influencer. They literally earn a very good living by endorsing products thereby influencing their loyal followers to buy and/or promote.

Interestingly, loyalty carries with it a level of trust! I mean if those we are engaged with by following say it’s okay then it must be okay. Right? If companies whose products we are loyal to endorse something or someone then it must be okay, right?

Sometimes after we’ve connected to the point of loyalty, subtle and gradual shifts seem to happen. For instance, I used to follow a Christian Instagram influencer. She was great about sharing her faith and Gods Word. Had some adopted kids and was funny and transparent about her life’s joys and struggles. As her marriage hit bumps and later ended, she shared her journey and we all loved her all the more. Then I noticed she talked less about her faith in the way she did in the beginning. When she did share her faith, her beliefs were not as mainstream as originally shared. Slowly she has shifted to a very liberal faith. But we love her, right? So, maybe she’s right. Right? Well not to me but because she says so millions are not only following her but buying into her beliefs.

We’ve all gotten hooked on TV series. Have umyiu notice this trend? The first season is PG but half way through the second season it shifts to PG13. By the third season it’s TV Mature which might as well be R. You know you shouldn’t be watching but you are so hooked on the show/characters you can’t possibly stop, right? And others like you are all watching so it’s okay, right?

All day long, every day people are trying to sell us. You know, get us to buy their brands or buy into their ideas, way of life. The Christian has an internal alarm (Holy Spirit) that nudges cautioning us to beware, back off, stay away. But a good marketer tells us what we want to hear convincing us we need or it’s okay. They successfully get us to doubt what we know (deep down) is true. And besides, we aren’t the only ones buying into what they are selling.

It’s a proven trend that’s been trending since the beginning of time. It’s called the marketing of evil. Oh, I’m not saying the intent of all marketers is an evil intent. Of course not! And some may not even realize they are marketing evil. But many do and it’s imperative we hone our senses not to be tickled but to be on high alert.

Let’s not hit the snooze button when the Holy Spirit nudges our spirits that something or someone is off and we need to be very aware. I can’t remember who said this but I thought a profound statement…

If what you are supporting, buying or buying into, watching, liking, sharing is why Christ died on the cross, stop it. Turn away. Run. In other words, if what you are supporting, buying or buying into, liking, sharing is sin, stop it. Turn away. Run.

If you’ve not read “Marketing of Evil,” I highly recommend.