Analysis
In the Mathew scripture, Jesus was encouraging his disciples to go forth and spread the word of God. He was encouraging them to inform, remind, and persuade people of the word of God and his commandments. He gave them the green light to spread the gospel, baptizing people and encouraging them to obey God’s commandments. This scripture can be attributed to marketing. Marketing entails informing, reminding, and persuading individuals about a particular product. In the same case, disciples were to inform, remind, and persuade people about the word of God and his commandments. The scripture is a clear portrayal of the ethicality of marketing the word of God, as the instructions to do so were granted to the disciples by Jesus Christ.
The excerpt from the ‘Brains on Fire’ focuses on the impact of evangelism in realizing organizational objectives. The excerpt portrays evangelism as a goal-oriented tool, vital in enhancing change in people and organizations (Philips et al., 2010). It is a motivating tool and, when effectively implemented, can ensure the realization of set goals and objectives. Evangelism can therefore be attributed to the marketing function in the organization. Marketing aims to ensure the realization of organizational goals and objectives more effectively and efficiently. Using evangelism as a marketing tool is therefore vital to ensure the realization of pre-set objectives.
Similarities
Both excerpts are a broader perspective of the marketing function in the business. As indicated, marketing refers to communicating information about a specific product or service to increase its awareness, sales, and market coverage. Similarly, spreading the gospel by the disciples is a marketing act as it intends to inform, increase awareness, and persuade believers and non-believers about the word of God. Evangelism in the business context relates to communicating information about a specific aspect in the business to increase awareness, motivate employees and team them up to achieve a specific goal. Both excerpts are therefore a critical reflection of the marketing process. Secondly, both excerpts justify the ethicality of the marketing process. In the Mathew scripture, permission to spread the gospel was granted by Jesus to his disciples. This depicts the rightful and ethical nature of the disciples in spreading the gospel. The second excerpt denotes evangelism being a process of critically laid out steps critical to achieving the intended purpose. It stresses the need to do what is required alongside stipulated rules and regulations. Operating in the prescribed scope indicates ethical practices critical in realizing organizational objectives; employee motivations, and enhancing teamwork.
Differences
The Mathew scripture is based on religious context, while the second excerpt is related to the business context. Jesus urges his disciples to go forth to spread the word of God, focusing on baptizing people and urging them to fall into the path of righteousness. This is a religious context where the intended audiences are Christians and sinners. The ‘Brains on Fire’ focuses on the impact of marketing in the business context. Evangelism, when conducted purposefully, is essential in realizing organizational goals such as enhanced employee motivations and teamwork among employees. These specific goals are essential in realizing a business’s long-term mission and direction. Secondly, in the Mathew scripture, the immediate objective of ethical marketing is increased coverage of the word of God. Specifically, this implies that those who did not have an idea of it now have it, those who were not baptized will be baptized, and sinners will abandon their sinful ways and revert to the way of righteousness. The specific results are religious in context. In the excerpt from ‘Brains of Fire, ‘ short-term goals of ethical evangelism in the business consist of enhanced employee motivations and organizational teamwork. The long-term goals include increased product coverage in the market and sales and profit maximization.
Reference
Philips, R., Cordell, G., Church, G., & Jones, S. (2010). Brains on Fire: Igniting powerful, sustainable, word of mouth movements. Hoboken: Wiley.