Super Bowl Ad Creates Debate Online
You know, for a group that claims to be all about Jesus, the He Gets Us campaign sure seems to have a problem actually presenting Jesus. Not the feel-good, inoffensive, “let’s all hold hands and be nice” version they keep pushing, but the real Jesus—the one who turned over tables, spoke the truth without apology and offered a transformative gospel that demands a response. The Jesus that changed history. Instead, He Gets Us continues to serve up a weak, neutered, Hallmark card version of faith that is so vague it might as well be a self-help book in a dentist’s office waiting room.
This year’s Super Bowl ad? More of the same. The big, inspiring question posed was, “What Is Greatness?” But after watching the ad, I still have no idea what their answer is. Apparently, the answer involves some disconnected feel-good images and a Johnny Cash song but nothing that remotely touches on the actual gospel message. And here’s the kicker—the song they used was originally meant to mock faith. Yes, Depeche Mode’s Personal Jesus is not some deep, reverent anthem to Christ. It’s satire. It was written to make fun of televangelists and those who reduce faith to a commodity. Which, let’s be honest, is exactly what He Gets Us has done with their entire campaign.
And yet, somehow, Hobby Lobby CEO David Green is out here telling us that this is better than saying, “Jesus loves you.” Better? In what way? Where in this ad was anything about repentance, redemption, or Christ’s sacrifice? Where was anything that explained why we need a Savior in the first place? It’s just another mushy, substance-free production designed to make people feel affirmed rather than challenged by the truth of the gospel.
Now, let’s talk about the big emotional punch of this ad—apparently, it features someone from the LGBTQ+ community being hugged. That’s it. That’s the moment that’s supposed to move people. Folks, I hug my LGBTQ+ friends all the time. This is not groundbreaking. This is not radical love. This is not a message. It’s performative. It’s empty. It’s meant to make Christians feel guilty for allegedly not being “accepting” enough when in reality, true love—the love of Christ—isn’t about affirming people where they are but calling them into something greater. Jesus didn’t come to hand out participation trophies—He came to transform lives.
And this ad? It’s not transforming anyone. You know what would actually shake people to their core? A commercial that boldly proclaims the gospel—that speaks the hard truth that we are all sinners in desperate need of redemption, but that through Christ’s death and resurrection, we have been offered salvation. That is a message worth hearing. That is a message worth proclaiming on the biggest stage in sports. But He Gets Us doesn’t have the courage to do that. Instead, they water it all down into a few generic platitudes about love and acceptance because they don’t want to offend anyone.
And let’s not ignore the bigger picture here. He Gets Us isn’t just a bad campaign—it’s a suspicious one. While they keep pumping out these soft-focus, gospel-lite messages, we’re also learning that certain so-called “Christian” outlets have been receiving USAID money. USAID. The same government agency that’s been caught funding left-wing pet projects and radical agendas around the world. So now we have to ask—who exactly is shaping the message behind these ads? And why does it always seem to align perfectly with the progressive, government-approved version of Christianity that is all love, no conviction?
Here’s another so-called “Christian” group that received USAID funds:
Christianity Today's 2023 IRS 990 also confirms what others are finding from @DataRepublican.
$1.8 million in government grants in 2023. Yet they received nothing from the government in 2022. Why the huge shift?? pic.twitter.com/z4CvTbORlI
— Megan Basham (@megbasham) February 5, 2025
The He Gets Us campaign isn’t about evangelism. It’s about image control. It’s about making Christianity more palatable to a culture that doesn’t want to be confronted with truth. It’s about selling a version of Jesus that asks nothing of you and, in return, gives you nothing of value.
Meanwhile, you know what commercial actually did a better job of showing the heart of Christ? The Google Pixel 9 ad, which wasn’t even trying to be religious. It simply told a story about a father and a daughter, about love and sacrifice—concepts that actually reflect the gospel far better than anything He Gets Us has ever put out.
Maybe instead of spending millions on these pointless, watered-down ads, He Gets Us should take a step back and let the real gospel do the talking. Because the power of Jesus isn’t in feel-good messaging—it’s in truth. And truth, unlike He Gets Us, actually changes lives.
Love this article, felt the same way about the commercial. Nice write up, to the point and great insite
Today’s Christians do not want accountability, responsibility or any form of authentic living according to the will of God. They want “feel good” sermons not any kind of mirror held up for introspection. Break the mirror. Don’t fix the reflection.