What Plexus Exposes about the American Church

First of all, let’s be honest. Everyone reading this post is coming with already heated emotions on the topic of Plexus products.

It’s not a new discussion. Ever since it hit the market, there’s been tense controversy over it. Whether you’re for it or against it, you will likely read this post with an already developed bias and either agree with me or disagree with me based on that bias and most likely miss the point of the entire post.

So why would I dare waste my morning writing a few thousand words that may fall on deaf ears?

Because Plexus exposes something about the American church. Not the product itself, although I do plan to share a few statistics and resources concerning it. But rather, the phenomenon of Plexus Worldwide exposes something about the hearts of American christians.

This article is not about finalizing an opinion on the brand, but on what it exposes and how to deal with it. This issue has everything to do with the future spiritual life and health of the church. That’s why I feel compelled to address it.

Even if I get my head cut off for it.

Eight months ago I made a Facebook post on the subject and received more hate mail from Christians than I have ever gotten in my life. On one hand, it was good because people were praying that I would have a radical encounter with Jesus, which is something I pray for every day. I need much more of Him!

On the other hand, it was exhausting and discouraging because I was accused of not being filled with the Spirit of God and for being egotistical. That hurt. Not because it humbled me, but because it was the Spirit of God that prompted me to say something in the first place. I had put it off for months because I knew it was a heated topic. Yet, I couldn’t shake it. Furthermore, I said what I did because of a deep love and concern for my fellow brothers and sisters, not a hatred for them.

So I’m no foreigner to the high temperature associated with this discussion.

My friend Hans is familiar with the heat of Plexus talks as well. Last week he posted a video on Facebook that described how you can make Plexus Slim for much cheaper than you can buy it. For the most part, people missed the point and it turned into another heated discussion with over 150 comments.

There is no way I can post something online having to do with Plexus without getting feedback from people. It’s inevitable.

Is it worth it? Maybe not.

But I’m going to try because I believe the field is ripe in America. People young and old, Mennonite or non-Mennonite are hungry for authentic discipleship of Christ.

Why are they hungry for that?

Because the American church (all denominations included) has tremendously misplaced priorities. And Plexus is one of the ways that is exposed.

You could stick a number of things in there: presidential elections, March Madness, child training, what we argue about in church, organic diapers—the list goes on and on. But Plexus takes these misplaced priorities to a whole new level. Really, all health discussions do.

I’m talking about people on both sides of the issue. Have you ever noticed in the discussions on Facebook how everyone, regardless of sides, can be down right belittling and rude with each other? One person comments about another’s judgmental attitude all the while using words that indicate cynicism and disrespect. No one is better than the other. No one is solving issues. In fact, they usually only create more.

So how is it that Plexus exposes misplaced priorities in the American church?

Let me explain a little bit of the background behind the muddled, messy discussions around Plexus and why it easily gets heated.

People are frustrated by doctors that seem more concerned about their paycheck’s than they are about truly helping people find lasting healing. We all have had those experiences where the doctor disappointed us, and we’ve all heard horror stories of malpractice and horrific side-effects of certain drugs.

We are suspicious of doctors, frustrated with the modern medical system and hate the current insurance arrangement.

My brother is currently pursuing his medical degree with Drexel University and he knows first-hand how people doubt the sincerity and credibility of those in the medical field. Some people are full of conspiracy theories about doctors and hospitals. Everyone seems to have this impression that people go into the medical field because it’s a good income. That’s all it’s about, to some people.

Turns out it must be.

I first heard about Plexus in the summer of 2014. I believe it really started hitting the market around 2011. But from July of 2014 until now, friend after friend has dove into the Plexus taskforce and began promoting it through their personal Facebook profiles. It became annoying, to be honest. Hardly anything was on Facebook that didn’t have to do with Plexus.

And why not? The product is helping people feel better and ambassadors are raking in the money!

Personally, I’m a little confused as to who is more concerned about their pocketbooks. I know there are doctors who have little care for people and plenty of concern for their 401k’s. But did you know according to payscale.com that the average doctor, who has spent roughly eleven years in strenuous, formal training on the body and how it functions, makes $180,000 annually? Anywhere between $50,000 and $75,000 is then spent on malpractice insurance. So the average doctor keeps roughly $105,000-$130,000 of his annual income.

Pretty nice, right? I’d be tempted to do it for the money! It’s certainly more than what I make right now.

But did you also know that a top-level Diamond Ambassador of Plexus Worldwide makes $442,000 annually? And they don’t have to spend the years in school or pay malpractice insurance.

So I’m kind of confused because I am personally more tempted to pursue the faster, larger income of selling Plexus products than I am to pursue eleven years of study that would bore me to death and then still only make a measly amount of $100,000. Unless, of course, I had an insatiable interest in the human body, and a passion to help others find healing.

My point isn’t to criticize Plexus. My point is to bring to surface why this topic creates high emotions that expose lack of character and integrity among Christ-followers on either side of the discussion.

I think you’re starting to see it.

There are a few concerns I have with Plexus, specifically. It concerns me the way the sales pitch is spiritualized. One of the most disturbing scenes is a Bible on a table with a Plexus Slim bottle in the backdrop and a sanctimonious testimony of how faithful God is and how they are grateful to Him for health.

The reaction to this concern is usually, “We’re just giving God the glory. You spiritualize things too.” My response to that is no, I don’t. And no, you aren’t.

I don’t try to sell you a man-made product by appealing to your spiritual side, unless the product I am selling is for your spiritual growth and benefit, such as a book. Furthermore, I’m not certain the focus is on giving God glory as much as it is justifying an obsession with health and a certain product.

People who have been helped by a doctor don’t go around giving raving testimonies of the tools and practices of their doctor as the way God brought healing. Sure, if you talk with them closely they may tell you some of that. But they testify about God and the fact that He was gracious enough to heal. They’re not focused on using the opportunity to promote their family physician.

However, if something sells better when you spiritualize it, people usually do. Plexus is a great way to make money (as I pointed out before), so those that get involved will try to sell it. And to be honest with you, that’s okay. I sell products I enjoy and have found helpful, as well. There’s nothing wrong with that. There’s nothing wrong with getting rich, either. But it concerns me when we try to spiritualize our sales pitches.

There’s a lot of things we don’t know about Plexus. I have more on that later.

But one thing we know for sure is that it’s a fabulous business opportunity. If you have been involved in Plexus Worldwide in the last four years, you have hit gold (pun intended) and that’s awesome. But let’s be honest about it—that’s what Plexus is. A business opportunity. How can we cast suspicion on doctors who have spent years getting professional training as being in it for the money, when we are making more then them and didn’t have to do the work to get there?

We’re also in it for the money. At least, if we’re a dedicated ambassador of it.

And that’s fine.

But even from a business perspective, it’s not a lasting market. That’s another concern I have. It is a fad. Give it another two years and I’ll be surprised if it’s still around. Especially, when we realize you can make it with the same ingredients for a fifth of the price. It’s foolish to base our financial future on this one fleeting business opportunity.

But so many people have, and that’s another reason it is a heated topic.

I’d feel threatened if you tried taking away my income as well.

The fact that people are making money from it isn’t the issue. Too many of you who are against Plexus can’t get past that. Honestly, it ruins every discussion to get caught up in the horrors of MLM marketing or the guilt trips on those profiting from it. The issues may be manipulating people to buy the product through spiritualizing the sales pitch, overpromising in their marketing strategy or several other things. But it is not the fact that people are getting rich off of it.

It’s a great way to make money and anyone with a business mind will have seized the opportunity of this fad.

But why is it such a good way to make money? Let’s actually talk about the issues if we have a problem with it.

Plexus Worldwide makes bold promises with their products. So bold that even if a portion of them come true, because of incredible financial potential from it people will easily jump aboard.

What are the promises?

Immediate results. Weight loss. Energy. Relief from aches and pains. You don’t have to spend years in a mysterious maze sorting through medical examinations trying to figure out what’s wrong.

And who wouldn’t spend money for that, right now? If you’re struggling with migraine headaches and you discover a product that could take that away, of course you’d go all in.

But here’s my concern: medically, this product is untested.

Remember, many of these people are natural fanatics convinced the medical system is full of conspirators who want to kill your newborn babies. Yet, they are selling you on a completely untested product that has ingredients eerily similar to Red Bull. According to studies, the green coffee extract used in Plexus Slim can cause heart issues if used for long periods of time. What people using Plexus end up with heart issues?

I understand wanting be healthy and free from physical issues, but what if this product that has been the savior for many causes serious illness later on?

We simply don’t know. Even though Plexus Worldwide claims to have clinically tested their products, they have yet to provide any sources of such testing. There is a lot we don’t know about Plexus and its true effectiveness as a health product. But people are getting filthy rich in the process.

Again, getting rich isn’t the issue. But getting rich on something that may be dangerous is an integrity issue.

And these are Christ-followers selling it. Integrity is absolutely crucial.

At the same time, because it hasn’t been tested we can’t say for sure that it will cause negative side-effects. So we need to be careful as we talk that we don’t demonize Plexus supporters. They are experiencing results. If I was experiencing such tremendous results over certain issues, I would be really tempted to get involved as well. So let’s make sure we keep our guns down and continue looking at the facts and the real issues.

One response I’ve gotten after talking about the medical dangers of Plexus in the same conversation of talking about misplaced priorities is, “How can you bash plexus users for worshipping health when you’re concerned with the health by speaking of the medical dangers?”

There is a difference between being a good steward of my body and worshipping my health.

Good stewards are disciplined, don’t over-eat, and live within the margins of their physical abilities. People who worship their health want to live their lives, but they want to be able to feel good while they do it. Most testimonials of Plexus resemble the later more than the former.

There is a lot we don’t know about Plexus which is why I’m going to now just let that be. At the end of the day it’s up to you whether you want to take the risk or not. And if you succeed physically and financially, that’s wonderful! There’s no problem with that.

Here’s what we can’t ignore, though: everyone of us will give account of our lives, whether our treasure was in our health and finances or in Jesus and leading people to Him.

God wants us to be healthy. He calls us to be good stewards of our bodies. But he does not promise that we will always be healthy and experience healing. Nor does He say that as His disciples we deserve good health. No matter what side of the Plexus discussion we’re on, too many us live with this mindset that we deserve good health. God doesn’t promise that, yet, He calls us to a life of faithful obedience and a life of joy regardless of how we feel.

Plexus exposes the misplaced priorities in the American church. Many things expose it, but Plexus really brings to light the fact that we value health and money more than Jesus Christ and making disciples of Him.

The biggest clue is how heated people get over it, whether for it or against it. If you are for it, you will feel threatened by people degrading your source of income. If you are against it, you’ll be angered by people making loads of money off of something that may cause you harm. Yet, both of those have their treasure in something other than Jesus.

Worshipping my health or money is exposed by intense emotions when someone attempts to take either one away.

If I am truly caring for my body, I will be sensitive. I will want to know the way Plexus has helped. I will also want to know the ways Plexus could be potentially dangerous to me in the future.

If I am truly just wanting to provide for my family, I will do my best to earn a good income, but within the margins of integrity and character. Furthermore, I will understand that all income is momentary. Some, more momentary than others.

But the heated hatred and blatant disrespect over this topic leaves us guilty. We live in such a wealthy nation, that we have the time and energy to argue over such things. We live in such a spiritually arrogant society that we can justify our involvement in such arguments.

We need to evaluate and realign our priorities in life around Jesus Christ and being a faithful disciple and disciple-maker of Him.

That’s our calling. If we are healthy and rich along the way, praise God. If we face physical illness and lack of finances, it’s okay. We are called to seek His kingdom first. And then all the food, clothing and material provisions will be added unto us.

What are you seeking? What makes you most angry? That Trump is leading in the primaries, your church’s dress standard, that you haven’t talked with your neighbor in the last week, or that people don’t agree with your promotion of Plexus?

Your answer reveals how closely your heart is aligned with God’s. Don’t waste your life by becoming successful at the wrong thing.

Make sure God is on the throne of your life. And if He is, His love will overflow from you to those around you, even when you don’t agree with them. Your life will shout His glory. People won’t see your righteousness; neither will they see your Plexus bottle. They will see and experience Jesus.

That’s what authentic Christianity looks like. Is that who you are?

Question: Do you believe deep within your heart that when Christ returns He will ask you what you have done with the spiritual Life He gave you? If that were to be today, what would be your answer? Share in the comments here.

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