For a satirical look at items like this divine door knocker (I wonder, can I get that in a Revelation 3:20, instead?), check out kinda kitschy,
a blog whose tagline reads: "The world is laughing at us. So am I."
Speaking of kitsch, Quentin Schultze made the following observation about its use in worship in By Faith magazine (HT: Phil Ryken):
Young people witness some of the cheesy video and computer 'art' in worship and see it for what it is: kitsch. Stock clip art. Old-fashioned, 19th-century background images under song text: the sun shining on the cross, running streams, baby faces--all of the stereotypical images that say, 'Christians are crummy artists and naive sentimentalists.' To them, such kitsch is like handing out illustrated kids' Bibles to high school students and telling them that these images represent the depth of insight and excellence of the Christian faith.
Jason Janz at SharperIron gives an eyewitness report (complete with photos) of his experience at the recent Christian Bookseller's Association Convention International Christian Retail Show. He asks, "Why do we as Christians, feel compelled to plaster our 'faith' over anything and everything?" (a question I took a partial stab at recently) and offers the following reasons:
- Many people trust that wearing Jesus Junk will result in conversions.
- Many Christians believe Jesus Junk promotes Christian community.
- Many people seem to be in the business for pure commercialism.
He concludes with five thoughtful questions believers should ask before buying more Christianized merchandise.
I don't know. Jason makes a persuasive case but I'm still tempted to get my son fitted for that neat armor of God outfit he photographed.
A handful of people were directed to a recent post on Christian retailing after doing searches for "gospel golf balls" or something similar. The LA Times article linked to in that post quotes Alan Wolfe, a non-Christian sociologist who has done a lot of research about American evangelism. When asked what he thinks the proliferation of Christianized products reveals, Wolfe replied, " "It's as if they're saying the task of bringing people to Jesus is too hard, so let's retreat into a fortress."
The above searches in combination with the fact that just last week someone offered me a fish-shaped "Scripture Mint" prompted me to link to this interview of Wolfe by Russell Moore on a recent broadcast of the Albert Mohler Program (HT: Justin Taylor) in which Wolfe had more indicting commentary about Christian retailing. It's painful listening because so much of what he offers as reasons for the mass production of so-called evangelistic merchandise is true.
I think there's another reason behind the impulse to stamp a Scripture verse on every imaginable object. In large part we have an anemic doctrine of creation. Our conviction that God is the maker of heaven and earth should be evidenced in more ways than ongoing debates with evolutionists. Certainly, there's a need for such apologetic activity but the doctrine of creation, like all biblical doctrines, is not given primarily for the purpose of our defending it but for our living it.
How do we live the doctrine of creation? By affirming along with God that his creation, though cursed on account of humanity's rebellion, is still good and is given to us to richly enjoy with thanksgiving (1 Timothy 4:4; 6:17). As Michael Wittmer says in his book, Heaven is a Place on Earth:
Because we know that this creation is the good gift of God, we are not only permitted but encouraged to enjoy it as is. Unlike those who think that worldly objects are somehow enhanced by stamping Scripture verses on them, Christians who understand the goodness of this world celebrate the freedom to enjoy God's creation as is. We no longer need to sanitize secular items with our sanctified slogans to make them suitable for Christian consumption....In fact, our feeble attempts at baptizing creation tend to cheapen both it and the gospel (p. 66-67).
By the way, if you'd like a concentrated dose of the kind of creation- and gospel-trivializing
merchandise Wittmer refers to, the Ship of Fools' collection of Gadgets for God is hard to beat. Among their current list of top-ten products is a lanyard and cap designed to convert your iPod Shuffle into a cross. Click the picture for their description and ordering information.
I know the print is small but that's John 3:16 on the golf ball to the right (photo by Mark Schiefelbein), one of the many items featured in this LA Times article about last week's International Christian Retail Show. (HT: Justin Taylor who was in attendance for the books).
Seeing that picture made me think that now is a fine time to show off some of my own evangelistic paraphernalia. A dear friend who knows of my fondness of such treasures, gave me the momento below. (It reads "I once was lost but now am found" on the other side.) He's commented that he checks the blog from time to time, to see if I've featured it. So, Karl, here it is!
Since I'm not a golfer and the ball never gets any green time, I suppose I could be charged with hiding my light under a bushel (or in this case, in my dresser drawer). But summer isn't over yet. Maybe I'll get the sandals that will allow me to leave footprints in the sand that read "Follow Jesus."
I've enjoyed reading Justin Taylor's posts (starting here) about spending time with J. I. Packer while they attend the International Christian Retail Show in Denver, CO. Here's an article that helps explain why the annual trade show is no longer called the Christian Bookseller Association Convention. It features one exhibitor who sells temporary Christian tatoos that let Christian kids "show that they're cool" and another selling a line of anointing oils.
Thanks to a good friend who keeps me well-informed about the latest in Kitchianity, I learned of this fund raising effort by a local Christian television station. They're offering a set of 12 commemorative medallions (either silver or gold plated) each stamped with the image of an apostle. The description promises:
You will be inspired by this one-of-a-kind "Apostles' Call" 12 coin collection! Celebrate God’s Call to: Faith, Forgiveness, Truth, Service, Evangelism, Prayer, Courage, Transformation, Devotion, Hope, Joy and Commitment as you collect each of these beautiful medallions.
But there's more! Buy the entire apostolic band at either $50/month (silver) or $75/month (gold) and you'll get the over-sized Lord and Savior medallion free.
Why do we do this to ourselves? Regardless of what precious metals are used, some methods just cheapen the faith.
