Yesterday I immersed myself in the bizarre world of Christian parody t-shirts. You know the game: 1) take a well-known, mainstream, corporate logo... 2) tweak it by somehow changing the words so it's about Jesus...and 3) sell it to well-meaning Christians who want a cool shirt that looks like other cool shirts but is actually about God.
I was investigating these shirts for a sermon illustration -- I'm helping my pastor introduce a message about "Selling Christianity" with some funny stuff about the dumbness of Jesus Junk. But now I'm just annoyed. Annoyed enough to start making lists about parody t-shirts.
For instance...
The top four things that are wrong with Christian parody tees:
1) They are not cool.
2) They are borderline trademark infringement.
3) They are uncreative (parody is possibly the most efficient but least creative way to be funny).
4) Christians are supposed to be unlike the world. Not very, very similar to the world except for the part where we remove the "L" in "GOLD'S GYM" to make it about God.
Also...
Three possible reasons a person might wear a Christian parody shirt:
1) Evangelism. Let's say you wear this "Lost" parody shirt. You meet a guy on the subway. He glances at your shirt. He is a fan of the ABC series. He says, "Dude! I can't wait for the new season of 'Lost' to start. What did you think about the disappearing island thing? Freaky, right?"
And you say, "Oh, I don't really watch that show."
Then he says, "Then why are you wearing that shirt?"
Your heart starts racing as you recognize a possible soul-winning opportunity, so you say, "Look closer." So the guy does, and he sees the three crosses, and the little line that says "Someone Is Searching For You," and he's intrigued. He then replies, "Oh...interesting. Someone is searching for me? Who exactly IS searching for me? Please explain your shirt, because I am strangely moved by it."
That's the best case scenario, of course. Worst case scenario is he looks at you funny, mutters "dork" under his breath, and adds one more reason to his growing list of why Christians are weird.
2) Proclamations of Faith. Never mind that Jesus said the world would know we are Christians by our love. Like, you know, caring about people and doing good things for people. That takes work! I'd rather let people know I'm a believer by wearing a retroish t-shirt that kinda looks like it's about Mountain Dew but really says Jesus "Meant to Die." Because, best-case, people will see me wearing that shirt and think, "That dude loves Jesus and wants me to know about His love for me and plan for my life."
Or, worst-case: "That dude is so not as cool as he thinks with his fake Mountain Dew + Jesus shirt. Who wears a Mountain Dew shirt anyway?"
3) To Make People Think. The intent of a good parody shirt will catch the attention of its viewer and, by nature of its subtle twist on a familiar logo, cause that person to ponder the sinfulness of this world, the fallen nature of his soul, and the wonderful gospel of grace. Of course, bad parody shirts, like this one, just make you furrow your brow in confusion and dismay.
Seriously. "A Breadcrumb & Fish"? First of all, to make those words sound anything like the phonetic emphasis of Abercrombie & Fitch, you have to say it in a completely nonsensical, too-fast cadence: "a-breadcrumb and FISH." I can't say it without giggling because it sounds so stupid. Secondly, it wasn't a breadcrumb used when Jesus fed the 5,000. It was three loaves of bread. It's already a miracle, t-shirt-making person. You don't have to make it more miraculous by telling people Jesus fed the 5,000 with just a bread crumb. Also, who wears A&F t-shirts anymore? Didn't that brand jump the shark when LFO did that song about it?
This shirt is a spiritual failure all the way around.
/rant
(Disclaimer: When I was 16, I had a shirt that looked like a credit card on it. But instead of "American Express," it said "Heavenly Express." Pot? This is Kettle: You're black.)
Thursday, September 18, 2008
A Rant: Christian Parody Shirts
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27 comments:
Hey, I would wear a Mountain Dew t-shirt!
Great Post! I was guilty of that in high school too, I had one that looked like a Budweiser label but said "Bud Wise Up". I totally agree bumper stickers and t-shirts serve no purpose other than to annoy or rile somebody up.
I cannot tell you how much I agree with this rant - keep it up!
It's OK, Ken. You can tell me. It's safe, here.
Thank you! Will there be video or audio available of the upcoming sermon at your church about 'selling Christianity'? I'd watch/listen. All the Jesus junk out there drives me nuts. I just read about a dad who wanted to give his sons something more 'inspiring' than Batman underwear, so he came up with a line of underwear, PJs, bedding, and curtains that have Bible "heroes" on them. Really? Is that what's poisoning our children's minds these days? Batman on their britches? If only there were some really Godly men on my son's underwear... maybe then he would come to know the Lord!! Yeah, I think we're sticking with Batman and I'm not too worried about the spiritual implications of that.
God bless you, you wonderful man! I thought I was the only one who noticed how creepy these shirts are. Fairly certain folks won't be falling to their knees in confession of their sins due to these shirts/poorly thought out tracts.
Confession: I had one high school as well that a several cartoon frogs on it and said "Where Are You Going When You Croak?" A strong urge to bang my head on the wall followed after this memory.
And yes, I am looking forward to finding out about the disappearing island too. I hope Hurley isn't really as nuts as he appears.
@Haley: Sure, I'll post the audio to the sermon on Monday. It should be a fun one.
I think inspirational underwear with godly men on it is a stroke of marketing genius. Underpants featuring the smiling face of Joel Osteen? Brilliant! Your Best Briefs Now.
They have a whole pallet of them for $5 at Wal-Mart. My favorite is the "Pick Jesus" with a guitar pick. So trendy.
The one T-Shirt that I saw for sale at the Creation Festival years ago that still puzzles me was this:
"Jesus is coming, Everyone Look Busy"
It made me say, "what the freaking heck!" (because i don't swear out loud in public if possible).
funny thing is, when i just searched for that shirt on google, the first result was from foulmouthshirts.com. haha, no joke. makes much more sense seeing it there than at a Christian Music festival. i think...
i completely agree with your assessment of t-shirts. honestly, how many people will we meet in heaven that say "i accepted Jesus because i saw this t-shirt." seriously...
thought you might also be interested in this little factoid. one of my favorite musicians, justin mcroberts, has taken your blog one step farther. he actually sells t-shirts that say "they will know we are christians by our t-shirts." (czech it out at http://www.justinmcroberts.com/store.html). personlly, i think you and justin could be friends
Back in the heyday of Billy Ray Cyrus (the first one, before he was riding his daughter's coattails), I had one that said "Jesus Can Heal Your Achy Breaky Heart". I want to injure myself when I think of it now.
Please don't injure yourself, Amber. It's sad when people get harmed by cheese.
Thank you for deconstructing what I have been dismayed about for a while. It's hard to live and let live when people look so stupid wearing these. I would much rather wear a cool designed t-shirt and have someone ask me about it (which could lead to a conversation about Jesus) instead of dumb slogans and ripped off material.
I wonder how many people wearing these things actually have any heart to witness to someone anyway. Ah, I better shut up now...
Hmmm. very interesting. I like your point of view. But, did you know that the Bible says you should share God's word? The amazing thing is that is does. Philemon 1:6 NIV. Look it up. Wearing a dorky shirt that proclaims God's greatness is better than wearing a shirt that says nothing-right? Now your arguement is good, but I back mine up with Scripture (God's own words, FYI)...Where's yours?
I had a young lady about 9 years of age approach me in Wal-Mart the other day and asked if I knew Jesus-and her mother didn't have to shell out $15 for one of the aforementioned shirts.
Witnessing with our own words instead of a shirt is free, people. And you look a lot less dorky.
Ok I know this post is old but I am new to your blog, so sorry.
As a Christian I always felt kind of guilty for thinking these t-shirts were stupid. I never bought one or wanted one. And thought only dorks wore them.
I always thought that they masked the true message by disguising it as a commercial logo. And like the lost example. Unless you are going to actually talk to people then they probably are not going to notice that your shirt says some witty Jesus inspired thing.
I mean come on people if you are going to spread the gospel do it noticeably, not in disguise.
That was always my thought.
This article makes me sad, I know this is a late post, but theis is the first time I've seen this blog. Sorry this is long too.
You stated that they will know us by our love(christians), but how can you attack people in such a direct way? Mostly all the people who responded to this blog did likewise. And how can we fix ungodly living without love? We can't. In the Bible it cites too many times about love, and it is the answer, not superficial rants on something someone doesn't like. We're suppiosed to love, but your attacking people, much less even, christians. We can't attack christians, you can say its good because it rights a wrong or defends christians from non-believers who think all christians are like that. It does not justify to so blantly attack people who like that sort of fashion. Your not clearing up a social misconception either, don't think you are.
The responses on the other =hand, had really superficial remarks to support your statement, or just parroted tyhe blog in order to reinforce yours. But as for those superficial statements, when i say superficial i mean obvious, or direct, those were purely emotional responses, which are usually based off half-truths and opinions of something not fully understood. One example I saw, which got me a little mad, because of the lack of thought I saw in it, was "your not going to see anyone in heaven with who says "I'm here because I read a t-shirt". Probably right. But the suggestion to that they don't help what-so-ever, and that they are made to have the power to convert people, no. Everyone who's left a comment has such direct reasons for why they're dumb, but maybe its the indirect, the progression that it leads to that makes them believe, and maybe a t-shirt was one of the little things along the way.
Progression, for one, is a concept in the Bible, that is so important to understanding it, and life. It states, to start off all the Psalms, the very first verse, talks about the progression of evil, first you "walk", then you "stand", then you "sit". Its all very subtle, but you don't see it coming, just like going from a walking to standing to sitting, it is symbolic for things slowly over-taking you. Something that is not direct. Maybe its the same with those shirts, that they indirectly help, something small means a lot over the course of life.
And, another thing, we are a light unto the world, we must shine like so, in this dark world. Some people have their own gifts, there own way of ministering. It all depends on the person, as long as they are slandering God or twisting the word, they do no real harm. If you personally dont't like that, and feel you have to tell the world,
I dont't know why you wrote this blog, you say they will know us by our love, but instead of showing love, writing about the word, what we must do to be true christians so people can see that love, you instead attack a group of christians, this seems hypocritical to me. You write a blog about this? a sermon too? But instead you should be teaching christian preinciples because it seems like your lost on them. There are better thing to devote your time with other than this, you can be talking about liove, how to minister, but not how not to minister. God doesn't look at what you cannot do, but what you can do, so why do speak about what you shouldn't, instead of what you should? Teach humilty, or spirituality, how to be in the world even though we are not of the world(John 15:19), but you focus your efforts on such trivial things, why? You could even teach on how to minister efficiently, but instead you say one way we shouldn't.
God's given us special gifts, he uses us accordingly.
Be like God, when he says, in 1 samuel 16:7, The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” Look at the intentions of the person wearing the shirt, not at the results, they might be on fire for Him, let him, because his intentions are pure, why do you attack the person? We, as christians, must love, be a light, spread the word,
How you presented and argued your blog seems very secularist, also, I was wondering while reading it if you were truly a christian, From what I gathered from your argument, is that you know a lot, or at least a good amount of what the Bible reads, but you don't incorporate it into your life, and your thought processes, you write how a secularist writes and argues, my suggestion to the blogger and all of you who spent the time to write a response agreeing with him, is to go home, read your Bible, and really understand it. The blogger reads his Bible, and knows the word, but I don't think he lives it, and thats how we as christians, let our light shine and our love be known.
both of the comments right above are mine, its long, I know, I had more, but didn't want to write too much(I think I did anyway)
You know what, Anonymous? I think it's funny how, in your first comment, you get on my case because "We can't attack christians."
And then, despite me being a proclaimed Christian, you end up using the second comment to attack me for being too "secularist" (among other things). And you come to the conclusion that I may know a lot of the Bible...but you're pretty sure I don't live it. Wow. Don't you think it's a pretty big stretch to assume you understand my spirituality and Christian walk from a single blog post? And don't you think it's an equally big stretch to make that accusation right after telling me how I shouldn't "attack Christians"? Because isn't that an attack on me, a Christian?
I'm not saying you're wrong. I'm just saying you're a hypocrite.
to previous anonymous and jason...I read the blog and agree and disagree with different parts of the blog and comments left but just wanted to say I hope no non-Christians read this due to the fact that they will see two people fighting over t-shirts in a very childish and immature way. I don't know either one of you so I can't say whether you are a true Christian or not, that's between you and God...but for all those who don't know Christ lets try to set a good example so they can see why being part of God's family is so AMAZING!!! (not a battle between brothers and sisters)
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men..." Col. 3:23
Hope you all have a blessed day and don't forget the golden rule! :)
This is "anonymous" That wrote that essay a week or so ago
what's hypocritical is that you use christian love, as in, "they will know us by our love", but you don't seem to show it. There were a lot of things I saw as hypocritical, as far as the mindset you wrote it in and the christian morales that are in the bible.
And Maybe I did a little critical, that wasn't my intention, nor was it to attack you. I never said I supported the shirts, or didnt support them. Thats not why I responded, it just made me a little mad that people use their time to bash good intentioned people, which is why I put in the verse about God looking at our hearts, unlike what us, as humans do, look at the outside, and He tells us to look at the heart of man, the true intention of the person, which is what makes our love different.
All I really said, in a more critical way, was that we need t6o think, better, less judging, and when we do judge, do it in a purely constructive way, not to attack, or take down, but that it makes things better. That is extremely rare to ever see in this modern world of internet, and that people's opinions are becoming more frequent than real news.
In what I wrote a week or so ago, maybe I was a little too critical, and maybe it seemed like an attack, that was not my intention, but I still believe the things I said. If you look at my words with good discernment and look past biases and the way I presented it, there are some good things in it. I intended to make it seemed impartial, but critical, but I may have been over-critical, but it does not make it any less true.
All I was trying to do was not to be critical, to anyone, specifically, but to call out all christians, as to not look at the others, but look inward, be critical of yourselves. Just asd Jesus said, "And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye."(Matt 7:3-5,NKJ).
(I ran out of space, this is a continuation of the above comment)
As christians, we have to hold ourselves to a higher standard. I have noticed, in my walk, we christians, are truly different, and special people, and have to keep a higher standard, which is God, accordingly. We are different from the rest and should set ourselves apart from the rest, but still minister to them, and at the same time, learn to be humble. We are put in the world, but we are not of the world. I have seen, that true christians think much different and have a different approach to life, and things in general, which is why I used the term "secular-thinking", because your logic and arguement did sound like like, and that worried me. That is all, and there is a big difference too, they have their hearts set on different things, and morales and philosophies, which we cannot hold. Which is why it worried me, that is all. Don't be offended either, I'm not trying to single you out, as a lot of people think like this, as my experience goes, and we shouldn't, I did not write to offend, or criticize, but to generate thinking of where people's heart truly is.
In the end, God will be the only judge, and the only judge that ever really matters.
God told us to be a light, so we should.
God told us to love. So we should.
God is the true judge, so let Him judge.
Find out where your heart truly is, and look at the heart of others, their intentions.
Faith without works is dead, works without love is dead.
Search your heart.
oh yeah, and i don't think I said "we can't attack christians", just that we shouldn't, and I didn't try to attack you, but just to make you think, if it seemed like that, again, sorry, not my intention.
sorry for anoyher post, but, something that caught my eye the second time I read the blogger's comment toward me, was how he made my comments seem so sure of themselves in their vindiction, but, all my comments, or at least the bulk of them, and the ones that truly matters, were merely thoughts, not concrete evidence or things I stated for fact, but just thoughts, and opinions on how what I percieved of the blog. Thats why various times I used "I think", or "it seemed". Because I am not all knowing and I don't truly know everything. You make it seem I'm throwing out allegations so directly, and without hesitation. I only suggested, the key word is "suggest", not "stated", where there is an enormous difference between the two types of arguments. I did not state, but merely imply, thats why I don't want you to take any real offense to my words, but merely think about what I have to say. Thank you.
I think anonymous won...
Either that or I got tired of defending a year-old post. But either way, points to Anonymous!
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