Christian Cr*p!

Last week I had the opportunity to represent my company, Barefoot
Ministries, in Denver at the International Christian Retailers Show.
This is the conference where Christian bookstores come to look at the
new productions that are available to sell in their stores. While at
the conference, I knew I’d be rubbing shoulders with those in
the Christian gift industry as well. Christian bookstores, as you know,
have moved more into the Christian gift areas and away from the books.
But I was a little surprised, almost stunned, at some of the products
available that were marked as “Christian.”


For example: This booth was “Jesus Jewelry.” Their slogan was “Spreading the gospel one piece of jewelry at a time.” Sorry, but maybe I missed the day that sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ became dependant on wearing the right materialistic piece of jewelry.


Then there was the shoot-‘em-up video game based on the popular Left Behind book series. That’s right, in this
“Christian” video game it appears you choose your side and go kill a lot of people. Yep, no longer does the gospel mean take up your cross and follow Jesus. Now it means take up your electronic machine gun and blow the enemy’s brains out.


How about a little Christian Piracy? Yep, these sea worthy individuals not only were convinced that putting a Ichthus fish on the pirate hat of their mascot, and a Bible in his other hand somehow offset the fact that he was holding a deadly cutlass in his left hand and tossing you an insulting command. The skull and crossed sword Jolly Roger symbol (seen in the background) with the Ichthus bandana on its head was just disturbing. Somehow, I think these people just missed the fact that the words “Christian” and “Pirate” are almost polar opposites in their meaning.

Let’s not forget the “My Loving Jesus” doll. This smiling, stuffed version of Jesus comes complete with nail pierced hands. The scroll was a nice, authentic period touch. Everyone knows a Rabbi wasn’t worth his weight in gold if he didn’t have his own scroll to beat his disciples over the head with. This item was just ridiculous.

And these were only four of my favorite heretical items at the show. There was lots more where that all came from. Sorry for being such a cynic, but these kinds of things just get under my skin. These are the kinds of products that really send bad messages of what Christianity is about. In these four examples alone the companies they represent send a message that Christianity is about materialism, deadly violence, pillaging, while at the same time boiling the Savior down to a cute stuffed doll that little Jane can have a backyard tea party with.

What’s even more sad is some of this stuff will sell, and sell big. No wonder people have a hard time taking Christianity seriously. Too many mixed messages being sent out there.

Don’t get me wrong, though. Not everything at the show was bad. In fact, there some items there that really encouraged me. Some of the books the publishers are releasing this year were truly exciting. Can’t wait to devour them. There were some really cool kid products coming out for kids from publishers such as Zondervan that I really think are going to be winners. Unfortunately, I fear these great things will be dimmed by the eclipsing power of the truly ridiculous and wrong.