In his song Ballad in Plain Red, Christian singer Derek Webb sings about the commercialization of Jesus and Christianity. It’s unfortunate, but there is immense truth in his lyrics (found below). In today’s culture, one doesn’t have to look too long or too far to find what chapter 10 of Understanding Evangelical Media calls “Jesus Junk”. From some of the products mentioned in the presentation, like Christian clothing and bumper stickers, to the slightly ridiculous ones like Jesus action figures and armor of God pajamas, it seems like we’re selling Jesus. And it makes me wonder if we’ve normalized Jesus through our consumerism.
According to USA Today’s article Faith's Purchasing Power, Christian retail is a $4.5 billion industry. The article says that nearly 12% of Americans spend more than $50 a month on religious products. With the advent of popular Christian products like the “Jesus is My Homeboy” t-shirts, it seems as though many people are buying into the idea that “Jesus-wear” is the new cool thing to have. But the Bible teaches that we should revere God, not bring Him down to be “the homeboy”. In an interview with The Christian Post in 2004, Craig Gross, founder of XXXchurch.com, stated that Jesus-wear is “everywhere. It's at all the stores. This is the latest thing. A lot of people are wearing them not because they want to display their relationship with God, but because it's the cool thing to do.”
Some Christians say they wear products that proclaim Christianity because it helps them share their faith with nonbelievers. In his book Brand Jesus: Christianity in a Consumerist Age, author Tyler Wigg Stevenson suggests otherwise, saying that Christians who “shop for Jesus” by wearing Christian t-shirts are not proclaiming Christ so much as they are proclaiming themselves. He goes on to add, “the currency of these Christian T-shirts is the viewer's fluency in a brand-saturated society.” Mr. Stevenson admits that his is “a dour diagnosis, but the situation strikes me as being that grim. Telling American churchgoers to shun Brand Jesus in their churches is like telling swimmers not to get wet.”
For the record, I’m not saying that Christians shouldn’t create their own retail products. Nor am I suggesting that everyone who wears and/or buys Christian products is doing it just because it’s the cool thing to do. But I do think it gets taken too far and that some overestimate its power to evangelize. Brennan Manning, a famous priest and author, stated that “The Greatest single cause of Atheism in the world today are Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.” It’s true that Christian products may be conversation starters with nonbelievers. However, they aren’t what lead them to Jesus. Christians are. Therefore, we need to keep in mind Mr. Manning’s quote and realize that it doesn’t matter what our clothing or jewelry says – if we’re not leading by example, we won’t bring anyone to Christ.
Ballad in Plain Red Lyrics
I'm robbin' Peter and payin' Paul
I'm changing my name back to Saul.
I got to them, you know I'll get to you.
I'm turning shepards into sheep,
Leaders into celebrities
It's holy sabotage, just look around you.
Everything's for sale in the 21st century
Check is in the mail from the 21st century
Don't want the song don't want a jingle
I love you Lord but don't hear a single
And the truth is nearly impossible to rhyme.
I know the songs with all the hooks
I know some lines that'll sell some books.
So grab 'em fast cuz we're running out of time.
Just keep sellin' truth in candy bars
On billboards and backs of cards
Truth without context, my favorite of all my crimes
Everything's for sale in the 21st century
Check is in the mail from the 21st century
What works vs. what's right
What the difference tonight?
Hey alright.
Hey alright.
Take out the sign and forget the meal
We got a gym and a ferris wheel
You'll swear it's just like the country club down the block
Cuz you can make your life look good.
You can do what Jesus would,
But you'd be surprised what you can do with a hard heart
Everything's for sale in the 21st century
Check is in the mail from the 21st century
I think you got trouble with the 21st century
So welcome to the struggle it's the 21st century
I never thought I'd make it to the 21st century.
Lord I love the 21st century
Lord I love the 21st century
I write these words from the grave
Cuz it's the only place that I'm safe
Only the dead are permitted to speak the truth...
Also, this is an interview with Tyler Wigg Stevenson that I found on YouTube. In the interview, he expounds more on his book Branding Jesus.
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