Christian Marketing: How Many Wristbands Can We Christians Buy?

[seoulsearch]

Hey everyone,

I was just wondering what y'all think of what I personally call "Christian Marketing" -- things such as walking into my local Christian bookstore and seeing rocks... with Scriptures engraved on them (all for the bargain price of $4.95 each.)

Looking through the latest stack of "Cool Christian Logo" merchandise and apparel.

Wondering if I should buy that pencil topper IMMEDIATELY... because it has "John 3:16" written on it.

And glancing upward when I see dating sites shamelessly proclaiming, "FIND GOD'S MATCH FOR YOU", all over the internet and television commercials.

Hype or help?

Blessing or bane?

Genuine... or just marketing tricks to turn a quick buck?

What should the limits be, if any? Should anyone and everyone be allowed to slap a Scripture or "Christian" saying on a product, whatever that product may be, and sell it for a profit?

And, true confession time... What "Christian Merchandise" do you buy or have you bought in the past?

 

[MatthewMichael]

Where there are sheep, there will be wolves; where there are customers, there will be salesmen.

Yea. I have some merchandise. It's a Bible.

 

[gia]

...yea I have to say I had given into the whole ChristianMingle dating site hype.
Lol I am so ashamed .... or maybe just lonely haha

 

[Tintin]

Hmm... some of it is genuine and biblical but most of it is bollocks, and worse yet, taking God's name in vain (disrespecting his Name, trying to make a quick buck from it). We don't need Christian breath-mints, people!

 

[arwen83]

I haven't purchased any 'Christian merch'; books yes, but they aren't the same. I don't wear a cross, and feel 'off' when i have thought about buying one. Christianity is too advertised, and much like with commercials on tv, the world just changes the channel.

Forever 21 loves to dish out clothes with crosses, and jewelry. They have John 3:16 on the bottom of their bags (apparently they are Christian?), but non-Christians will purchase it because the cross is a fashion statement. I don't wear a cross because i feel that I represent not only Christianity but how others view Christianity and their experiences with it. If someone was molested by someone in the Christian church, and I am representing Christianity, chances are they will not get to know me. Seeing a cross automatically puts up a wall for some people. We are stereotyped, coupled with religious fanatics, and their experiences with it.

By wearing Christian merch, you are holding a lot of responsibility with how you conduct yourself and your behaviour. As most people will post and agree with is that we should show our Christianity not with words or symbols, but with actions. That by our actions, we would be known as followers of Christ.

And I am not worthy of representing the cross.

 

[seoulsearch]

Matthew -- Bibles are the only Christian merchandise I buy as well. When I finish reading one, I buy a different translation to get the feel for the same Scriptures worded in a slightly different way. Right now I'm on my 6th one.

Gia -- Don't feel bad at all. I've been on CM for over 3 years!

TinTin -- Great point. I think you said what I was trying to say, but much quicker! Basically, I'm asking... What's helpful... and what's plain exploiting out faith...

Arwen -- I totally understand where you're coming from. I read a heartbreaking article about a man who, as a boy, was abused by a priest. He said what he remembers most about the encounters were the "glittering" cross around the priest's neck.

I've never worn an outward Christian symbol--not that's wrong in any way, of course, it's just not for me. I know people will quote the passage about not being ashamed of Jesus but I see it as a matter of hopefully allowing others to keep an open mind. I want people to be willing to get to know me first instead of judging who they think I am or what they think I believe before I've even said a word.

 

[Descyple]

Hey, just because I have a toothbrush that's made to resemble Moses' staff, a butter dish with angel wings, and a Noah's Ark tissue dispenser, that doesn't make me a "Christian merchandise" fanatic!!!

Okay, maybe the Noah's Ark tissue dispenser does, but that's all.

On a serious note, one type of Christian merchandise I really would never be able to own is a Bible Verse Welcome Mat. I honestly could never bring myself to wipe off my dirty shoes literally on top of a Bible verse. How anyone else could do it in good conscience, I don't understand. But I couldn't stand doing it (no pun intended).

 

[Shouryu]

I did buy a ring that has Philippians 4:13 lightly laser etched into it...the catch is, I didn't buy it for others. I actually bought it for myself, just as a reminder for when I'm feeling down or beaten up, I tend to notice the ring and then remember the scripture on it. *shrug*

 

[CatHerder]

Who wouldn't want these? These are awesome!

or this:



Every believer needs a Jesus bobblehead!

 

[SeatBelt]

wow.... that's the Buddy Christ from the movie Dogma... that should say it all right there.

 

[SeatBelt]

I have 2 t-shirts... one reads "SINNER" really really big in white on black, then has smaller grey lettering that quotes 1 Timothy 1:15 which is special to me and is part of the scriptural quote i like to open my testimony with. It was a gift.
the other one, also a gift... this one from a friend who said that watching me with my children had helped him heal some from his own childhood traumas... It reads about like this:
A Great Father
Can fix what is broke,
Casting all your cares on Him for He careth for you 1 Peter 5:7
Tell a good story
And with many such parables spake He the word unto them,
and always
As they were able to hear it Mark 4:33
keeps his promises.
But the Lord is faithful, who shall establish you, and keep you from evil 2 Thessalonians 3:3

I have some wall art that quotes scripture about the house. nothing too gaudy. (pun may or may not be intended) I figure it is one more way to subtly influence my children's way of thinking.

I won't put a fish on my car, for what if in haste i display unchristian behavior on the roads...and this causes me to paint the body of Christ in a poor light.

 

[Hellooo]

I have a framed print of bible scripture - typography- on one of my apartment walls with some other framed art and pictures. I just liked the bible verse and thought it would be a good visual reminder.

 

[Tintin]

I believe that there is a huge difference between what you have described and Christian marketing. I've seen Christian measuring tape, hammers and saws. They're so incredibly tasteless and pointless. Ick.

 

[Hellooo]

The bobbleheads/bandaids .... I cringe whenever I see a likeness of Jesus on any product. That would be where I would draw a line, with regard to selling Christian goods.

Pebbles with scripture, carvings of fish, or lambs, Noah's ark tissue boxes...definitely not my taste, but whatever. Figurines and pictures of Jesus on arbitrary household items do bother me, it cheapens the significance of His work, and our faith. It's tacky.

 

[NodMyHeadLikeYeah]

We don't need Christian breath-mints, people!

You might not, but i do.

Sometimes only Jesus can make my breath smell good, especially in the morning.

 

[josephmuchiri]

hey dont be lonely

 

[josephmuchiri]

quite true

 

[Searching4Truth]

You might not, but i do.

Sometimes only Jesus can make my breath smell good, especially in the morning.

Well, to some of us who aren't so special that Jesus would visit, we use these revolutionary new inventions that help with our halitosis.

 

[NodMyHeadLikeYeah]

View attachment 50805

Well, to some of us who aren't so special that Jesus would visit, we use these revolutionary new inventions that help with our halitosis.

Jesus doesn't visit me.

I just use the christian breath mints that havith been annointedith with christian lovith and Listerine.

 

[SeatBelt]

lol, truely Nod knoweth that the KJV the KJV is the True Words Of Christ, just as he spaketh them.

Has anyone on this site Not seen Dogma?
Or was it just my worldly former self?
(This being a Jay & Silent Bob type movie I am Not actually posting a recommendation for it on CC. George Carlin as a priest & Alanis Morisette....well, look it up on IMDB if you don't know...)