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July 24, 2006
Christian Retail Show?
Between Two Worlds points us to the sad spectacle of the "Christian Retail Show," where people can purchase items as varied as Christian perfume (somehow, I don't think that's what this verse means), Christian golf balls and Christian 'gangsta rap.'
This is really depressing.
I believe there is a market for merchandise that is explicitly Christian - I enjoy books by C.S. Lewis and Mark D. Roberts (where I found the link), and I like music by Steven Curtis Chapman and Sixpence None the Richer. But there's got to be a limit somewhere. Slapping a bible verse or a fish symbol on a bookbag or a wallet doesn't make the items "Christian."
Evangelical Christianity has spent many years creating a safe, happy subculture where they don't have to come into contact with the world. Christians should avoid some worldly things, but overall should strive to engage the world, not retreat from it into a culture created to ensure our comfort.
Posted by slublog at July 24, 2006 12:00 AM
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Comments
It's stuff like this that turns every visit I make to a Christiaqn bookstore into a profoundly sad experience.
Posted by: MainiacJoe at July 24, 2006 08:27 AM
Honestly, it's why I purchase most of the Christian books I read online.
Posted by: Slublog at July 24, 2006 08:49 AM
Good book on this topic is "Subversive Christianity." Talks about Christians needing to engage and change our culture, not hide from it or blend with it.
Posted by: Esther at July 24, 2006 10:35 PM
Christianity has sold its soul. And it has an identity crisis. I don't have a problem with merchandise geared specifically towards Christians but marketers are creating "needs" and shoving this stuff down our throats. To top it off, a lot of this garbage is second rate, imitation, rip-offs from secular society.
How many christian Oprahs, Dr. Phils, etc. do we need. And christian music is often so insecure that it copies off only the coolest and latest sound, leaving it a step behind like a woman in thrift shop couture.
Just think what we could do with all that money spent on christian paraphernalia in a year.
Posted by: Jennifer at September 5, 2007 03:15 PM