Well, this will go down in the history of randallfriesen.com, as "The day the T-Shirt came to Town."
Kinda cool discussion going on about it, very interesting.
So, I was running it through my mind thinking, what would be the opposite of this shirt. What would it say?
We are Great...
We have everything to offer...
We know most everything...
We have a great deal of people who attend our church. And we meet in a wonderful large well equipped space where we listen to speakers tell us about God.
Come, and have all the answers with us.
?
What should a shirt say?
A shirt to get people talking to you. A shirt that may provoke a conversation, or strong feelings.
Many of you commented on what the shirt should not say. Let's start talking about what the shirt should say.
What would you put on your shirt?
Enter your Shirt Statements in the comments box below, and let's see what we come up with.
I'm a fan of a shirt just being a shirt and a Christian being a Christian. I'd hope my Christ-like actions start more conversations than the slogan on my clothes. But if it has to say something, why not "podody's nerfect" or "I'm a work in progress". I don't think it even has to have religious overtones. Just start people talking and see where it goes. I'd prefer joke shirts to anything too deep.
ReplyDeleteOK Here's an attempt. Maybe a bit much for a shirt.
ReplyDeletePerfect? No way!
Pretty? You?re kidding!
Scared? You bet!
Lonely? Too often!
Questions? A million!
Just a group of friends
who know a Friend with answers.
Come meet him.
Probably too tame to really catch the eyes of a passer-by. Too tame and non-offensive? I do agree with Clinton that a shirt is not going to be the thing that changes the world. How we love people around us is going to do more good than any invitation in writing.
...I should be more creative...
ReplyDeleteAll it has to say is:
ReplyDeletePotluck next sunday
Yeah Greg, and on the back it would say:
ReplyDelete"Jello Salad bringers to the rear of the line please!"
I always had an affinity for the 'I'm with stupid' T's, but I can't find it anywhere! I think Clinton is dead-on -- I can't imagine Jesus or Paul, etc. wearing a cheesy 'christian' shirt. Why does the word 'marketing' even enter the christian vocabulary? evangelism and marketing couldn't be more opposite activities.
ReplyDeleteFile this one under, "The horse ain't dead if you beat it hard enough!"
ReplyDeleteHi Randall. It occurs to me that your inversion of "The Shirt's" message, is the place for me to start.
I can't imagine any mature Christian, with living faith, expressing their relationship with God in such an absurd manner. Support for such an inversion would likely be restricted to the non-believer, the young or the spiritually immature.
It seems likely to me that somebody who is/was upset with their parents or grown ups in general would dismissively caricature church in the way you describe so as to justify the irreverence of their message. It is a lot easier to smart-ass then to rebut.
The reason I continue to persue this discussion is because, to defend and promote the sensibilities expressed by that shirt, is to offend and insult God. It is a big deal!
Church is a sacred place. As is what goes on inside it. Churches are full of middle aged sinners like me, struggling to find consistency in the expression of their lives. We make easy targets for the priviledged perspectives of middle class children. We make easy targets for young people, who understandably, through their lack of experience and resulting lack of empathy, don't see themselves in our sins. We are easy to ridicule and in the spirit of love should be generally tolerant of it, insofar as it is directed towards us.
What I cannot do, is blithely accept the inferred insult to God. If you cannot approach the alter of God with reverence, wonder, humility and a sense of the overwhelming majesty of his presence, God is not where you worship.
Please accept my words as the loving rebuke they are intended to be.
Been there, done that, don't want the T-shirt.
First of all, let me apologize for taking the fun out of the previous discussion. In trying to point out how the t-shirt is offensive by using lies to insult the Bride of Christ, and thus Jesus the Bridgroom, I went too far. Despite the fact that my 1998 edition of the Canadian Oxford Dictionary does include the definition that I used for the word "suck", obviously this forum isn't the place for that discussion. Anyone wishing to explore the etymology of the word is welcome to email me directly.
ReplyDeleteI think the main reason that I didn't like the t-shirt is that it is full of lies. Maybe in the Emerging Church, clever subterfuge is acceptable (the end justifies the means).
My reason for disliking the opposite version playfully suggested by Randall is the same as for the previous version, it is full of lies.
I think the church should be counter-cultural. We should be seen as clearly different. This includes truth in advertising.
I agree with Clinton that t-shirt Christian advertising probably isn't effective, but given Randall's invitation, and my concerns about the lies in both extremes, how about
"Tired of the lies? Feel trapped? Our Leader promises that if you follow Him, you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free (John 8:32)."
Sorry if that isn't cleverly subversive or fun enough ... I considered throwing in an invitation about taking up our crosses but I guess that wouldn't sell.
Thanks Phil, that was helpful.
ReplyDeletePhil, I'd like to extend an apology if you felt that I was directly attacking you. My dictionary (Webster's New World College Dictionary) includes fellatio as a slang definition as well, so my doubt was unfounded.
ReplyDeleteMy point, I guess, was that whatever the past meanings of a word, context and intent of the speaker play an important role in the word's immediate meaning. The word "gay" is a fine example of this...
My T-Shirt?
ReplyDelete"Don't say church, say Tim Hortons"
Mother Mary is a great attorney...no retainer necessary.
ReplyDeleteI guess wearing a cheesy T-shirt isn't my thing and the marketing of them at different events I've been to rubs me the wrong way. Just keep it real and honest and gimmick free please. I do, however, own a Newsboys shirt so even I can be influenced by consumerism.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree that "if you build it, they will come" meaning if each of us has a healthy relationship with God, he will work through us with or without the gimmicks.
I don't think I would wear the shirt although I understand the sentiment. The shirt doesn't describe where I'm at. As I grow older I realize I'm less sure of a lot of stuff, yet more sure of a few things. I'm very sure of Jesus, and I'm very sure I've been transformed by the work of God in my life. I'm not sure it would be worth it to work and suffer for Christ, if I wasn't really sure He was there.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't put anything on that shirt because it is marketing a church. What we should be spreading is the good news, and it just doesn't fit on a t-shirt. I've never much liked the bring people to church and let the professionals preach at them. If we want people to find Jesus we should just forget the advertisting and talk about Him.
I like that Leighton..."Less sure of a lot of stuff, yet more sure of a few things"...A necessary reminder to all of us as we age. The key to wisdom I think.
ReplyDelete