Thursday, 10 July 2008
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Christian Slogans on Clothing
My dad proudly wears Christian T-shirts. One of his favorites, which has a picture of the "Jesus Fish" on the back along with a Bible verse, actually started a conversation with someone he met at a Burger King. "Are you a Christian?" the guy asked, in betwen bites of a what I imagine was a Triple Whopper with cheese. "Me too!"Personally, I'm not a huge fan, partially because a lot of Christian T-shirt slogans are gimmicky/corny, and partially because I don't want people to judge me before I even get the chance to act like a Christian.
I'm trying to ignore little dogmatic voice in my head saying, "Do not be ashamed of the gospel," but I'm not sure how to explain my aversion to wearing Christian paraphernalia without it sounding like I *am* ashamed. The only rationale I can use is that I'm Asian, but I don't like wearing those "Everyone Loves an Asian Girl" T-shirts or even shirts with Chinese characters written all over them. That doesn't mean I'm embarrased about being Asian. In the latter's case, it seems almost redundant. "Of course it's redudant," one might say. "You have black hair, monolids, no nose bridge..." Either way, I don't like wearing things that advertise my ~*AzN PridE*~ or whatever people call it these days.
Unlike race, however, Christianity (usually) isn't based on physical appearance. Colleges produce college T-shirts, but not every proud alumni or current student wears them. I wouldn't say they're ashamed of their alma mater or disinterested in promoting it - if I were to venture a guess, I'd say they either didn't like the design or they don't want to look like a huge fanatic.
While it's a little ridiculous to require (or even strongly pressure) Christians to go out and testify by proudly wearing "Jesus is the Ultimate Rebel" T-shirts I wonder if it's a bad thing that I feel self-concious wearing them the same way I feel self-conscious wearing Asian or "X" University stuff. I'm definitely not in denial about my ethnicity, and were someone in real life to ask me where I go to college, I'd tell them without hesitation.
How do you feel about clothing with Christian images/slogans? Do you wear it, and is it an effective way to testify?
Does being self-conscious about wearing Christian T-shirts mean that you're somewhat ashamed of the gospel?
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Comments (84)
I wear (nearly daily) my cross necklace and my WWJD bracelet (am I really *that* out of style? yes!). If I were to find an (affordable!) t-shirt with a message that I actually wanted to promote, then yes, I would wear it. Like you said though, many of them are super-corny. It's hard enough in today's society to get people to take us as Christians seriously, to wear corny shirts just doesn't necessarily help matters any.
I don't think an aversion to items of clothing that have christian messages is being ashamed of your religion. It's not the message you disagree with, it's the manner in which it is presented. The wonderful thing about clothing though is you can support a concept, without filling your closet with proof of your beliefs. What's important is that you know your faith, not if other people know your faith as well.
I don't wear it because I think it impedes ministry to non-Christians and possible relationships with them. Many non-Christians that I know see mostly the shirt on a stranger, but I want people to see I'm not some demagogue or religious-nut, but a real person saved by Christ. In other words, I think the shirt makes me less relatable to non-Christians, especially by those who already feel marginallized in a place like the Bible-belt (where I live).
I also think they're corny.
As far as being ashamed, no. It just means you want people to know of Christianity from a personnal relationship of love and care, instead of an impersonable slogan.
I used to wear WWJD bracelet but I feel like it's not enough to prove my Christian beliefs.. :)
@pinksunfiredragon - I agree, many times they ruin your intellectual credibility.
@FOXHOUND_HQ@xanga - I disagree, I think small things such as a WWJD braclet is preferable to a corny t-shirt. It's the small things typically that people appreciate, so it doesnt ruin your intellectual credibility.
Hmmmmm, well, I do agree with you on the "Asian" tshirts deal. I used to (actually, made) my own "Asian" or "Got rice?" shirt and wore it proudly. Until one day, I realized how "redundant" and pathetic I felt about displaying. Of course, like you, I'm not ashamed that I am Asian. However, I don't feel that it always needs to be said out loud (not meaning wearing it everyday however).
But it's how confident you feel when you wear the shirt. It really depends what material is on the shirt and whether it is funny, serious, controversial, et cetera. I mean, I often visit a website that sell controversial shirts and yes, I do laugh at almost all of them. But it doesn't mean that I will ever wear them. I am still sensible of those around me if I were ever to decide to buy such shirts.
But again, depending on the person and the shirt, it's really how confident you are into wearing the shirt.
@Kinszilla@xanga - I was refering to the ultra-corny shirts. Necklaces and other small things are o.k. but I'm just speaking from my own personnal experiences, others may have a different story.
@FOXHOUND_HQ@xanga - Sorry I thought you were refering to the braclet.
I like the idea of the whole Christian t-shirts, but most of them are, as you said, super-corny, and quite frankly, rip-offs of random logos. I will wear one that is original and crafty, but beyond that, no way. I wear shirts that have my college on them (I'm actually wearing one right now), but only because I like the design. The one shirt I do wear that is "Christian" tends to start conversations, but it's not one of those that is so cliche and over-done that people are going to know what it says before they see it. They can be effective, but I believe our actions are more important than whether or not we proclaim our faith with our t-shirts. I really don't think being self-conscious of wearing a ridiculous-looking shirt that is more than likely going to off-set people is being ashamed.
I don't own much as far as *Christian* t-shirts, just one shirt stating my belief on abstinence from my grandmother's church. One of my friends has a whole collection of shirts ranging from Jesus [Reese's] to Pick Him [depicting a guitar pick] that make me smile. I would wear them and I like seeing people with them on but I don't wear them because I don't own any.
I've got a couple explicitly Christian (or at least theistic) t-shirts (thankyou stickersandmore.com)...but I can't stand the ones that border on copywrite infringment...such as the example one in the post. They're just...cheesy. It's not that I don't want to show I'm a christian...but I'm going to do that in other ways (e.g. tattoo, cross necklace, how I live, etc.)...ways that AREN'T tacky/cheesy.
I have a shirt with three frames on it says how Jesus saved the world similiar to those how to ____(insert something stupid here) shirts.
I used to wear it a lot and I did have one person ask me about it, what it meant, etc and it was a good chance to share the gospel but I'm not sure it had any real impact on that person's life. Now the shirt is old, faded, and has hole so I don't wear it much.
I don't think there is anything wrong with the shirts but I also don't think they are a great way to reach out to people either.
I own a few, and I don't mind to wear them. Confident.
i don't mind christian t-shirts at all! it can be a good conversation starter. but i find that the ring i wear that says "fear not" comes up a lot more in converstations then a shirt would for some reason. its a great way for me to talk about what God's done in my life too. but yes, i'll admit that some shirst are pretty cheesy!
My brother came home wearing a profanity laced shirt with a PDiddy quote that I won't even dignify by typing. If I saw him and I didn't know him I'd think he were an idiot, even though I'm not supposed to judge. I don't know what I'd think of someone wearing a shirt with a Christian slogan though.
I don't think wearing them proves you are genuine and I don't think not wearing them means you are ashamed. I don't own any shirts like that, never really thought about buying any, but I would wear one if I saw one that I liked.
We shouldn't be 'afraid' to wear anything that glorifies Jesus.
How many people wore the W.W.J.D. bracelets? Same thing really.
I have a few that are obscure enough to have people ask questions....
one I wear just basically says I Am Not famous... to which people can respond and say, "You aren't well then who is?"
another one i wear has just one word on it... Shine... with shine written in different languages... all interposed into each other to make the word Shine....
another one says Think.Go.Live.Be on the side where people can ask what that means...
t-shirts from Passion conferences are cool... madd creative stuff... and outlets for delivering the Gospel to ppl
@FOXHOUND_HQ@xanga - Yeah, working in retail with the general public, I see a lot of the corny t-shirts, and while I do like a lot of them, I see a lot that make me cringe. I do see people look at my bracelet at times, but very few make comment on it. Since I've made my necklace though, I've gotten several compliments on it, so I only pray that I'm making some sort of impact with it.
Back in high school, I was a leader of a Bible club, and we had t-shirts that had the Jesus fish inside of a Superman symbol, and until that shirt got to a point of disrepair, I got a lot of compliments on it. :) Like I said before, I think it's the message of the t-shirt that makes the difference, not the fact that it's a "Christian" t-shirt.
People have enough stereotypes about Christians. I don't really want those stereotypes to come into play before I ever even talk to a person. I don't like wearing Christian t-shirts for that reason. I also want people to be themselves. For that same reason, I try to avoid telling people I'm a pastor right when I meet them. I want them to get to know me before they start making assumptions, and it's funny how people act around a person if they find out they're a pastor. Often they're uncomfortable, or don't know what to say.
In the words of Derek Webb..."They'll know us by the t-shirts that we wear....."
I'll confess I used to wear them all the time, but something I read in a book changed my mind.
I was reading Dave Burchett's book When Bad Christians Happen to Good People, and he described a shirt he saw a guy wearing one day. Burchette relates that on the front of the shirt was written "Jesus Loves You". When the guy turned around on the back was written "But I Don't!"
I want people to know by my actions and attitude that I am a Christian. I'm not ashamed of the gospel, but I am ashamed if the only way people can tell I'm a Christian is by reading my shirt.
BP
My favorite Christian t-shirt(s) were the ones from the Baptist Student Union - a Christian organization at the college I attended.
My Christian shirts don't go well with business casual. And I'm not much for jewelry (the only bling I wear is my wedding ring), else I'd consider a small cross around my neck.
I don't like clothes that have words on them at all. They seem a little tacky and like you're screaming for attention.
I have a couple, but they are church shirts--they have my church's name on them. I don't wear them out often, and that's just because I don't wear t-shirts very often.
I don't wear anything else except a LIFE band. (www.bound4life.com) I've wanted a cross necklace, but I never found one I liked.
I think you should wear them if you want. And if you don't, then don't worry about. Your salvation is not hinged on whether or not you wear a Christian t-shirt.
Christian T-Shirts are cheesy to me, too, and I especially hate the ones that are rip-offs. I'm even a member of a facebook group called "they will know that we are Christians by our crappy, rip-off t-shirts".
Really, though, Christians several years ago (back in the WWJD days) wanted to be counter cultural, but have turned into a subculture instead. A lot of Christian things are rip-offs, not only t-shirts, just walk into a Christian bookstore. I think we need to require more excellence in the Christian Arts, especially. Our books, music, artwork, clothing, etc. needs to be careful not to say "a Christian's best = the world's mediocre". Non Christians sometimes judge us before they know us and we don't need to give anyone a reason to think that Christianity is lame, because it's just not! If you haven't heard it, or haven't really listened to the words, check out "What This World Needs" by Casting Crowns. Also the book "Addicted to Mediocrity" by Schaefer (I honestly haven't read this one, but it's been recommended to me enough times to believe that it's good stuff). Oh, and sorry I wrote a novel in this comment...