My dilemma with Christian marketing: Oh, the irony

[AspenRose]

So I went to the library and saw that they had Veggie Tales on DVD.

I had never seen or watched Veggie Tales before, and thought it'd be a good idea to check it out and watch it to see what it was about.


Here is my dilemma:

I find it ironic that the DVD I watched this week about thankfulness and being grateful for what you have...made fun of a place called "Stuff Mart," where you can go and buy "stuff" that will (supposedly) make you happy.

Of course, if you set foot in a Wal-Mart or a Sam's today, you'll find STUFF like....VEGGIE TALES, Thomas Kincade, "Left Behind," The Passion of the Christ, Max Lucado and "Chicken Soup for..." books!!! Sometimes Christians can be as materialistic (if not more) in their marketing as seculars! Does that mean it's OK to fill your shopping cart with Christian STUFF if you're discontent?

I mean goodness, is this another undesirable consequence of "supply side Jesus?"

I originally thought: OK, when my son gets old enough to follow along and understand, maybe he can watch some Veggie Tales. But they make this STUFF that goes along with the DVD's! Books! Toys! Games! Surely I can teach my son about the Lord without having to fall back on STUFF!

How do YOU avoid the materialism machine? I'm all ears!

[silverlib]

1. "Scents of Jesus"

I went to the Aransas Pass, TX Shrimporee this past weekend and there was a booth selling candles "The Scents of Jesus."

I was so appalled. I wonder what Jesus would think about marketing such things in his name.

[hvn_nbr_2]

2. Probably about the same as he thought of the money changers in the temple.

[AspenRose]

3. Are you for real????

I was raised in Texas....I know where Aransas Pass is....so it doesn't surprise me, unfortunately.

That is nauseating.

[FreedomAngel82]

5. I heard about it a while back

Malloy talked about it on his show. Apparently Jesus smelled like cinnamon. :shrug:

[FreedomAngel82]

10. LOL

I heard about that on Malloy's show earlier this year. Apparently Jesus smelled like cinnamion. I like Christian music and I love watching the Moses movie every year around Easter. I think Veggie Tales are cute. I think there's so much Christian merchandise out there for various groups and people. You have your fundie stuff and you have your regular Christian stuff. I just prefer my Bible and have some Christian music.

[FreedomAngel82]

4. I think it's all okay if that's your cup of tea

Don't forget Christian music. I like some of it myself. I'm glad there are alternatives for people who don't like mainstream music with all the cursing and sexuality mentioned. For example the pop artist Staci Orrico and the group Jump5 are pretty nuterual and if you didn't know they were Christian artist's you wouldn't know and of course Amy Grant used to be one of my favorites (I still enjoy her). I think the Veggie Tales are cute but I don't think I'd let someone under five watch them personally. :shrug: I don't know if they'd understand the stories etc.

[AspenRose]

6. "Spiritual junk food"

That's the best description I've heard to date about stuff like that (from one of the Graham kids, can't remember which daughter, maybe Anne?).

It's ok every once in a while, she said, as long as you're not getting your spiritual meat from it....that should come from scripture. I just found it ironic that this particular Veggie Tales would seem to speak out against consumerism when the series seems to be egregious in its own marketing.

Everyone has different tolerances and threshholds! We were encouraged by our pediatrician to avoid TV at all costs; something about affecting the development of children and brain waves, etc. I don't know if that's realistic but I think being selective is definitely important, especially since marketing is so pervasive.

[RevCheesehead]

7. I just got a phone call from Larry and Bob!

They've invited me to their show in Green Bay next month! :bounce:

(Christian telemarketers are very clever. They know how to find parsonages, even if the parsonages have a "do not call" block on the line.)

They were kind of cute, however. :)

[gkhouston]

8. Ooh, you're going to meet "Larry" and "Bob"? I'm jealous.

My brother-in-law did some techie work for their company a couple of years back and said they're very nice. As for the marketing, I don't find the VeggieTales marketing nearly so in-your-face as the Disney Princess stuff or the Barbie stuff... and the Buzzsaw Louie commercial off their Christmas special was just :rofl:. In general, all the "messages" coming out of VeggieTales are ones I'm happy with and I don't feel obligated to buy every piece of VeggieTales marketing stuff that comes down the pike... my mother-in-law, however... :eyes:

[BlackVelvet04]

9. I don't buy

stuff marketed for Christians.....PERIOD. I went into a Christian bookstore with my mom right after the Passion movie came out and I kid you not they were selling crowns of thorns and necklaces with nails.

Jesus is NOT a commodity and that's what the Christian stores are trying to make Him. It's disgusting.

[FreedomAngel82]

11. Some stuff goes over the top

Like what you mentioned. I used to wear a cross aruond my necklace until the preacher talked about the cross. In Jesus' days the cross was a humiliating thing and after that I stopped wearing crosses. It was a painful thing. Some stuff is just so silly and stupid to have around. I agree with what Graham's daughter said though.

[RevCheesehead]

12. Not everything is intended for personal use.

I am one of those who bought a crown of thorns. I use it every Lent during Holy Week, and then place it at the foot of the cross at Easter. It's a very powerful image.

However, I was disturbed when the "Oriental Trading" Catalog (toys, crafts, and some religious stuff) offered Cross Suckers (yes, on a stick.) I told someone, "I'm sorry - that's just so...Wrong."