So, you victoriously talk your child out of
purchasing a Batman video by convincing him that these Veggie Tales DVD’s are “just
as cool”…and “they’re Christian!”. You
sit contently in the other room, feeling all fluffy inside thinking, “at least
he’s learning something good”, as your child watches, listens to, learns from,
and instantly adores a concept, a creation, a carefully constructed cast of
edible characters…harmless, right? Over
the next few weeks, your child talks endlessly about Jim and Jerry Gourd or sings silly songs while
he is supposed to be brushing his teeth…and you smile and think, “Oh, good...it’s
sinking in.” So, you let your child pick
a few more Veggie Tales videos like “St.
Nicholas” (Which is full of subliminal Santa Claus propaganda) and “The League
of Incredible Vegetables” (which promotes the modern world’s pagan deities:
super heroes) and you let him watch them back to back before dinner. When your child sees Junior Asparagus on a commercial, in a toy
store, or on a t-shirt, he beams with joy, as though seeing a long-lost friend…tied
securely through heart strings and the genuine trust of a child. You pat yourself on the back, proud that your
parenting has led him to such a righteous bond and buy him a Veggie night
light, lunch box, and underwear. You stop reading Bible stories
with him so often, because you figure Bob and Larry have that covered. His Sunday School teacher explains that he interrupts her reading with confident interjections like, “No.
That’s not how it goes. It was the French peas…” believing her version to be
the mixed up tale, rather than the animated “truth” you lovingly allowed him to
memorize every day during naptime, and you laugh, amused by his loyalty. One day he sees a Veggie Tales pirate ship
with all the movable characters. His
eyes glaze over and he stares longingly at the box (ignorant to the evil
history associated with pirates and the demonic symbol displayed on the ship’s
sail) he does not politely request the idol-adorned item as Laura Carrot would
do, but instead demands it loudly. When
you refuse, he digs his heels in with the most logical argument he has, “but, Mom….it’s
Christian.”
There is no greater opportunity for the devil to dress
himself in sheep’s clothing than when we mindlessly accept something because
“it’s Christian”. The title “Christian”
is defined in the book of Acts as a “follower or believer of Christ” and was
used specifically and pointedly for those who chose to follow after Jesus. “And the disciples were
called Christians first in Antioch.” – Acts 11:26
According to this New Testament definition,
our modern version of the word Christian seems to be way off base. If a
Christian is a person (a soul) that chooses to follow Christ…then how can
something (an inanimate object) BE Christian?
It can’t. Just as a book can not
BE Jewish. It can clearly promote Jewish
doctrine, but it can not BE Jewish. And
so, a cartoon (or bracelet, toy, t-shirt, or cd) can not BE Christian. Only those who confess Christ, are saved by
grace through faith, and submit to following Him, can be called Christian. Those clever creations from Big Ideas Inc.
are witty, amusing, entertaining, and catchy…but they are not “Christian”. In fact they are a subtle indoctrination in
to the wonderful world of lukewarm Christianity.
For those of you who believe your children
get a lot of “Christian teaching” from Veggie Tales… you’re right. Your children are taught much about
Christianity through these talking vegetables (and fruits). Mostly they learn the following: Christianity is funny….it’s silly….sometimes
it doesn’t make sense….Christianity has weird stories that sound similar to the
ones from the Bible, except way better….Christianity keeps up with modern
culture by doing witty spoofs of familiar worldly idols…Christianity uses humor
to mask the seriousness of old testament truth ….it cares not for the gospel
and the fundamentals regarding salvation…Christianity doesn’t have much to do
with Jesus….but, it promotes consumerism and idol worship through the marketing
of cleverly advertised merchandise at the Christianity store …you can even buy
Christianity candy and Christianity T-shirts!
And, really….what else could you possibly want
your children to learn about Christianity?
Now, if your intentions are to make sure
your children enjoy their childhood, are entertained rather than educated, are
amused rather than convicted, have no
sense of biblical truth, but at least learn a little morality, then the Veggie
tales (and other ridiculous “Christian” paraphernalia) are perfect for
you…carry on and forget I mentioned anything at all. No sense getting in your
way (or should I say the devil’s way).
But, if your intentions are to act in
responsibility to the stewardship you have been given as a parent, to train
your child up in the way they should go, to teach truth, to live faithfully,
and to prayerfully guide your children to salvation…then you have no business
mingling with the world’s idea of Christianity.
Your children, especially, who have not developed filters, discernment,
or self-restraint…have no business amusing their flesh with Laodicean
compromise.
There is only one gospel. Paul did not sing, and dance, and announce,
“Boy, have we got a show for you!” before speaking of salvation. He very boldly, and very reverently spoke the
truth. Which is what we, as Christians
(proper use of the word) are called to do.
And we, as parents have an obligation to protect our children from anything
less than that.
Even Phil Vischer himself - founder of Veggie Tales – has rebuked the
use of these videos (books, cds, action figures, backpacks, socks…) for
Christian education and has started a new ministry with videos called, "What's in the Bible" ( I have not reviewed these yet). Knowing how closely
he played with fire according to Proverbs 30:6 (“Add thou not unto His words,
lest He reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.”) Phil gave this
statement:
“I looked back at the previous 10 years and realized I had spent 10
years trying to convince kids to behave Christianly without actually teaching
them Christianity. And that was a pretty serious conviction. You can say, ‘Hey
kids, be more forgiving because the Bible says so,’ or, ‘Hey kids, be more kind
because the Bible says so!’ But that isn’t Christianity, it’s morality.” –Phil
Vischer, founder of Veggietales
But, what’s wrong with morality? Nothing. Morality is the fruit of the spirit. Aesop’s Fables and the Brothers Grimm can
teach morality….but nobody is pretending
they’re “Christian.” The danger in
Veggie Tales (and most of what is sold in a “Christianity Store”) is a false
sense of security. Don’t let the devil
catch you with your guard down. This is warfare. Your children’s souls are the
bounty.
Of course, one mystery still remains: Before cartoons, illustrated Bible Stories,
and talking vegetables, how did children ever learn that “God made them special
and He loves them very much?”
….Somebody must have read them the Bible.
