Searching through Christianity to find Christ - An Honest Word on Christian T-shirts

I saw someone wearing a t-shirt the other day that said, “Hardcore Christian” and I wondered what statement they were trying to make. I saw someone else wearing a t-shirt that said, “shut the f--- up”. I still haven’t decided which one is more offensive.

I can’t help but ask questions like, Why is there no evident difference between a believer and a nonbeliever, unless I read their shirt? Why is W.W.J.D stamped on a rubber wristband rather than our hearts? Why is Christianity a cheap novelty? Where is Christ in that?

Over the last 50 years we have allowed Christianity to be marketed through slogans and trinkets, rather than testimony and witness.  When the world wonders what it means to be a Christian, we shouldn’t be surprised that they look to the tangible items available.  But, it is a disgrace to know Christians are leading this parade.  So, what does it mean to be a Christian? In Ephesians (5:8) Paul says we are to “walk as children of light” as we are granted the “light of life”(spoken of by Jesus in John 8:12). The Lord addresses our role and our responsibility at the sermon on the mount:

Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.Ye are the light of the world.–Matthew 5:13-14

When I hear a young girl say, “My mom is making us do everything Christian….Christian books, clothes, music… everything. I mean it’s okay to do Christian stuff sometimes, but we need a break, you know. We can’t be Christian all the time…”  I know we have lost our savor.  How shameful. And where is our light?  Is it in the cross necklaces around our necks? Is it in the fish stickers on our car bumpers? Is it on our t-shirt, bracelet, backpack, paperweight, or wind chime? Or is it nothing but a flicker…striving to shine through clever merchandising and lukewarm religion?

I know a popular “Christian” bookstore chain that sells T-shirts that read: “You need Jesus. I’m just sayin’.” Although it makes no apologies for the truth (everyone does need Jesus), it excuses the need for convicting evidence and truth spoken in love in order to send anyone seeking.  Cowardly declarations like these that reflect the ignorance of a current generation rather than the courage and truth of the gospel are damaging to our testimony as a whole.  When I saw that t-shirt, I thought, why wear that shirt when you could wear one that says: “I just made an assertion, but I am not going to back it up with anything....I am a judgmental coward that has no idea what I am talking about, but isn’t my t-shirt funny?”  But, where is Christ in that?

There is such a lack of reverence in modern Christianity. It really is embarrassing.  Somehow, growing up (in the church)  I got lost in the idea of fluffy Jesus…Jesus my friend….Jesus my pal….Jesus the go-to guy….Jesus the long haired hippy who loves all the red, yellow, black and white children of the world. These distorted concepts were driven by media and merchandising rather than Biblical truth.  Clearly I had never met Jesus my Savior (saving me from sure and eternal damnation) or Jesus my Lord (to reign in my life) or Jesus my Rock (the foundation of everything I think, decide, and act upon) or Jesus my Redeemer (who paid my ransom with his own blood). So, how could I claim to be a Christian? The same way everyone else did: with a necklace, a bumper sticker, and a clever t-shirt.  Where is Christ in that?

Hardcore Christians give their lives over to God in full service. They live sacrificially, sometimes in foreign environments, facing danger of persecution, torment, and death.  They spread the word of God, sharing the gospel with friend and foe, facing martyrdom with praise and thanksgiving.  They live in acknowledgement and repentance of their daily sins to maintain fellowship with the Lord. They seek the will of God in all endeavors and wear the whole armor of God as they fight a spiritual battle with Satan and his legions, fasting and praying without ceasing. They hide scripture in their heart so they may not sin against their Heavenly Father. They shine the light of life in this dark world. They are savory salt.  They DO NOT wear Christian T-shirts! 

Talking The Talk, But Not Walking The Walk

 

 Each church I attended seemed to expand my “Religious Lingo”.  Some terms or phrases were more familiar than others and some were specific to denomination or location. I heard them in songs, at church, at school, from friends....The repeated exposure of such jargon created a calloused immunity to the truths they stood for.  I never questioned their definition, their origin, or their significance to me, personally.  I just thought they were “church words” or “things Christians say”, so I played along.  I figured once I could talk the talk, nobody would know the difference. I know better now and I want to share all the Lord has showed me.  An understanding of these foundational mysteries has come slowly and carefully, as the Lord has led. There is so much more to learn, I know, but it is such a blessing to have truth to stand on. I hope these lists are a blessing to you.

What I Heard , But Never Understood:

BORN AGAIN (to be born of the spirit)

– Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and [of] the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  -John 3:4-6

SAVED (spared from due wrath)

-And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. –Acts 16:31

SALVATION (redemption by faith )

- For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast.  Ephesians 2:8-9

BAPTISM (a picture of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ)

-Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in the newness of life. – Romans 6:4

MERCY (not getting what you do deserve)

-He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. –Proverbs 28:13

GRACE (getting what you don't deserve)

-For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men. –Titus 2:11

HOPE (confident expectation)

-For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. –Romans 15:4

LOVE (a sacrificial giving of self)

-But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. –Romans 5:8

FAITH (believing that which is not seen)

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. –Hebrews 11:1

PEACE (the absence of torment)

-And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. –Philippians 4:6,7

WITNESS (your personal experience)-

-But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth. – Acts 1:8

TESTIMONY (to give a testament)

-That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. - 1 John 1:3

SAVIOR (He who saved and delivered)

- And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.  – 1 John 4:14

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD (we are to be sheep, attentive to his leading)

-The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.   He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.   He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.  Psalm 23:1

IN JESUS’ NAME (The power and authority in his name)

-And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. –Philippians 2:8

KEEPING COMMANDMENTS (proving loyalty through obedience)

- And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. -1 John 2:3

INFALLIBLE SCRIPTURE (the Bible, the living Word of God)

-All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and instruction in righteousness:  -2 Timothy 3:16

What I never heard at all:

SANCTIFICATION (to be set apart)

-And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. – Romans 12:2

REPENTANCE (turning away from sins)

-From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. -Matthew 4:7

SUBMISSION (yield yourself)

Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all [of you] be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. - 1 Peter 5:5

STEWARDSHIP (being responsible with your physical and spiritual allotment)

And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom [his] lord shall make ruler over his household, to give [them their] portion of meat in due season? –Luke 12:42

EXHORT (Encourage)

But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. –Hebrews 3:13

REBUKE (to admonish or bring a trespass to light)

- A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke. –Proverbs 13:1

EXALT(to raise high; to elevate)

– Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy. –Psalm 99:5

EDIFY (to build or build up)

– Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. -1 Thessalonians 5:11

TITHE (The Lord expects 10% of what is rightly His)

- Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you ut a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. –Malachi 3:10

ASSURANCE OF SALVATION (security)

- These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. – 1 John 5:13

JUSTIFIED (“Just-as-if-I’d” never sinned)

– Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.   -Romans 5:9

ATONEMENT (payment, reparation)

- For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. –Leviticus 17:11


*Art by "Objects of Affection" (click on image for shop info) 9YC5MAGMK7RW