"Jesus Junk"

Do you ever find yourself scrolling through your Facebook News Feed and come across something that makes you really angry and kind of makes you laugh a little all at the same time? Here's what I scrolled upon 2 minutes ago:

Have you ever heard of the term "Jesus Junk?" Jesus Junk is a term used by Christians and non-Christians alike for tacky merchandising with Christian slogans or Bible verses on them. You know what I'm talking about. The "Turn or Burn" t-shirts, the Jesus bobble-head dolls,  the golf balls with crosses on them. I used to collect some of the stuff when I was growing up; guilty as charged. Now, I'm not railing against all Jesus Junk. If someone is excited and proud of something and wants others to know about it too, they want to put the message out there.  But "Bill Gaither-inspired tea bags?" "Believe in God Breathspray?" "JesUSAvior t-shirts?" Ya, read that one again (we all know that Jesus was an affluent, white American!)

At some point, especially when it comes to religion, this sort of stuff cheapens faith in the eyes of many. And now Jesus Junk has reached the Facebook & Twitter age.

Honestly, do you really think that someone is going to read that Facebook Photo above, and say "Oh My! I better re-post this right away or God might think I don't love him!" ....The sad part....some people will think that - primarily younger Christians. The even sadder part is that the majority of the people who see that photo and are non-Christians will think "Wow, this is another example of just how ridiculous Christianity is."  The people who post this sort of stuff and produce Jesus Junk should stop for a minute, even 30 seconds, and ask themselves, "Is this really going to make someone think more seriously about Jesus and his important teachings?"  And I'm not just saying this as a "jaded former fundamentalist Christian." CCM Magazine, the former major publication concerning Contemporary Christian Music, once published a whole article on this stuff and many, many Christians find it ridiculous too.  

All of a sudden an image comes to mind of Jesus walking into a Christian bookstore and, as he did in the Jerusalem temple, start angrily overturning tables.  

He might take a Jesus Christ nite-lite back with him as a memento, though.

Make sure that you check out jesusjunk.com. God wants you to.

Mark Andrew Alward