American Evangelicalism has issues (One Track Mind)
In effort to show that you really cannot make it up with American evangelicalism, I thought I would suggest the following as a gift for your teen-age daughter this Christmas: the "one-track mind" t-shirt. Yes, I stumbled across the renowned pious internet t-shirt emporium Hip-Edge.com, where they "spread God's Word one T-shirt at a time," is offering the little gem "One track mind" bright green t-shirt for only $14.75 (plus shipping) of your hard-earned Christian DOLLARS (of course, you can obtain this apparel wherever fine Christian t-shirts are sold, not just at Hip-Edge). And with the words "One-track Mind" plastered right across the chest. Although this troublesome saying has been usually reserved to reference those who only think about "you-know-what", the devout brethren over at Kerusso* (the company that actually makes the shirt in question) have finally rescued it from its wordly clutches to give it a new "Christian" "spin." And by wearing this T-shirt, anybody who does have a "one-track mind" for "you-know-what," since this message is displayed in so prominent a place, may instanteously get saved. Can somebody shout "Glory"?!
You see, Hip-Edge.com is smart. In their "About Us" portion of the website, they talk about how they know the world is taking over. Society's losing its moral compass. That's where Hip-Edge.com comes in. They will force the gospel message on people, even if it is plastered across their chests! They are tapping into the "explosion of Christian sentiment in the world," but it's up to us to "take a stand" by wearing T-shirts. This may seem contradictory to you, dear reader (that the world is taking over even though there is this big explosion of Christians), but this should not worry you. The point is that you should wear their T-shirts. Because somebody may get saved. And then that person will wear T-shirts. And then more and more people will get saved, like its compounding. And then more and more t-shirts are being worn. Pretty soon, the whole world will be saved. All because you had the guts to wear a Christian T-shirt. How's that for a investment from your little $14.75 (plus shipping)?
*Permission was requested from Kerusso to display the copyrighted image of the t-shirt in question on this blog. Permission was declined.
You see, Hip-Edge.com is smart. In their "About Us" portion of the website, they talk about how they know the world is taking over. Society's losing its moral compass. That's where Hip-Edge.com comes in. They will force the gospel message on people, even if it is plastered across their chests! They are tapping into the "explosion of Christian sentiment in the world," but it's up to us to "take a stand" by wearing T-shirts. This may seem contradictory to you, dear reader (that the world is taking over even though there is this big explosion of Christians), but this should not worry you. The point is that you should wear their T-shirts. Because somebody may get saved. And then that person will wear T-shirts. And then more and more people will get saved, like its compounding. And then more and more t-shirts are being worn. Pretty soon, the whole world will be saved. All because you had the guts to wear a Christian T-shirt. How's that for a investment from your little $14.75 (plus shipping)?
*Permission was requested from Kerusso to display the copyrighted image of the t-shirt in question on this blog. Permission was declined.
posted by Ryan Martin at 12/19/2005 11:48:00 PM
17 Comments:
I ordered a tight one for my wife.
I was browsing through a couple online photo galleries of church youth groups in my area...'conservative' baptist ones. Aside from the kid on the drumset with the sideways hat and that half-drunk facial expression that only drummers can portray, the most startling thing was what the girls were wearing. I think there was one or two pictures where the girls' tummies wheren't showing.....and thats because there weren't any girls in the picture. Sad.
This reminds me of a long-standing peeve of mine...the youth group culture....where all the boys and girls are thought and said to be 'brothers and sisters in Christ', so it is okay that they tickle eachother and rough-house and depend emotionally on the other-gendered. Has anyone else noticed that?
We escaped the youth group a while back there lilrabbi. You're talking to bona-fide old folks here. We are geezers. Ryan and Todd both drive mini-vans. Sad.
I have this big whole in my life that I cannot explain . . . first thing I know I am getting hair in my armpits, then everything goes black. When I wake up, I find myself at college. Weird.
Joel....Its true. If it makes you feel any better, I drive a Buick Century. It is that gramma-gold color on the outside. It also has a starter-grind prevention mechanism on it (for when grammas and grandpas forget their car is already running and try to start it).
Ryan, you may be joking, but that is about how it was for me. I can't remember any meaningful anything that occured in my life between the age of 10 and the age of 15. Very little thought or understanding or care about anything worthwhile. It is seriously all a blur for me. Most things that went on during that time, I have tried hard to not think about.
Yes, I see. you're not joking. Youth group was that hole. Its a dark hole that many never get out of.
I was joking, but you offer some interesting philosophical insight into youth groups nonetheless.
http://nossobrii.blogspot.com/2005/12/all-in-days-work.html
Too funny. Can I use the t-shirt picture as my picture if I sign up for a blogger account?
You had better ask Kerusso (or whatever the company's name is). Truth is stranger than fiction.
Hip-Edge, Inc. must have a veritable bevy of lawyers on retainer. It's been over a month now and the CoolFaith people still haven't tracked down my subderisorious post.
Sorry about the thinly veiled identity. I'm just concerned that the t-shirt mafia may have put you on a watch list.
Yes, old man, I am bewildered by the (unbeknownst to me) vast impact of my blog. I am happy to obey the law, though.
You may want to start dusting off your letter requesting permission ot use the image. I can send you a copy of the one I used, if you need one (though it obviously did not work to well for me).
that should read too well for me.
Todd, you have issues. Very funny. After today, I don't know whether to laugh or cry.
I find it rather amusing that you have changed your "post" from it's original content (possible legal action?) in which you had actually posted a picture of the T-Shirt that you "question". If your readers had actually seen the T-Shirt in question then they would have seen that the letter "i" had been replaced by the cross. The message of the shirt is to have your mind on the things of God (hence the slogan "One Track M+ind"); it appears that your mind may be the one focused on "you know what."
I personally know the individuals who own and operate the web-site Hip Edge.com-you don't. They are committed and dedicated Christians whose main goal in their lives is to spread the Gospel and reach others. Maybe the path they have chosen is different than the one you have chosen; maybe the style of shirts and apparel they sell are not your style. Just maybe you should study up on I Corinthians chapter 12 again.
I find it curious that you chose to single out their website when there are others out there that sell the same things (plus shipping). Are you opposed to Lifeway Christian bookstores selling T-shirts, jewelry and trinkets? Are you oppossed to handing out FAITH tracts and GOT LIFE docs to others as well?
Something else I find "amusing" on the main web pageis this little tid-bit: "I've never asked for anything on this blog, but I figure now is as good a time as any to get something back for the money I put into this site! I could earn a free ipod if five people sign up. I personally know people who have signed up and earned an ipod, so I know it works fine. You will just have to sign up for an offer, and then you can cancel it right away. Or you could earn an ipod, too! So please help me out." I guess commercialism isn't so bad after all is it? Do you have to pay for the "shipping and handling"?
"Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye; and look a plank in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye and then you will see clearly to remove the plank from your brother's eye."
Jeff, I will not respond in kind. I do not know of any legal action coming against me. If you do, please enlighten me. I took the image down at the personal request of this person who is your friend. You should ask him about it.
This is not a question of a shirt that is "not my style." This shirt is indesputably blasphemous. There is no "my style" about it. The shirt is an offense to God.
As to your other comments, all I can say is that it seems we are approaching Christianity in vastly different ways. Hopefully that will suffice.
Hey Ryan, I just had a marketing idea. How about we design sweat pants with "Don't be left behind!" written on the posterior. Being really creative we could change the "i" to a cross. Then folks could look really close to see the true meaning of our witnessing tool, if you know what I mean. I think I'm on to something here.
Theoldman
If I had thought of that, I would post it anonymously as well.
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