A Few Simple Questions Concering T-Shirts

One of my favorite blogs is Marc Heinrich's Purgatorio. We've featured it in the past mainly because when one spends a good chunk of their time researching and thinking about Christianity like Andy and I do it helps to be able to take a step back and poke fun at some of the odd-ball things it produces.

Marc does a few weekly thematic posts. One of my favorites is Divine Vinyl, pretty much solely because of this album cover:

polisareatkids.jpg

Anyway...

Today is T-shirt Tuesday where they post a picture of one of those evangelistic T-shirts. You know, the kind that take something from popular culture and using (moderately clever) word-play twist it to ask a question or present the gospel 'creatively'.

Here's the one from today:

losttshirt.jpg

Now, it's easy for me to dismiss these as ignorant goofballery, but in an effort to give the vast Christian merchandising business the benefit of the doubt, I've decided to step warily off my extremely high horse and ask a few questions of you, our ThinkChristian readers.

Has any part of your journey with Christ been positively impacted by one of these shirts? And/or do you personally know anyone who has been impacted by one of these shirts?

And, as always, I would like you to weigh in with any other opinions.

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Comments (18)

Definite goofballery. I am not sure about ignorant.
I remember as a teenager that wearing these kinds of shirts helped me feel like I was part of a bigger family and emboldened me to be more forthcoming about my relationship with Jesus.
Never did anyone ask me about Jesus due to my shirt... and for all I know, part of the reason they wouldn't ask me was the shirt itself, but in my bubble of ignorant evangelism I felt like I was really a part of something bigger and wanted the world to know it. So yes, I was impacted by them, but because I was using them to identify myself as a member of something (the Jesus Gang? should we pick official colors and hand signs too?) not because I saw someone else where them.
Oh, and I now laugh at the idea that I used to wear them and stay shirt-evangelizing.
I've only got one T-shirt that has been useful in terms of evangelism. It is a simple shirt bearing the phrase (on the back) "Nietzsche is Dead." To anyone who knows enough to start a conversation on the topic, it poses an irrepressible jest, and a serious threat to the sense of security we all have when we don't think about death.
that's a good t shirt for it is a conversation starter for those who are more well read and usually of a liberal belief. I have to say I like this one but most Christian t's are just plain hokey.
LOL that is so awesome! Have to make one of those.
As a young adult, it's difficult to share my salvation with my peers. I feel that i have been able to strike up interesting conversations about Jesus because of some of my shirts. It may not be an evangelizing tool, but sometimes it might be an ice-breaker or subject starter. I'm all for the t-shirts!
When my husband (then boyfriend) was a fairly new Christian I bought him a T-shirt that had his favourite verse, Romans 10:9, on the back, and the key words from the verse (Confess Believe Be Saved) in small letters on the front. It was black with neon lettering and stood out quite a lot. I think it was important to him at the time as a symbol of his new allegiance and a changed life. I was surprised when one of my non-Christian cousins commented one time that it seemed like the shirt was kind of ordering him to Confess! Believe! Be Saved!! I'd never thought of it as shouting an imperative to the shirt-viewer, but I realized that it could be taken that way.

My husband wore it till the letters basically wore off.
I have many of those shirts, with various saying as most of the youth mission trips will have one of those shirts attached. Once while wearing one of the shirts which said I will work free for Jesus another Christian came up to me and asked what mission trip did I get that one from? It's nice to talk to all and any Christians, so I guess it is worth having; if only to talk to others. We forget how advertising can and does relate what we want in life and we all want others to come to Christ Jesus. So, keep wearing those wonderful signs saying that we are proud of our Savior, who is proud of us. In God's Grace John
I used to wear shirts like this years ago. But honestly no one ever really looked nor said a word. This is really more for the wearer to deal with his or her own feelings about evangelism and the lack there of. What is sad to me as I go into many bookstores that are owned or run by Christians I see more and more stuff like this as well as pictures, ceramics, trinkets and I will classify all this stuff as Jesus junk.
The problem with the "Lost" shirt et. al. here is just treacly, poor design. There's no wit about it. A better example might be the one that's the Coke logo, but written, "Jesus Christ". That was witty.
I think these gimmicky designs are slowly becoming a thing of the past as new Christian companies now integrate thoughtful, layered art with the same proud message of Christ. I personally have found JesusBranded.com t-shirts to convey a strong message in thought-provoking imagery that has sparked great comments & thoughtful discussions.
I wouldn't say that T shirts are the best way to communicate the gospel, but we should admit that the LOST picture, with the appropiate verse of Luke below may cause curiosity in some unbeliever and, with the Holy Spirit intervention, bring that person to seach about salvation. I prefer to witness directly talking with the persons the Lord put in y way
Nelson
I was wear ing one of those Christian wittness shirts that said"ARMED AND DANGEROUS...". On the back it said"... with the sword of the Spirit which is the word of GOD". Ephesians 6:17b . I was entering a government building and was inthe hall to freeze do not move! Put your hands on your head and spread your feet!. After getting padded down I was allowed to go unharmed.

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