Silly Christian Bumper Stickers…

Something that really annoys me is when Christians copy things. I will elaborate, but let me explain the “incident” that precipitated this post.

Angela and I were driving home from some errands earlier today, and we came up behind a pick up truck with a bumper sticker that appeared to say “C.S.I.” and had a fingerprint and a magnifying glass next to it. This intrigued me, so when we got to the next light, I took a closer look. The C.S.I. had smaller words below it. The words read: “Christ Saves Individuals”. I was disgusted. Once again, here was a Christian product, meant to witness, that was borrowing/satarizing/parodying a popular culture idea (in this case the television program C.S.I. Crime Scene Investigation). I have a problem with this. I understand that those who create these bumper stickers, media displays, brochures etc are attempting to identify with regular people through things that they are familiar with. I get this, but it shows a consistent lack of creativity. I constantly see this in the church. Materials based on the Matrix talking about the Red and Blue pill, or media shows talking about how the “Church is personal again” which is based on HP computers ad campaign: “The computer is personal again”.

Why can the people who come up with these things come up with some original ideas. I see the imitations and feel ripped off, for lack of a better term. If I was a non-christian and saw that bumper sticker, I would think it cheesy at best, and copyright infringement at worst. Perhaps I am too cynical, but I think that we have some fantastically creative people in the church who should be able to find ways of communicating to the “unbelievers” or whomever without resorting to parroting and distorting pop culture. Using the ideas behind mass communication and pop art and what not is fine, but be original, or less overt in the mimicking…

Leave parody and satire to the realm of comedy, where it works well…

Scotty