Catch a wave with Jesus
December 3rd, 2007A company called Fishermen has for sale a variety of Jesus figurines.
There’s Surfin’ Jesus:
Hoggin’ Jesus:
Peaceful Jesus:
Kickin’ Jesus:
And a few others. From company founder Eric Dyson:
I don’t have the words to really communicate how the creation of these figurines is changing my life, but I know it is keeping me on His path. When I see His inspiration in the different Christ figurines, it lifts my spirit. It fills me with courage. It opens my eyes to see Him in all things.
I don’t have the words, either.
I wonder if Kickin’ Jesus is sporting an undershirt with His mother’s mug on it.
Why not right? Every other Latin American soccer player has one.
Wow. Complete with crown of thorns.
No limits, I wonder when Nudist Jesus and Playing GTA on PS2 Jesus will come out. I actually saw another Jesus action figure once that had him with huge, bulging muscles and a rag doll Jesus too.
I don’t have the words to really communicate how the creation of these figurines is changing my life, but I know it is keeping me on His path.
That sounds strangely familiar to the accounts of those who worshipped idols in the Old Testament as well as those who made them. Just an observation.
j razz
Indeed, Jrazz!
I’m not gonna presume that I know the Holy Spirit can’t speak to Mr. Dyson through this endeavor. As long as he doesn’t say that he is worshiping these figurines…
Are the Jesus figurines considered blasphemous? Is the true image of Jesus being cheapened by this type of portrayal?
When I see His inspiration in the different Christ figurines, it lifts my spirit. It fills me with courage. It opens my eyes to see Him in all things.
Isn’t that why God gave us scripture? Should we be finding such satisfaction in something other than?
j razz
>Isn’t that why God gave us scripture? Should we be finding such satisfaction in something other than?
A beautiful weather day lifts my spirit. Should I have just stayed indoors and read scripture instead?
Roger,
I think you are aware of why I was making the point I made (hence the smiley). I am not saying that joy in God cannot be found outside of scripture, I am saying that any joy in God needs to be rightly grounded in scripture or else you may find that your joy is not so much in God as it is in the thing that brings you joy; hence idolatry.
I do though find it very dangerous to make images of Christ in modern day recreational activities and attribute the statements he did to them instead of to scripture.
I believe there is a difference between seeing a beautiful sunset and a christ figurine.
j razz
So are you guys going to buy one for your wives or not?
>I do though find it very dangerous to make images of Christ in modern day recreational activities
But wait - if Jesus had come in our generation instead of 2000 years ago, we wouldn’t see him in any modern day recreational activities?
Do you think Jesus did stuff while he was on earth that made people react with shock and embarrassment?
“Look - He’s actually doing that!”
“He’s so undignified, eating with a tax collector…!”
“I can’t believe He allowed Himself to be seen with that prostitute!”
Jesus did that stuff, and people did react that way. I don’t think we should be so hasty in being critical of something that isn’t sinful in and of itself.
Cineaste, in my opinion the answers are yes and yes.
I have a couple of words for it, among them ridiculous and blasphemous.
Throw in mercenary for good measure.
Would I be mistaken if I pointed out that the Jesus figurines seem rather innocuous to me and that labeling them as “blasphemous” is as pretentious as the “blasphemy” involved in naming a teddy bear “Muhammad.”
Blasphemy? That is ridiculous, guys. Be care not to overreact to something like this. Cineaste is right, they seem to be rather innocuous. It looks to be pretty irreverant, though. My main problem is the need to market Jesus as if he is not attractive enough. Typical of postmodernism: Let’s have Jesus conform to be like us rather than us conform to be like him.
I do not feel that they are approiate (the figurines). Scripture tells us that we are to have no graven images. I also would like to know why all pictures give Jesus long hair. I know of no place in the Bible that says He had long hair. As far as eating with tax collectors, sure He did but he did not play soccer ar ride a hog and we are not to add to scripture.
No long hair, but perhaps a better question is why he is so white. I’m pretty sure Jesus was of the darker hue rather than the lighter.
I don’t think they are innocuous. His Name is Holy. That he is wearing the crown of thorns in these figurines seals the mockery of it for me.
To me this is very disrespectful and blasphemous.
To put Christ in figurines like this is beyond my scope of understanding. He is my Lord and Savior, the Creator of Universe and these have cheapened His holiness.
But wait - if Jesus had come in our generation instead of 2000 years ago, we wouldn’t see him in any modern day recreational activities?
But He didn’t. I can’t speculate on speculations with any accuracy at all.
I don’t think we should be so hasty in being critical of something that isn’t sinful in and of itself.
Roger,
There are two sides to every fence. In this instance we don’t want to fall off, but balance on it. Yes, Jesus did things that were considered taboo in His day. Here is the difference though, Jesus is God; this guy who makes figurines of what He thinks Christ looks like doing things He never did is not.
We need to be careful lest we should cause any of these little ones to fall. That is the balance. In and of itself, it is a piece of plastic. But it sounds like it is on the verge of becoming an idol to this guy who made them and could quite possibly be stumbling blocks to others who view them how he does.
j razz
Cineaste, you said:
Would I be mistaken if I pointed out that the Jesus figurines seem rather innocuous to me and that labeling them as “blasphemous” is as pretentious as the “blasphemy” involved in naming a teddy bear “Muhammad.”
Yes, you would be mistaken. First, unlike the Teddy Bear incident, here an actual intentional image of Christ is being depicted. Second, unlike the Teddy Bear incident, there is an actual connection between the historical figure and not just a soccer player named Jesus (pronounced Hey-zeus, as that would be comparable to the commonality of the name in a particular language). And finally, while I don’t consider it to be necessarily blasphemous (though I would clearly say distasteful and enigmatic of our materialistic culture that seeks to market any and all spiritual “merchandise”), I still haven’t seen any Christians calling for someone’s death over this (or even jail time). The very fact that in our society we are free to debate such items is a clear difference.
So while you continue to incite those with whom you disagree, in this case, you have shown a lack of intellectual vigor in doing so.
you have got to be kidding me….
Guys, I think this is hilarious, one of the funniest things I’ve seen. I think Jesus would think it is funny too, but that is just my opinion.
I remember a few years ago Conan O’Brien featured these on his show and actually made some of his own which were really funny too (especially “Cock Fighting Jesus”). I think I remember Conan saying that the intention was for them to be gifts for Catholic kids finishing their confirmation.
I think they would be great gag gifts.
…these have cheapened His holiness.
Is this even possible?
I honestly thought “Hoggin’ Jesus” was going to be a figurine of the Lord, hoggin’ catfish in Rend Lake.
I think I like the fact that these are sort of a reminder that Jesus was a real guy, but considering this company is getting rich, “selling Jesus” … well, then again, this isn’t the first company to do so. At least they’re being pretty brazen and seemingly up-front about it.
Glenna, if you are referring to D.R. Randle’s post, I’m with you.
Probably what cheapens His holiness more than anything is when the people that are called by His name don’t act like Him. (That should keep all of us humble and on our knees.)
“Probably what cheapens His holiness more than anything is when the people that are called by His name don’t act like Him.”
I agree. Perhaps we should do some Biblical research then on how Christ did act when his Father’s house was turned into a place of business and the worship of the living God was reduced to cheap tokens and a means of earning a living.