An article caught my eye on the MSN homepage yesterday and I wonder what others are thinking about this. It seems a company that manufactures dolls has offered to donate 4,000 talking Bible action figures including Jesus dolls to the Toy’s for Tots program. Toy’s for Tots collects and distributes toys as holiday gifts to children who would otherwise not have any. The Jesus dolls are battery powered and recite such verses, as “unless a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God” and “love you enemies”. The spokesperson for Toy’s for Tots said they would have to “regretfully decline” the offer fearing that the toys may wind up in Muslim or Jewish homes and cause offense. He went on to say, “ Kids want toys that are fun and religious toys are not.”

   At first I was wondering why anyone would make plastic Jesus dolls to begin with. To me the whole idea is kind of yucky and weird. After I thought about it I could see the educational value of religious action figures. In an educational setting children acting out the stories of Bible would be beneficial to learning the stories. As toys though, what boy would want an action figure that says, “love your enemy” instead of one that says, “Annihilate your enemy with your full laser proton action blaster”. Who can compare an action figure that slays Philistines with an ass’s jawbone to one that has a tank that really shoots? This brought back memories of my childhood and sitting in cars that had a glow in the dark plastic Jesus on the dash. I remember thinking how tacky that was. In spite of the tackiness did it somehow remind those people of their identity in Christ and help them through tough times? Am I being to judgmental when I say it’s weird and yucky?

   So anyway I am really interested to hear where everyone stands on this. Should Toy’s for Tots have accepted and distributed those dolls? Is it offensive to give Jesus dolls for Christmas? Should I get one of those plastic glows in the dark dash mounted Jesus figures to remind me of who I am and where I am going? The Coalition to save Christmas and Christianity has said “this is just more proof there is a war against Christianity and Christmas in this country” Is there?  Do we really need a coalition to save Christianity? What do you think?

By Luke

  I usually get together with my mom once a week when I have the time. I will take her to lunch and the grocery store to do her shopping. Ever since I gave my life to Christ she has witnessed a great deal of change in me. She is very curious about this new life I have been given and has a question or two about my faith every time she sees me. I am always ready to answer her questions and give her sound Biblical responses. Last week she asked me about the people in the world who have never heard the name Jesus and if they would be cast into hell for their ignorance. In most cases I would immediately quote from Psalms and how it talks about the heavens revealing the glory and righteousness of God or Romans chapter 1.  The problem with that is that my mom doesn’t think much of the Bible. You see she grew up in a Catholic family and spent 12 years in Catholic school during the 30’s and 40’s. To her the Bible is a dusty old book that nuns and priests used to condemn and manipulate her and her family with. There was something different about her expression when she asked though. This time she wasn’t challenging my faith but I could tell it was something she was honestly having a struggle with. To be honest I have often wondered and struggled with the thoughts of God condemning these people. I could sense a theological response wasn’t going to cut it this time. I had to be real and say I don’t know the answer to that one mom; I have struggled with the thought of this myself. When she heard my answer she looked relieved. I think she needed to know that someone who is following Christ is struggling with some of these things too.

     I wonder if too often we are more focused on proving our point and defending non-essential theology than loving people and seeing their struggles with our faith. Is it ok for a Christian to struggle with someone regarding theological issues and not always have the absolute truth and the only correct answer? Is it ok to be real?

 By Luke

A simple drive down Any Street USA will reveal there are an amazing amount of different churches out there. Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, Catholic and so on and that’s just to name a few within the Christian faith alone. The list is enormous. So with all these different churches how is it possible to know which is the right one? As a world that is desperately seeking answers, whom can we turn to?

 The vast array of churches we see are the result of interpretations of scripture and tradition and these interpretations lead to different beliefs on the who, what, when, where and why of the church and its function. This set of beliefs then becomes the doctrine or foundation that is unique to any particular denomination and is the reason why there are so many different churches. Unfortunately these doctrines often take a place of hyper- exaggerated importance within the church as a whole and cause division between an otherwise united group of believers. In most cases these beliefs fall into the category of “non-essential”. Meaning they have no bearing on salvation and the commandments Jesus told us we could hang everything else on. The result of placing to much emphasis on these non- essentials is a body of believers finding its identity in doctrine and not in Christ. Dare I say? To some extent raising doctrine up as idols .

 Jesus said things like;” A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

“By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35). 

 So no wonder people outside the faith looking in at all the divisions and strife are confused and sometimes label the church as hypocrites. Instead of bridges of love they see mostly fences of doctrinal protection.

 The Cross, in its purest form is relevant to every situation. The unencumbered Gospel transcends all cultural, economic and political boundaries. It’s when we add to it that it becomes burdensome and irrelevant.  As we enter into the 21^st century and try and realize Christ in our own lives and represent Him to the world around us, what non-essentials to the faith should we consider leaving behind? What are the doctrines or beliefs necessary to have a real workable Christianity?

 I know that the writer of Hebrews probably wasn’t addressing this but I cant help but think of this verse when I consider this question. After all when we place doctrine above love wouldn’t God see it as an encumbrance? What do you think?

 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2)