I saw a few T-shirts at the European Christian festivals this year that will probably never make it to the Bible belt of America. Here are 5 of them:
1. Alles geht in Arsch. Jesus bleibt
A rough German translation, and you will have to excuse my awful almost non-existent German, is . . . "Everything goes through your bottom, or everything runs its course, but Jesus remains". Nice message. The abiding love of Jesus is so DIFFERENT than this mornings breakfast which is here today and gone the next time you visit the bathroom. Its a great message but don't expect to see it at your local Christian bookstore in Montgomery, Alabama.
2. Babylon Will Fall
Nothing 'Precious Moments" about this T-shirt and probably a little too urban for the Hallmark store in the shopping mall at Franklin, Tennessee, but, actually, not too far removed from some of the American hard-core Christian t-shirts that you might see at Cornerstone Festival in Illinois. Right after this photo, Priscilla received her judgment day in the form of another ear piercing, executed by my wife. But in the photo you can see the other side of her t-shirt.
I should also add that Debbie was being trained to pierce ears by Peter Friesen who was wearing another t-shirt you might like.
3. Shut Up and Pray!
Cool T-shirt, even though it plays off Aerosmith, but probably quite acceptable in the Bible Belt.
4. What Would Jesus NOT Say?
I saw this t-shirt on a few people at a festival in Germany and I have to admit it took me by surprise. I asked a local to give me an accurate translation of this t-shirt and he said . . "F____ YOU is something Jesus never said!" . That might hit you as a little strong, but remember that for most Germans, English is a second language, a language sometimes learned at school AND by watching Eddie Murphy movies, and some words that would never be used in an evangelistic presentation in the Bible Belt don't have the same connotations or offense that they might have in the English speaking world. And in this case, the message is clear - when hurting people came to Jesus, he did not turn them away.
5. Zombie
"I was a Zombie running with the dead, Eph 5:14." A liberal and very contextual translation of the verse, perhaps, but quite the t-shirt.
Hey, I’m in europe, I want those!
Brilliant!
the t shirt number 4 is actually not a christan t shirt. its a bandshirt from a german band called “schandmaul” (as you can see from the neckprint). as far as i know they dont have christian backround or message but alot of people in germany like them and they are kind of popular here. they make folk metal,thats the reason for the “folk you”. i like ur post and just wanted to tell u.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schandmaul
be blessed
dominik from germany
i mean the number 5, haha. sorry and the next one has to be number 6:)
I always reckon that if Martin Luther had a T-shirt, it would have said “peccator fortiter” (“sin boldly” on it in bright yellow letters on a black background stretched across his amply fed stomach!
dominik – thanks for clarifying that. but i will leave it in because it takes on a new meaning in this context.
Germans, they are just amazingly creative!
dominik – i took away the t-shirt you mentioned and used Peter’s “shut up and pray” as number 3. much thanks for that.
You’re welcome!
anyone got an online source for shirt #2?
My favorite was “Alles geht in Arsch. Jesus bleibt”. What an awesome christian t-shirt! Does anyone have a source for any of these t’s?
check out freakstore if you can find it at jesusfreaks.com or freakstock.com. dont have time to find thelink right now sorry.
Doesn’t matter what these people say on their shirts. Or their wall art. Doesn’t matter if they have 10 piercings and ony $10 dollars to their name. If when they are alone they are saying “COME-HOLY-SPIRIT!!!” I smile at them. (old fogie from indiana)
As one who lives in the bible belt (Indiana) I often get some interesting looks when I wear this one: http://www.brethrenpress.com/v/vspfiles/photos/1062-2.jpg
I’ve used the zombie metaphor in preaching Ephesians before! I think it fits wonderfully. “As for you, you were [the] dead…”
Once saw Billy Connolly wearing a T-shirt that said ‘I too have sinned…’ Always wanted to get me one of those…
to 1.: actually, the translation is only half correct. if you translate directly it means “everything goes into your bottom” meaning everything goes to shit or everything will break.
the second part is correct, it means “only jesus will remain”
its a design from the jesusfreaks, the shop is
http://www.freakstyle.de but i think they dont print it anymore.
and to 4.: you are right, germans use the term ‘f*** you’ very loosely. they would never use the german version, as it is also considered very strong language. funny, eh? 😉