Apologetics to the Glory of God

Christian Kitsch

Many Christian bookstores stock — and sell — more kitsch than books. Although such work and those who buy it may certainly be sincere, Christians should try to grow in their tastes as well as in the other areas of their lives. The problem with religious kitsch is that its cuteness and self-gratifying nature can domesticate and thereby distort the Biblical faith. Christianity is not a sickly sweet religion, contrary to the saccharine plaques and greeting cards that clutter up the bookstores. The anemic figurines of Jesus Christ are poor testimonies to His deity and His Lordship. The self-congratulatory moralism and sentimental self-indulgence of many Christian books and wall hangings encourage complacency rather than true holiness. In evaluating religious art, we must keep in mind the solemn warnings of the Ten Commandments, not only the admonition against graven images, but also the admonition against taking the Lord’s name in vain.

– Gene Edward Veith

Veith, Gene Edward. State of the Arts: From Bezalel to Mapplethorpe (Turning Point Christian Worldview Series). USA: Crossway Books, 1991.


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