This is slick, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, eCheck, and Paypal.
The prices are pretty slick too. Not just pj’s, activity books (with pink and blue beds) and dolls, but a blanket too?
Talk about magical thinking. Inspired by $$$.
Published 2 years ago
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Slick? Sick would be more like it.
Sick? Any more sick than jammies fashioned after a stylized marine or any of a plethora of me-is-power action heroes? Kids just like the feel of things that are powerful, they like to try on power for size and get that rush we all feel when we know we are the control here. So if Jesus is your cultural power, how is Soldier of Faith (and all the other swag) any different from the kids being decked out in other fantasies be they Metallica or The Thing?
Sorry, but I can see the benefit of this. Paul DOES mention “put on the armour of God…” It isn’t OUR power but the power of God that weare putting on. My mom would pray the aromour of God on me before I went to school everyday. As a young believer I faced persecution but I don’t know how difficult it would have been if I didn’t have the armour of God or at least recognize the armour of God. I know it seems strange so i can understand the rejection. However, if you think about it on a deeper level thearmour of God is important especially for kids to understand and I feel the pj’s are pretty cool in relaying that understanding. (as long as proper teaching goes along with it, obviously)
“We wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers and rulers of this dark and present evil age.”
Who knew Paul was talking about silver pajamas!?
“Any more sick than jammies fashioned after a stylized marine or any of a plethora of me-is-power action heroes?”
Right. Corporations target kids, so rather than teach children marketing techniques that groom them as consumers, just go right ahead and market Jesus Junk to them.
Interesting reasoning.
I shudder when I see things like this and also shudder when I see passages used like this.
What is one of the main themes of Ephesians? “Being ‘in Christ’” -Seated in the heavenlies, blessed beyond measure, rooted and grounded in love, having God do far more than all we could ask or imagine, and we reduce it to silver PJs. How petty.
Wait, there’s more. Have a look at the armour of God. (Check out the OT references to this.) Each of these weapons is actually a characteristic of Christ or is found in him, eg salvation. When the writer says to put on the armour of God, he is speaking to the Ephesians. (plural as are most instances of “you” in the epistles.) He is telling them to be in Christ. This letter comes full circle. Paul starts by telling them they are in Christ and continues in a circle, saying the same thing over and over in different ways. It is in Christ that protection is found. When we are in Christ, we have all these things and much more besides, all found in him.
I have heard people say that they knew they would have a bad day because they forgot to put on a particular piece of armour. What?? This and “putting on the armour every day” is tantamount to superstition. What does the pjyama wearer think? Is he protected only when the pyjamas are worn? Is he protected by the big cross on the front? Children are often very literally minded and think quite differently to what adults often assume. I know I make this mistake with my own grandchildren.
Sorry, one of my hobby horses, and Ephesians is one of my favourite books and something I have spoken on at conferences and preached at church.
Jan, I see your point but I have found that the times that I’m under attack when I analyze where or thearea I’m being attacked in I’m able to make the coorelation to what piece of armour wasn’t dealt with. It isn’t superstition but the areas that as Believers we are able to fight the enemy by the power of God. “We wrestle not against flesh and blood but against..” I mentioned it earlier. I agree Jan that it pertains to Salvation but I also believe it pertains to Sanctification as well and the praxis once we have accepted Christ as our Savior for Salvation.
dh, if you put on the armour all the time, when do you take it off?
DH wrote: “Jan, I see your point but I have found that the times that I’m under attack when I analyze where or thearea I’m being attacked in I’m able to make the coorelation to what piece of armour wasn’t dealt with.”
I used to find when doing assignments and still find when preparing talks, sermons etc. that everything spoke to me of the topic. What I saw, heard, read, even dreamt about all could be fitted in. I suggest you see this because you are actually looking, even unconsciously, for the connection.
Pertains to Salvation? My mention of salvation was only one small point about the armour being characteristics or things we find in Christ. I am not discounting Christ as Saviour so don’t jump on me about that. I still maintain that what we have in Ephesians is far bigger than “salvation” in the sense of accepting Christ as saviour, being saved from hell etc. That’s individualism at its best, or perhaps worst. Ephesians addresses the church as do most of the epistles in the NT and we translate it and downgrade to an individual.
Ephesian’s themes of being seated with Christ, being in Christ, of Christ as overall open up the relatively minor theme of salvation to something much greater and grander.
I wasn’t “jumping you” about anything. I too agree that Ephesians is bigger than just Salvation but it also doesn’t downgrade its importance. Paul is speaking to the church as individuals AND as a group. God calls usasa Body AND as individuals to live for Him. “Except A MAN be Born Again he cannot see the Kingdom of God,” Allthatwasbeside thepoint. What I was addressing was Sanctification which is beyond Salvation. I believe that the armour of God helps us in that as the church body AND as individuals. We seem to forget that we are a body but we are also made up of individuals within that Body. It isn’t translating to the individual because to forget that abody is made up of individuals AND those individuals makeup the body you miss the importance of how the Body should operate as a group AND as individuals. Paul true is writing letters to the church but it is not out of context to believe he is addressing individuals sincea “..body is made of many members…”. I’m not downgrading I’m understanding the “bigger picture”. That God wants the Body to live for Him, the individual members live for Him and as many people as would come to become members in the first place with Body of Christ. Salvation and Sanctification equally. I agree with you Jan both are equally important as a Body AND as individual members within that Body. “The eye can’t let down the hand and thus let down the Body.” (quote from DH)