It's hard for me to believe that we've never speared Jack Chick here at Kinda Kitschy. Who is this enigmatic we I'm referring to? That's beside the point.
Some people have referred to Chick's tracts, or at least some of them, as offensive. I think that may be taking a slightly harder line than necessary, but they are definitely, how do you say, fundamental?
So I'm throwing up a classic doozy for your collective disdain today. The Ironic Catholic should find this one especially close to home.
I'll say it. Ouch!
As painful as it is for me to say it, I used to read Chick Tracts and use them for evangelism. Yep, when I used to be a fiery junior preacher, I threw this particular one at my dear, sweet, unsuspecting grandmother. If I remember right, she just read it, set it aside, and went to sleep. She's a smart woman.
I've settled down since then, but Mr. Chick is still printing tracts. I haven't seen any of the new ones, and honestly, I'm probably better off.
While I disagree with much of the theology and practices of Roman Catholicism at large, I've learned that Catholics differ in their belief as often or more than Protestants differ in theirs. However, Jack lumps all Catholics into one category, as I believe he does with Muslims, Jews, and most other people.
Let's all say it together: For it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith. Faith alone, in Christ alone.
'Nuff said.
So let's be a little more forgiving and a little less stereotypical of our brothers and sisters on the other side of the Reformational track. I'm sure they'll appreciate it. And here's my chance to poke a little fun.
Transubstantiation
For all his hubris, Jack Chick never dared call into question the sanctity of Humor-Blogs.com!
Some people have referred to Chick's tracts, or at least some of them, as offensive. I think that may be taking a slightly harder line than necessary, but they are definitely, how do you say, fundamental?
So I'm throwing up a classic doozy for your collective disdain today. The Ironic Catholic should find this one especially close to home.
I'll say it. Ouch!
As painful as it is for me to say it, I used to read Chick Tracts and use them for evangelism. Yep, when I used to be a fiery junior preacher, I threw this particular one at my dear, sweet, unsuspecting grandmother. If I remember right, she just read it, set it aside, and went to sleep. She's a smart woman.
I've settled down since then, but Mr. Chick is still printing tracts. I haven't seen any of the new ones, and honestly, I'm probably better off.
While I disagree with much of the theology and practices of Roman Catholicism at large, I've learned that Catholics differ in their belief as often or more than Protestants differ in theirs. However, Jack lumps all Catholics into one category, as I believe he does with Muslims, Jews, and most other people.
Let's all say it together: For it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith. Faith alone, in Christ alone.
'Nuff said.
So let's be a little more forgiving and a little less stereotypical of our brothers and sisters on the other side of the Reformational track. I'm sure they'll appreciate it. And here's my chance to poke a little fun.
TransubstantiationFor all his hubris, Jack Chick never dared call into question the sanctity of Humor-Blogs.com!
13 comments:
I remember someone having these tracts in college. Neat stuff.
Oooh, you're just waiting for me to weigh in. aren't you? (Or my head has gotten too big. Entirely possible.)
Having gotten into too many conversations about whether I was saved when I was a young one in Virginia and Tennessee, and too many conversations along the lines of "why do you allow yourself to be persecuted by your woman-hating church?" from my supposedly enlightened non-denominational Christian grad school, I'm not a fan of Chick tracts. They divide us when Christ unites us. He also seemed to miss the love your neighbor lesson, IMHO.
Ecumenical moment: it's *all* about the grace of Christ! Woo hoo! Agreement! Alleluia!
The poster sort of made me smile, although I have friends who would cringe and be offended. My take on it would be: Transsubstantiation: because we need more tongue-twister terms in the theology since Latin got the boot.
Oh yeah, I should say another that bugs me about Chick tracts is that they are often flat out wrong. (Say, I bet that tract says Catholics worship Mary as a goddess, which would be high heresy in the Catholic Church.)
Disagreement, fine. Style of evangelization, up for debate. But let's get the beliefs right.
I myself don't believe in transubstantiation, and I've always thought it was a misunderstanding of Scripture, though I do understand where the misunderstanding could come from. Er...confusing, I know.
Anyway, Mr. Chick forgets that Acts 16:31 simply says "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved." He has somehow got the notion that someone has to be convinced their beliefs are wrong before they can accept Christ. I always thought that was the Holy Spirit's job.
Ha! This is the very tract that made me Catholic! Seriously. I read this piece of trash when I was eleven, but being a good "evangelical" I had read the Bible enough to see exactly why the things Mr Chick ridicules are believed by the Catholic Church--also, I was able to see past his ridiculous ideas of what the Church believes. And so it was that the initial part of my conversion had come about, though, because of my parents, it was sometime before I followed through.
Thank God for praying Catholic grandmothers.
Maybe there should be a tract out there entitled: Are Non-Catholics Christians?*
*NO!
James, just for the record:
I'm not Catholic.
Gregory, I'm sorry. I have a lot of animosity for Chick Tracts, God help me. Great blog though.
No harm, no foul. Thanks for the compliment.
your probably the only non-Catholic who can get away with that 'motivational poster'... you know us catholic and our delicate sensibilities. ;-P
It's funny. When I first started blogging the first people to comment on my blog and to introduce themselves to me were Catholics. I'm really not sure why.
Gregory, arguably it's because we concerned the market on religious kitsch.
I encourage you to look up the blog "Dirty Catholic" (not too worry, not too dirty) to find the motherload of all Catholic kitsch on the right sidebar....
Either that, or your special sense of humor (that's a compliment) appeals in a special way to Catholics. Not sure where to go with that one...!
I've actually seen the Dirty Catholic. He linked to me recently. I just haven't gotten around to linking back yet. =C
I think we are separated at birth. I was the same way with the Chick tracts in my early twenties . . . it took going to a Reformed Christian college before I could come back from my utter distrust of all things Roman Catholic (I grew up in and "came out of" the RC church . . . )
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