QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON "TRUTH GETS YOU CRUCIFIED" T-SHIRTS

QUESTION: Why would you wear that t-shirt in public?  Aren't you afraid that people are going to think you are a religious fanatic?

ANSWER: If you love someone, why would you be ashamed to let people know? If you discovered a life-changing truth for everybody, why would you not share it? As I believe that Jesus died for all, and that this belief should be shared, wearing this t-shirt is no different than wearing a t-shirt that says, "Smoking gives you cancer" or "Drunk-driving can kill you".

 

QUESTION: What does, "Truth gets you Crucified" mean?

ANSWER: It means that there will be consequences if you tell the truth about who Jesus is and what Jesus taught.

 

QUESTION:  What are the possible consequences of wearing this t-shirt?

ANSWER: There are three possible consequences:

1) People may get offended.

2) People may make fun of you.

3) People may hate you.

 

QUESTION: What truths did Jesus teach that got him crucified?

ANSWER: There are three truths that Jesus taught that got him crucified:

1) The truth about being the Messiah and the Son of God.

2) The truth that his disciples must love Him beyond anyone or anything.

3) The truth about the need to stand up to hypocrisy.

 

QUESTION: Where is it in the Bible did Jesus teach these truths found on the back of the t-shirts?

ANSWER: These truths are found in the following Bible verses:

1. "Are You the Messiah, the Son of God? Jesus said, "I AM." (Mark 14:61-62)

2. "Whoever loves father and mother, son for daughter, more than Me is not worthy of Me. Whoever does not take up the cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me." (Matthew 10:37-38)

3. "Woe to you, Teachers of the law and Religious leaders, you hypocrites! On the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness." (Matthew 23:27-28)

 

QUESTION: Is it appropriate to have young children wear a religious t-shirt that might have negative consequences?

ANSWER: It is never too early to teach young children to not be afraid to tell the truth about who Jesus is and what Jesus taught.  This is especially true when it comes to publicly showing their faith

in Jesus Christ.  Wearing a religious t-shirt is no different than wearing a crucifix or praying and making the sign of the cross in a public place like McDonald's.

God called prophets like Jeremiah at a very young age.  In the Bible, Jeremiah protests being called by God at a young age by saying to God, "I cannot speak for you, I am too young.  The Lord replied, ‘Do not say, “I am too young”, for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you.  Do not be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you says the Lord.’" (Jeremiah 1:6-8)

Also, in New Testament, St. Paul tells the young St. Timothy that, "you have been taught Holy Scriptures from childhood and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by faith in Christ Jesus." (2 Tim 3:15)

Jesus said, "If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first." (John 15:18) Jesus also said, "You are blessed when people persecute you because of me" (Matthew 5:11).

 

QUESTION: Does Jesus teach in the Bible that he expects his disciples to publicly show their faith in Him?

ANSWER: Yes.  Jesus said:

• "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses.” (Acts 1:8)
• "Go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel." (Mark 16:15)
• "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:19)
• "Whoever denies me before people, I will also deny before my father in heaven." (Mt 10:33)

 

TRUTH ON THE RED T-SHIRT

"ARE YOU THE MESSIAH, THE SON OF GOD?  JESUS SAID, "I AM."

(Mark 14:61-62)

 

QUESTION: What does this Bible Verse mean?

ANSWER: It means that 2, 000 years ago, the Jewish people were waiting for God to send them a King called the Messiah.  Rather than sending just a human king, God the Father sent God the Son, Jesus Christ.  

 

QUESTION: What does this have to do with "Truth gets you Crucified"?

ANSWER: The following people may get offended:

• Jews who do not believe that Jesus is the Messiah may be offended.
• Muslims who do not believe that Jesus is the Son of God may be offended.
• Many people who believe that Jesus is no different than other famous people (i.e., Gandhi, Mother Teresa, or Nelson Mandela) may be offended.

 

QUESTION: How should I respond if someone says that they disagree with the Bible Verse?

ANSWER: The best way to respond is to say, "Jesus died for everyone including Jews, Muslims, Hindus, and Atheists.  Jesus loves everyone so much that He died for them on the Cross."

 

TRUTH ON THE BLUE T-SHIRT

"WOE TO YOU,

TEACHERS OF THE LAW AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS, YOU HYPOCRITES!

ON THE OUTSIDE YOU APPEAR TO PEOPLE AS RIGHTEOUS

BUT ON THE INSIDE YOU ARE FULL OF HYPOCRISY AND WICKEDNESS." (Matthew 23:27-28)

 

QUESTION: What does this Bible Verse mean?

ANSWER: It means that Jesus was not afraid to speak out against hypocrites (people who say one thing, but do another). In Jesus’ time, many people who were "experts" at religion did not practice what they preached. Jesus was not afraid to show "tough love" to the leaders of his time.

 

QUESTION: What does this have to do with, "Truth gets you Crucified"?

ANSWER: The following people may get offended:

• Parents, teachers and priests who call themselves Catholic Christians, but who do not believe or practice what they teach may be offended. 
• People who believe that you can be a Catholic Christian, but still accept the world's teaching on issues like abortion, euthanasia, and gay marriage may be offended.
• People who "act" like a Catholic Christian, but who do not read their Bible, practice the Sacraments, or live Spirit-filled lives may be offended.

 

QUESTION: How should I respond if someone says that they are offended?

ANSWER: The best way to respond is to say, "The toughest condemnation by Jesus in the Bible is reserved for religious hypocrites. Read Matthew 23."

 

QUESTION: No one has the right to judge anybody. Didn’t Jesus say, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged” (Matthew 7:1)?

ANSWER: When Jesus told us not to judge, He was telling us not to judge hypocritically.   

 

QUESTION: What does the Bible say about judging others?

ANSWER: Jesus did not condemn judging others, but condemned hypocritical and self-righteous judgments of others. Jesus said, "For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? … You hypocrite! First take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." (Matthew 7:2-5)

In Matthew 7:2-5, Jesus warns against judging someone else for their sin when you yourself are sinning even worse. That is the kind of judging Jesus commanded us not to do. If a believer sees another believer sinning, it is their Christian duty to lovingly and respectfully confront the person with their sin (Matthew 18:15-17). This is not judging, but rather pointing out the truth in hope and with the ultimate goal of encouraging repentance in the other person (James 5:20) and restoration to true faith. We are to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). We are to proclaim what God's Word says about sin. St. Paul instructs us, "Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage, with great patience and careful instruction" (2 Timothy 4:2).

 

TRUTH ON THE WHITE T-SHIRT

"WHOEVER LOVES FATHER AND MOTHER, SON OR DAUGHTER,

MORE THAN ME IS NOT WORTHY OF ME.

WHOEVER DOES NOT TAKE UP THE CROSS AND FOLLOW ME

IS NOT WORTHY OF ME."

(Matthew 10:37-38)

 

QUESTION: What does this Bible Verse mean?

ANSWER: It means that while Jesus commands us to love our family, He also expects us to be more important in our lives than even our parents, siblings, children, boyfriends/girlfriends, spouse, or any other human being.

 

QUESTION: What does this have to do with, "Truth gets you Crucified"?

ANSWER: The following people may get offended:

• People who believe that family is the most important thing in one’s life may be offended.
• Family members, friends, or boyfriends/girlfriends who are not practicing Catholic Christians may be offended.
• People who believe that Jesus is only important on holidays like Christmas and Easter and milestones like Baptisms, First Communions, Confirmations, and Weddings may be offended.

 

QUESTION: How should I respond if someone says that they disagree with the Bible Verse?

ANSWER: The best way to respond is to say, "I love my family and my friends, but I love Jesus first."

 

QUESTION: What does Jesus mean by the term, "take up the cross"?

 

St. Joseph the Worker Parish

www.stjw.ca

 

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