Is it okay to make Jesus doll?

[dulcismo]

Hello, I am thinking of making Jesus doll which is soft and huggable for children and normal christian adults and selling them on etsy.com. I am thinking of making a doll that has sewn passage on the back of
John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the
way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

with a tag of 'I love Jesus'

I'm unsure if this is ethical because I think I did read in bible not to idolise a material. Please tell me if this is okay to produce.

 

[drich0150]

Profiting from an any image of God is at best a boarder line activity. Even if you go into it with good intentions the money aspect of it, can quickly change any good intentions.

 

[Jay217]

This is my View of idolizing objects. Are you worshiping the doll, are you praising it for it's power to be as great as god? If you don't truly hold it in such high esteem than your not truly idolizing objects.

When we worship the Cross we are too thank God for having Jesus being sacrificed for our sins not the cross as being holy by itself. Same the Bible is to be worshiped for having God has given the book his love-his word. its not a source of end-all solutions, its a symbol of his love and if truly wish to worship him you don't use a cross nor a bible but your love in your personal way.

Are you mass-producing these for sale or just a local church thing? You could possibly set it up and help promote your church and therefore take much of the risk of the Temptation of Greed away

 

[dulcismo]

Hello thank you for your reply,

I don't have hugely produced line of product of Jesus doll to sell, I was just thinking of making myself one and perhaps sell it online one by one on Etsy.com, Just because I thought it would be nice to hug Jesus:-D I thought this would help children to have intimacy with Jesus as they grow older but I guess it can bring a lot of problems as well, I did see Jesus Plastic doll that has recorded bible messages but just thought that it would be nice to have softer Jesus which would be huggable and loving. I wasn't sure though if this is what God would want:-S but thank you for your advices anyways.

 

[drich0150]

Hello thank you for your reply,

I don't have hugely produced line of product of Jesus doll to sell, I was just thinking of making myself one and perhaps sell it online one by one on Etsy.com, Just because I thought it would be nice to hug Jesus:-D I thought this would help children to have intimacy with Jesus as they grow older but I guess it can bring a lot of problems as well, I did see Jesus Plastic doll that has recorded bible messages but just thought that it would be nice to have softer Jesus which would be huggable and loving. I wasn't sure though if this is what God would want:-S but thank you for your advices anyways.

This reply is a good example of what I mean.

In other words your advertised motivation is "for the Children" to have intimacy with Jesus. If this was your sole motivation, would you do this at cost? or would their be profit involved? If your desire to do this drops off, as your potential for profits drop off, then you should reexamine why or what it is you wish to accomplish.

Would you/ Do you see this as a ministry or as an opportunity to make money? If it is a true ministry then you hear the call of God for you to work in these fields regardless of personal gain. That said a worker is allowed to earn his/her own wage.

At the same time, if you see a way to profit from God and are able to "check off" some spiritually beneficial aspects to others (in this case children) while you happen to be making money then your actions can be compared to those selling temple sacrifices during the time of Jesus. (They too hide behind noble intentions)

It's not what you do that is important. It is why your doing it. Even if you can fool yourself into a noble deed, do not think God to be so foolish. If this is your calling don't let your personal ministry be hindered by free advise.

 

[Jay217]

If you truly Think it is right and a good way to let children go with God and you Feel that he is letting you keep this idea then I can't really nor can any truly bar you from doing this.

You don't seem that you want to make massive profits and just truly want to help out so for that i wish you good luck for it doesn't really seem like a bad a idea!

 

[dulcismo]

Hello,

Drich0150, I don't have a certain line of income at the moment and am currently looking for employment opportunity, so I don't know how I would keep on myself making free Jesus dolls, and I don't see much problem selling one to make another.

I think you're also questioning all the pastors and preachers out there "If this was your sole motivation, would you do this at cost? or would their be profit involved?" I feel that any disciple who is willing to be out there and send God's message can ask for donation for their sermons and that is completely fine to do so. I feel that same applies to my situation also.

 

[drich0150]

Hello,

Drich0150, I don't have a certain line of income at the moment and am currently looking for employment opportunity, so I don't know how I would keep on myself making free Jesus dolls, and I don't see much problem selling one to make another.

I think you're also questioning all the pastors and preachers out there "If this was your sole motivation, would you do this at cost? or would their be profit involved?" I feel that any disciple who is willing to be out there and send God's message can ask for donation for their sermons and that is completely fine to do so. I feel that same applies to my situation also.

I know you came here looking for a yes or no answer to your question. You need to understand that My answer to you was neither. (Although it was heavy with warning) My response begged you to look at your motivations. Over the need to seek permission from your peers, in your service to God. your actual personal motivations are absolutely no concern to me. That is why when i wrote to you, i gave you advise no matter what your motivations were.

 

[obamazmama]

That is sooo cute! Yes! I think you should make a Jesus doll! Kids would bring them to church and you can even make Moses, Elijah, or the whole Bible character dolls!

I don't anyone would worship them and make them an idol because they are obviously just toys.

God bless you!

 

[followerofthename]

Hello dulcismo,

Hello, I am thinking of making Jesus doll which is soft and huggable for children and normal christian adults and selling them on etsy.com. I am thinking of making a doll that has sewn passage on the back of
John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the
way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

with a tag of 'I love Jesus'

I'm unsure if this is ethical because I think I did read in bible not to idolise a material. Please tell me if this is okay to produce.

I understand the desire to give children "a God they can hug"---indeed, that's really the heart of the Incarnation: God enfleshed Himself so we could relate to Him as we relate to our fellow man. He experienced all we did, up to and including death, and indeed in the World to Come, we shall see Him in His fully glorified body--eternally the God-man.

Yet I also see the reluctance to approach Violating the second commandment, which is very serious. Christians generally have made images of Jesus, but have been careful to distingish between worshipping God as He true is, and not confusing the image with the reality behind it. However, I must admit that I've never been fully convinced by argument that "images are fine because of the incarnation."

Bottom line, neither I or anyone else can give you permission if it is against God's will, and no one can prohibit you if this is what God wants you to do. The Scripture is clear about not making images and worshipping them. It is also clear that making of images itself is not wrong (consider the images of the Cerubim in the Tabernacle and Temple.). I don't think it's clear about making images of God incarnate as permissible.

All this said, my daughter frequently plays with her babies and sometimes calls one "baby Jesus"--and her brother will be Joseph. Is this wrong? I really don't believe so...and I think in the mind of a child, a huggable Jesus would not be idolatry.

But you must be convinced in your own mind, after prayer and Scripture study.

 

[Deathfire]

Motivation? Really, you honestly think she is going to do that for the money? *sigh* there are some very confused people out there.

 

[heron]

Anything can lead to good or bad, and be misunderstood by the public.

I was on a tour of an Orthodox church, and the guide addressed a similar question with icons. She reassured us that they were not meant to be idols, but to give people the visual sensation that they were part of the assembly of believers.

That might sound like weak reasoning, but think about how we respond to a picture of a smilie face. We see a smile, and we smile back. We cause our body to have the chemical/neural response that we would have if a human showed us favor and acceptance.

I used to know people who put clown pictures up in the house, because it cheered them up. Or cute kittens. I had my own opinions of that, but it seemed to work for them. Many others keep family photos up. There are emotional and physiological responses that happen when we see the illusion of something positive, or see a symbol that represents a concept.

A cross around our necks... a statue in our gardens... the cross behind the altar... the Star of David on holiday cards... these icons affirm our beliefs, and communicate precepts.

So, while I think the Jesus doll will get you a lot of public flack (bad publicity is still publicity), and you carry responsibility before God of how you convey Him to the world, I do think that it would have some positive effects on kids. As long as they don't start thinking they can control Jesus and put him in the microwave.

 

[CraftsForKids]

If you want to make it for yourself or to gift somebody, why not?
But, if you do that for trade, I am not sure.

 

[lemon-aid stand]

Hello, I am thinking of making Jesus doll which is soft and huggable for children and normal christian adults and selling them on etsy.com. I am thinking of making a doll that has sewn passage on the back of
John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the
way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

with a tag of 'I love Jesus'

I'm unsure if this is ethical because I think I did read in bible not to idolise a material. Please tell me if this is okay to produce.

friend the true Christ is the way the truth and the life.. not this idol that you are planning to profit from.. are you for real.. you have brought the term, "you cannot serve God and money" to a whole new level.. in that i am saying" level of selfish gain, and wicked moral standard".. so, tell me. was my answer to your question clear enough.. because inside i am screaming it.. just so that you know.. God will not be mocked.. His command is that we don't make an image out of anything.. this includes the Christ..

 

[lemon-aid stand]

Hello thank you for your reply,

I don't have hugely produced line of product of Jesus doll to sell, I was just thinking of making myself one and perhaps sell it online one by one on Etsy.com, Just because I thought it would be nice to hug Jesus:-D I thought this would help children to have intimacy with Jesus as they grow older but I guess it can bring a lot of problems as well, I did see Jesus Plastic doll that has recorded bible messages but just thought that it would be nice to have softer Jesus which would be huggable and loving. I wasn't sure though if this is what God would want:-S but thank you for your advices anyways.

do you really think that God needs you to add to His gospel, of salvation, in any way, shape, or form? we are to worship God directly through Jesus.. is not the mystery of mans salvation difficult enough to comprehend, without adding a material doll into the mix.. how do you think such idols as the buddha came into play.. be careful.. the reason this makes me so upset, is the fact that something this seemingly harmless. could lead alot of people to hell.. be careful not to cause others to stumble.. i also think that your motives are corrupt.. you are willing to try and gain, even though the idea doesn't even sit well within yourself.. this should be the first sign to abort.. your already trying to spread your cancer by inviting other christians to partake in this abomination, by asking there blessing.... i usually give an easy to swallow answer.. but this is utter wickedness,, wickedness that you are trying to profit off the Christ.. wickedness that you are manufacturing an idol.. and wickedness that you are actually introducing a completely new gospel.. that's right.. you stated that it would say on the doll that it is the way the truth and the life.. ps> judas sold Him out for 30 pcs of silver.. your price is whatever anyone will pay off the net.... what does it profit a man to gain the entire world. but, lose his soul.. maybe one day you will be able to tell us all the answer to that question..

my answers are meant to be memorable, because i don't ever wanna just sugar coat something this serious.. in hopes that everything will be fine.. when i clearly know that this is the sort of evil that leads everyone involved to eternal death.... please take your faith serious.. do you see the irony here.. God in His loving mercy came in the form of a man that He created.. this was to bridge man with God thru Jesus.. now you come along and say that you are going to make an image of the man and children can use this as a bridge to God,, you have reduced the God/man Jesus. to the God/doll Jesus.. what more can explain this corruption.. if you think to yourself. how did he come up with this. you have already reduced God to a doll.. thats right God reduced to something that man has made.. this perpetuates.. just turn away from it and make something else.. like maybe a nice quilt..