Looking cool, feeling good about yourself, and saving the world!
Something about this “cause” makes me feel icky. I don’t know about rape in the Congo. I’m sure it’s as ghastly as advertised. But what about the company that’s exploiting the tragedy to sell you this really cool and trendy T-shirt? Sure, they’re sending seven bucks to help alleviate the problem in some way (as far as I know), but they’re still making a nice profit. And, in return, you get to look cool and feel good about yourself. Win-win! No, better yet… win-win-win, as Michael Scott would say—because think of all those poor rape victims in the Congo!
Look, if you need a T-shirt, go to Goodwill and buy one for 25 cents. And then you’ll have even more money to give to those in need.
July 14, 2011 at 9:18 pm
Wow, so even when a company tries to do something good people want to tear it down. If you would stop judging Sevenly and actually read their mission, know the hearts of the founders, learn that they are missional entrepreneurs making HUGE Kingdom impact in the name of Christ hopefully you would be less hesitant to bring a brother down. Shame on you for not doing your homework first. I hope this is a lesson learned. Especially for someone who represents the King of Kings. We forgive you. -Sevenly
July 14, 2011 at 9:53 pm
“Missional entrepreneurs”? I’ve never heard of that. I assume that somebody somewhere is making money off of this tragedy (notwithstanding their noble intentions), and the more T-shirts they sell the more money they make, right? Do you not concede that there is the ever-so-slight possibility of exploitation here?
Even if I bought the T-shirt, I couldn’t wear it out of fear of hypocrisy. Here I am doing this good deed on the one hand (sending $7 to help people), and I’m wearing this really cool T-shirt on the other. This seems like a cost-free way of doing good in the world. In my experience, loving with Christ-like love is costly—not that I do it very often or well.
I don’t like Toms Shoes, either… I don’t care how many free pairs of shoes they give to African nations, or whatever.
Thanks for the feedback. I agree my post is a little strongly worded. I’ll delete the “puke” sentence.
July 15, 2011 at 5:36 am
Leaving aside “missional entrepreneurs”, which is like an Onion headline waiting to be written, how do we square this as a “kingdom” initiative when Jesus is very clear that our good deeds (especially and explicitly our generosity) are not to be public?
July 15, 2011 at 8:40 am
Yep.