[egarvue]

My kids and I liked the Veggie Tales...for a while. Then I noticed something that started to bug me, and now I can't stand them - these videos are hawked as a "Christian" video series, promoted in Christian bookstores and Christian churches. Yet in not one of their videos do they talk about Jesus or Christ or the Gospel; not a single story or video based on events in the New Testament. Not very Christ-ian at all. The movie was terrible. As Law-oriented morality tales, they're pretty good, but the company should've really stopped trying to market them as something they're not - heck, the Veggie tales could've been a Jewish or Muslim series, because all they ever got around to talking about was some vague references to moral "God", used in the generic sense. Don't get me wrong, I thought they were very funny, and a whole lot better than 99% of the crap on kids TV (Larry's Silly Songs were classic), but I'm not all that sad that they're going. Hopefully, someone will start making and marketing REAL Christian videos for kids that can break into popular culture, ones that have the guts enough to witness about Jesus.

[AppyPappy]

The creators did not want to portray Christ as a vegetable. So they stuck to the Old Testament.

[fishtank]

The "Toy That Saved Christmas" was Christ centered.

But overall, you have a point.

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

I would also like to suggest for the younger crowd...and they are totally adorable:

Cherub Wings

http://www.cherubwings.com/

[BoilermakerCAengineerguy]

Yet in not one of their videos do they talk about Jesus or Christ or the Gospel; not a single story or video based on events in the New Testament. Not very Christ-ian at all.

Just FYI -- at the end of each 30-minute VeggieTales videos, Bob and Larry consult "QWERTY", their computer, to give them a Bible verse that deals with the message of that particular show. I am 99.9% sure that a number of these scriptures are taken from the New Testament.

I saw that another Freeper had mentioned the fact that the Christmas video was Christ-centered. In fact, both Christmas videos, "The Toy that Saved Christmas" and "The Star of Christmas" discuss God sending a Savior, etc.

On another note, if any of you own the "Jonah" DVD, be sure to watch/listen to the Movie Commentary given by Mr. Lunt and Larry the Cucumber. It is very funny stuff! And, yes, in case you're wondering, I have a 2-year old. (But, truth be told, my wife and I started watching VeggieTales long before our daughter came along...) ;-)

[ER_in_OC,CA]

While your point that the shows "could" be more clearly Christian is true, some of your supporting claims are false.

You wrote:
(Begin quote)
Yet in not one of their videos do they talk about Jesus or Christ or the Gospel; not a single story or video based on events in the New Testament.
(end quote)

Both of these statements are plainly false.

Off the top of my head, here is one example from a Veggie Tales videos that uses the New Testament as a source: In one video, the parable of the Good Samaritan is the plot line for a story with Junior Asparagus traveling between two towns with clashing cultures.

Furthermore, other videos present a scripture verse from the New Testament.

In the Christmas Video, a full review of the true meaning of Christmas is given. The lesson is clearly stated as the birth of Christ our Redeemer.

Many of the Veggie Tales videos present morality plays that use stories without a direct scriptural source. All the Larry-Boy films, the Viking one, etc. But this doesn't mean that these morality plays are inappropriate or even non-Christian.

I just don't see how these videos being marketed as Christian is incorrect unless there is content in these videos that is contrary to general Christian teachings.

You seem to suggest that a story that doesn't explicitly share the gospel is not a Christian story. But living for God and Christ should be in every part of our lives, like yeast through bread dough. All creation is for God's glory and we can work, we can write, we can cook, we can excercise, etc. all for the glory of God and to give Him pleasure. (credit is due: I'm regurgitating some things I've just read in the Purpose Driven Life book by Rick Warren)

Given that your statements of fact were mistaken, your objections appear to be a matter of taste -- and there's nothing wrong with that. Heck, sitar music played for the Glory of God will still not be to my liking.

I'm certain there are plenty of videos on the market that you can choose that are more to your taste. Just because they're not anywhere close to the popularity of the Veggie Tales series doesn't mean they don't exist.

[ConservativeDude]

this post shocks me.

i admired them for the same reason. heck, why NOT concentrate on the old testament and have a broader audience? that is good business. but that is a minor point.

that point aside, i am deeply disturbed by the apparent theology behind this post. it sounds like you are saying that "if it is not New Testament" then it is not authoritative enough, or about Christ.

let's get this straight: Christianity teaches that the OT is about Christ, also. He is there, just not as obviously. It is completely appropriate for a Christian preacher to preach out of the OT....now, he should always make a bee line for the cross, of course, as Spurgeon always said. But that is in the context of a sermon. I don't think that something has to be a sermon to be from God. The OT is still God's Word and the obedience of Joshua, the courage of David and the sovereignty of God as shown to Jonah (all of these were VT stories) are completely legitimate topics.

Heck, by that reasoning, I can't read my kids the story of Noah, leaving it at that, without being "non-Christian". I think that is crazy.

I am disturbed by the notion that there is something defective about a presentation of the OT. The NT does NOT replace the OT, any more than Act V of Hamlet replaces Acts 1-4. The NT completes it, it doesn't replace it.

[HungarianGypsy]

In "Are You My Neighbor" they refer to the Good Samaritan. That's a story from the New Testament. I like Veggie Tales, because they aren't preachy and fun for any age. I usually buy for myself, rather than the kids.

[Zack Nguyen]

Yet in not one of their videos do they talk about Jesus or Christ or the Gospel; not a single story or video based on events in the New Testament.

There Christmas video is quite Gospel-oriented.

[Politicalmom]

Have you seen the Christmas special "The Little Troll Prince"?

An excellent older show. Available on video and shows on the Cartoon Network or the Family Channel at Christmastime.

Clearly lays out the plan of Salvation, and it is cute, too.

[AnAlternativeView]

Give me a break...these videos are targeted at very young children! While it's certainly necessary to share the Gospel (and NT) with children, I'd like to see the "most" creative person derive an interesting and engaging CHILDREN'S story from the book of Romans. By the way, you intimation that if it's NT then it's not Christian is disturbing...you can't say just part of the Bible is the final authority of God...like it or not...you have to take the whole Book!