Almost every day when I take my daughter to school the song “Cartoons” by Chris Rice is playing on KLOVE. This is a fun song and Sarah really likes it. For the longest time, we never knew who sang it. Finally, today I did a Google search to find out who sang the song. My search came up with Chris Rice and a link to his website. On his website, he published an article entitled “Eulogy For A Song About Cartoons”, about why he has decided to stop performing this song live. I have to admit, when I read the article, I was left saying “HUH?”.
It seems as if this song has been kind of controversial! A lot of people LOVE it. It has been (and probably still is) one of the most requested songs on Christian radio. Others rebuff his “cartoon praise” theology. He says in his article that it was written as a satire and that nobody got it. Everyone took it as legit!
I like the song. It is a fun song to sing. The point of the song is correct. It isn’t for cartoons to praise God, that is what we were made to do! I also take issue with those who say it is bad theology! If we were created to praise God, then anything we do should be to praise God! If you are a cartoon artist, then drawing a cartoon praising God could be your way of praising God. In the Bible, Paul reminds us in Colossians 3:23 that in EVERYTHING we do, we should do it as we are doing it for the Lord! That says to me that everything we do has a spiritual context.
Are you a part-time Christian or a full-time Christian? Think about it before you answer.
While you think, I’ll just sing “Yabba-dabba-do-lu-yah!”
Believe it or not I head the song for the first time today. My first reaction was Wow, what a great way to do an outreach. Anything that can catch the ear of non-believers or their children can give GOD praise, I just can’t get upset about.
It is a bit non-sensical, but hey, isn’t that what makes it stick with you. If cartoons and tv can be used to promote worldlyness why not praise! And I agree who’s to say the cartoon artists aren’t using their “gift” from God to glorify Him.
I plan to introduce my Grandson to this song! Praise God! “Yabba-dabba-do-lu-yah!”
Thank you for your comment Tamara! I still really like the song and hope he will continue to play it. Being a Christian is supposed to be fun right? I can’t think of anything more fun than cartoons praising God!