But I think what Vischer is saying is that ultimately, VeggieTales can introduce kids to Jesus. It won’t necessarily happen on Saturday morning on NBC, but when kids get into the Veggies and buy the DVDs, the message will still be there, plain as day. Phil had to compromise for the sake of Hollywood’s cultural values, but his ultimate product, and his ultimate message, stay intact.

It’s more indirect than he and we would hope, but it’s still there and bringing kids, at the very least, good moral values. Seen Disney channel or ABC Family lately? Even these kiddie channels play bad attitudes for laughs, and the line is rather blurred. Injecting a higher morality, in and of itself, even though it doesn’t mention the source of it, is far more uplifting than the current fare. And folks can, and I believe will, pick up the original product who might not have been exposed to it otherwise.

We’re told to bless our neighbors and love them, even if they don’t want to hear a gospel message. I think that Phil’s compromise is in this vein. It’s a bit disappointing that it had to happen, but I don’t think it’s a compromise on core beliefs.