I barely looked at my computer screen this weekend. It was kind of nice. Anyway, that just gave me the chance to pop the top off one of my favorite articles that I wrote back when my readership was about 75% smaller. Whether it’s your first or second drink, I hope it doesn’t go down too smooth:
Dorothy Sayers wrote a smashing essay on the value in secular vocations and integrity in our labors titled, Why Work?. As I alluded in another Reading Reflection on this piece, the lack of honor in vocation is particularly bothersome in the so-called Christian industry. When is it actually helpful, or even truthful, to slap a “Christian” prefix on a business?
I think that it can be very helpful in the area of reading books. Christian publishing is meant to set itself apart from its secular counterpart by the content in its goods. By claiming to be a Christian publisher or bookseller, you are supposedly claiming that your books are in line with historic, orthodox Christian beliefs, right? Unfortunately, the last time I walked into a Christian bookstore, I was inundated with “Christian” jewelry, mugs, and candies. The bestsellers displayed all the ways I could get skinny for God and enjoy my best life now. Something has gone horribly wrong. I suppose, if I just want to feel like a better person for buying my book from a “Christian” retailer, I could peruse the back corner for their token Spurgeon book. But if I want to have an actual selection of good writing and application of the Christian faith, I have to take the cyber-route. And I have to use my own discernment.
Sayers emphasized the virtue of good work for its own sake over focusing merely on the profit that comes from it. To reiterate her point:
And shareholders in—let us say—brewing companies, would astonish the directorate by arising at shareholder’s meetings and demanding to know, not merely where the profits go or what dividends are to be paid, not even merely whether the workers’ wages are sufficient and the conditions of labor satisfactory, but loudly, and with a proper sense of personal responsibility: “What goes into the beer?”
Loudly, she says!
Nowadays the secular publishers are buying out the Christian ones. What is the creed one has to confess to be published? I believe it goes something like: “I’m already quite a celebrity, and there are a plethora of people eager to buy my books because I make them feel good.”
I’m not being completely fair. There are some fantastic people in the Christian publishing industry, and there are certainly great books being written. But the business as a whole has really gotten greasy. It seems the bigger the publisher, the lower the standards of orthodoxy.
Kind of like beer. Yet there appears to be a rise in the sophisticated beer drinker. Sure, there are plenty of Budweiser and Miller Lite guzzlers to keep the big boys of the brewing industry running. But now the microbrewer is getting more attention. Discerning tongues want flavor and quality in their brew. They want to have the satisfaction of knowing their Amber Ale came from a passionate bike ride through Europe, searching for just the right inspiration. They want to taste some hints of what’s actually in the beer.
The Christian bookstore may be showcasing books with the greatest cash value. But if you want flavor, it’s in good doctrine and good writing! I know I’m not the only one who is lamenting the absence of these. Here is an excerpt from one of Tim Challies’ articles:
Speaking personally, I have long since stopped shopping at the nearby Christian bookstore. They almost never have the books I want and even if they did, I would pay quite a bit for them and spend a lot of time driving there and back. And then there’s the fact that so much of what they carry is junk—not just trinkets and toys, but material that is opposed to sound doctrine. The last time I went to a Christian bookstore there was a section for Roman Catholics and a section for people who need their fix of Joyce Meyer and Benny Hinn. And I thought, “This is no more Christian than Amazon.” In fact, I think it is actually worse; under the banner of “Christian” things are being sold that claim to be Christian but are deceptively anti-Christian. That may have been the moment I realized that I felt no obligation to support that business.
Have you been in a liquor store lately (my Baptist friends need not answer 
)? The microbrewers are getting more shelf space. People want better beer, and the market is responding. There are those who appreciate good work.
And I want to thank the small Christian publishers out there who do care what their authors are teaching. Let’s try and support these micropublishers so that their shelf space will increase! Demand more flavor!
P&R is a nutty brown ale with good body, hoppy and a smooth aftertaste . . .
I hear their releasing a particularly tasty brew in July.
Yes, and I can’t wait to give it a try!
Although I’ve known this for a while I was recently reminded when I tried to purchase a book you reviewed (The Organized Heart) and was disappointed that I couldn’t get a “quick fix” from my 2 local Christian booksellers as they did not carry the title. So off to Amazon. But I was able to pick up some nice highlighters
D. Maganza, your impulse buy at the Christian bookstore would probably have been the Testa-mints. I’d go with the highlighters.
I really liked this post the first time around, and got even more out of it with a second tasting session. And that quote from Challies rings so true. Every time I go into a Berean store I want to take a sale person aside and ask if they know what’s on their shelves. After all, the name of the store is a testimony to sound doctrine, isn’t it?
We don’t have the Berean store, Tim, but we do have Christian Light, which should be rendered Christian Lite.
Very interesting. I brewed beer at home with a friend of mine for a couple of years and I see the trend you’re talking about. I roast coffee and also see a trend of the next wave after going from coffee in a can (Folgers), to Peet’s/Starbucks (burnt), to smaller roasters who similar to the microbreweries, try to get the terroir of the coffee into the cup.
I think there are some bigger ones who publish good material, like Crossway, even if their marketing often leaves something to be desired. Kregel is good and B&H is decent. But wee really have to hunt and read a lot of books and reviews and blogs like this one to make good choices.
I have always seen people slap ‘Christian’ on things and think it’s OK for it to be mediocre, but that’s probably a tangent. Music, especially in church services, movies etc. are tolerated and I don’t think mediocrity is a good thing. I know books have been written about it.
So, Reformed, martial arts, sparring with Carl Truman and now beer. Waiting to see what interesting thing comes next…
Jeff
I think I may try out biker bars in the near future, Jeff.
Funny. You’d fit in. And I mean that as a compliment somehow.
Jeff
Do not like beer period. Then the fact that I teach about one 12 hour class a month for DUI offenders makes me never ever want to learn to like beer. Most of those beer drinkers go for the buzz, not s sophisticated taste. But I just listen and ask questions about their brands that got them in deep trouble.
Now coffee and strawberry wine are a different matter entirely. I drive after coffee, but not after my favorite Plant City wine.
Yes, Christian publishing has vastly changed over my 68 years. Marketing drives so much of it and this includes what you see in the grocery stores. I self-published my spiritual memoir in 2009 through a wonderful local publisher, gave it away as gifts to family and friends, and also was able to make it an ebook for Nook on Barnes and Noble. My point was God needs to get the glory and not me and I do not need a PR agent. If my honesty touched someone (and it did), that was enough for me.
The other factor these days is people want to read only snippets–not a whole book. Some want one tweet or one Bible verse or ever one picture on Pinterest. I have a Pinterest Board on Scripture, “Think on These Things” and am so surprised by what Bible verse has gotten over 900 repins.
Carol, great point about people preferring to read snippets. I also find that people are drawn to the “top 5″ lists, which make Christian living sound so easy. This is probably why the skinny for God books are so popular.
“am so surprised by what Bible verse has gotten over 900 repins”
Do not judge? (This is not in response to you. I’m just making a guess.) I’ve read that one has eclipsed John 3:16, even among Christians. And most people take it out of context.
I like the fact that there are snippets and sample chapters out there so that I can evaluate a book I want to read, not as the main source of content. I don’t even like abridged books. I want the whole thing. Even the Bible is abridged now (The Voice).
Jeff
Sorry for the double reply but I think I got that wrong about The Voice being abridged. ‘The Story’ is what I was thinking of.
Jeff
Actually, Scripture Zealot, it was not “Judge not” but was a visual of Romans 16:20 on the bottom of a pair of shoes: “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.”
Two comments: First, Christian Bookstores often reflect their PC stand. For instance, not stocking The Shack or the TNIV.
Second, my dad worked for a Mission organization as Business Manager. Since he came from a secular business environment, he placed large purchases on bid. He caught much heat when he refused to award a contract to the local Christian business that had been supplying the group for many years—they were the high bidder! His reason was that he had a responsibility before God to spend funds wisely as any savings went into the prime purpose of the group—to get God’s word translated into the spoken language of thousands of people groups.
As someone who’s been responsible for reviewing and approving church budgets, I really appreciate your Dad’s sense of stewardship David. Good man.