Thanks for this post...I knew someone would mention the issue that you bring up here, and I think it's a difference of world outlook.

To me, this is internal living vs. external living. You say that you'd rather give your money to your church, but i'd actually rather give it to Borders...why?

The more Christians who keep their money "internal" (church bookstores, christian bookstores, christian websites, etc) the more self-serving and isolated our communities become. We slowly pull away from the world...segment ourselves. This is exactly the opposite of what Jesus asked us to do: Go out into the world.

Now, what happens when we spend our money at Borders? Pure market forces come into play. The more Christian books we buy at major retail chains, the more Christian books they will carry (they'll think "Wow, we're selling alot of these, let's carry more, increase our selection, etc). That means more and more Christian resources will be available "out there" in the world...

Also, don't forget about the huge affect this will have on publishers and authors...the more books sold, the more money Christian publishers and authors will make (and the more books will be written etc). Afterall, which contract is more profitable for Christian publishers and authors: One with your church or one with Borders??

By spending our dollar in the mainstream marketplace, we better support authors and publishers, we engage with our culture (rather than segmenting ourselves) and we increase visibility of Christian literature in a place that 99% of people buy their books: mainstream bookstores.

-Rob Feature
Geeks and God Co-Host
www.bobchristenson.com

You and your well thought out arguments. That's some good points and I agree Christians shouldn't isolate themselves from the world.

I tend to agree with you, but you haven't completely sold me. Money does talk and getting big chains to carry more Christian products.

So how many Christians go to Barnes and Nobles to buy a christian book? Say your church doesn't have a bookstore. Where do most Christians go to buy a christian book? The majority that I know would turn to one of the big Christian book store chains.

So while in principle I do agree, in practicality I don't see it panning out. But I do like the idea of spending more money at the big chains on Christian materials to get them to carry more and to show the need for those resources in the big chains.

Maybe I can help... I'm confused as to why its a choice. Here is the solution I'm familiar with:

Our church doesn't have room to have dedicated space for either a large store or library. We do however keep a small lending library collection of reference or long term historical works in a study/parlor area. We also lend out from the collection.

We also have a book sales table for current topics and works (where many folks may want to be reading the same thing simultaneously). We also offer special publications which you are unlikely to find or discover at a local store.

Once a year we have a book resale event, where members can donate books to the church and which are then resold at rummage like prices to cover the expense of the whole combined operation. What doesn't sell during first few days they give away by the book bag full during final hours of the sale. And of course we take appropriate donations for the library.

So we neither profit nor compete with the bookstores.

Not sure if this would all work for a larger congregation, but I would think it might and don't see why not.

Mark

Gotta say I agree with Rob Feature on this. Having in church book stores shows a symptom of a church culture that isn't out in the world.

Now, for those occasions when a church sells a book for no profit that's linked to some series going on in the church I think it's ok. It's not about money or segregation but about resourcing something going on in the church.

Personally, most of the people I know do go to Borders or Amazon to get their Christian books. I know some who go to Christian bookstores but are often unhappy with the selection. For example, Martin Luther (Love Him or Hate Him) has played a big part in the churches history and wrote a lot. Yet, the Christian Bookstore local to me carriers none of his works but does have works by Calvin. If I head down to Borders I can find some of Luthers and Calvins works and Amazon has everything I am looking for. Is that weak selection or is it just me?

And how is a Christian Bookstore different than having a bookstore in your church? They are segregated and often charge more than the competition.

Matt Farina
Geeks and God Co-Host
www.mattfarina.com

I, for one, buy ALL my Christian books at Borders. If they don't have it, I buy from Amazon. This includes all books, including Bibles, study guides, devotionals, books of theology, etc. I always buy there, and for the reasons I stated, I always encourage all my Christian friends to do the same.

Most folks assume that these major retail stores won't carry the books that they want. But, it's just not true. I actually find that they have MORE selection than Christian stores...MUCH more. In the last few years, more people must be starting to buy their stuff there, because the sections of Christian books in these stores has grown in a huge way...and I think it's a great thing to see.

-Rob Feature
Geeks and God Co-Host
www.bobchristenson.com

Amazon and the on-line sellers eliminate a lot of the reason for in-church book sales. But churches still have a lot of older members who love to read, but won't go on-line.

Ages ago I read/studied Luther a bit and before that I had to memorize a bunch. Regardless of your opinion, he's an important influence in Western civilization. These days I'm more eclectic and even Luther seems mainstream. So I'm occasionally grateful for my churches in house book offerings.

Mark

I've been stunned...my local Christian bookstore carries NONE of CS Lewis' apologetic works, either. Only the Narnia stuff.

How lame is that?

And, it's not a small store...it has every book ever written by Max Lucado or any pseudo-Christian biography written by D-List Celebrities (Kirk Cameron biography, anyone?)....yikes!

-Rob Feature
Geeks and God Co-Host
www.bobchristenson.com

I'm don't know what it's like where you live but where I live I can find a borders much easier than a Christian Bookstore. At the Christian Bookstore the place is small and crammed. Someone with a walker would have a hard time there. Borders on the other hand is handicapped accessible, roomy, and has loads of people who can help you find just what you are looking for.

I would rather send an elderly person to Borders... I think it would be easier on them and easier for them to find what they are looking for.

Matt Farina
Geeks and God Co-Host
www.mattfarina.com

As someone who doesn't like the fluff but thinks we should have real conversations I find Christian Bookstores disturbing. They seem to flow with loads of fluff books that suck people into Christian pop-culture and don't seem to provide much material for real reflection, learning, and conversation.

Granted this is in my experience which is limited to just Metro Detroit and a northern Chicago suburb.

Matt Farina
Geeks and God Co-Host
www.mattfarina.com

Let me point out a mistake in order to show my agreement. The biggest chains (Zondervan, Lifeway) don't use the word "bookstore" any more, presumably because the word "book" didn't focus group well. Now they're "Christian Stores". Frankly I think it would be better to say "Jesus Junk," and I'm not the first to say so.

Pop-Christianity is a phenomenon that Christians have absent-mindedly wandered into with the same lack of intentionality we show in many areas. It is a manifestation not so much of Christianity as it is of the marketplace, and reflects the generalized commoditization of the consumer we see in other market segments as well, where the customer is no longer a person to be respected and valued, but a revenue unit whose sole purpose it is to fork over cash whatever Happy Meal toys (ht to Cory Doctorow) we're pushing this week, generally part of a coordinated push to market a motion picture.

As far as the books are concerned, the Jesus Junk store is a mine field of second-rate scholarship and sloppy design. There's nothing that happens in the secular market that Christians won't do fifteen years late and more shoddy than the original.

Most of the stuff is very nice, but of little substance -- Christian cotton candy -- sweet for an instant before it dissolves. A steady diet of this will have the same effect as a steady diet of cotton candy would have on one's physical health -- there will be growth, but it will be fat, not muscle, and it will mask deteriorating strength and vitality.

As that great theologian and philosopher Pogo Possum once observed, "We has met the enemy, and he is us!" (I think he must have learned his grammar from the LOLCats).

The podcast rocks, guys. Keep up the good work.

Rob in Memphis

Mr. Rob Mitchell....I don't recall seeing you post in here before...but you are now my absolute favorite G&G listener! (sorry everyone else :) )

Your assessment is so spot-on that it hurts....I wish I could agree stronger with typed words. If the average American Christian read and understood your post, we'd live in a radically different country. (how's that...strong enough?)

Thanks for posting...I pray that you're rocking your local community with thoughts like these.

-Rob Feature
Geeks and God Co-Host
www.bobchristenson.com