This is a continuation of thoughts from a previous post ... if you've not read Part One go there now.
In Part One of this post we laid the foundation for concern concerning the selling of what we might fairly call "God's businesses" to Caesar and I stated my belief that this is not a little problem.
Holly Pivec, managing editor of Connections Magazine and the instigator of this topic, says
In Part One of this post we laid the foundation for concern concerning the selling of what we might fairly call "God's businesses" to Caesar and I stated my belief that this is not a little problem.
Holly Pivec, managing editor of Connections Magazine and the instigator of this topic, says
Bill Anderson, president and CEO of Christian Booksellers Association, believes corporations and their shareholders could start pressuring Christian companies to change their products to "keep pace with the times."
Isn’t this just a euphemism for out of touch? I understood the only "times" the Christian was to keep pace with was "now is the time"? I know what is meant here, but lordy this is awful! What in the world is keeping pace with the times supposed to mean to an authentic Christian?
Does that mean a pro-life, pro-marriage, anti-gambling, anti-porn believer is out of step and should change? After all, isn’t the pro-death, anti-marriage, pro-gambling, pro-porn lament “Christians are so out of step with the times”?
I'm supposed to believe that an anti-homosexual Christian author running counter to a director or a client at headquarters level will still be published? I'm supposed to believe it will be a level playing field when he competes for budget dollars with more "progressive" politically-correct Christian authors?
Pivec points to another BIOLA grad Jerry "Chip" MacGregor, associate publisher for Time Warner’s Christian book division, Warner Faith and says,
Does that mean a pro-life, pro-marriage, anti-gambling, anti-porn believer is out of step and should change? After all, isn’t the pro-death, anti-marriage, pro-gambling, pro-porn lament “Christians are so out of step with the times”?
I'm supposed to believe that an anti-homosexual Christian author running counter to a director or a client at headquarters level will still be published? I'm supposed to believe it will be a level playing field when he competes for budget dollars with more "progressive" politically-correct Christian authors?
Pivec points to another BIOLA grad Jerry "Chip" MacGregor, associate publisher for Time Warner’s Christian book division, Warner Faith and says,
Time Warner currently has two authors on the New York Times bestseller list, Joel Osteen and Joyce Meyers.
Notice MacGregor identifies the parent corporation as having the books on the NYT bestseller list, not Warner Faith. The same thing happens when you Google Warner Faith. You see that’s how it works in the corporate world, but if there's a bomb … well, Warner Faith would get credit for that.
Now I personally don’t have an axe to grind with either Osteen or Meyer … however, neither one is the best example to offer for substantive (theological depth and durability) Christian writing. Consider this from BIOLA ethics professor Scott Rae ...
Now I personally don’t have an axe to grind with either Osteen or Meyer … however, neither one is the best example to offer for substantive (theological depth and durability) Christian writing. Consider this from BIOLA ethics professor Scott Rae ...
When I go into my local Christian bookstore, I don’t see a lot of rigorous books that push people to think hard about issues.
Perhaps that’s because only books by the likes of Osteen and Meyer "sell." You see some of us are concerned about "the message"; and many strong conservative Christian voices consider neither of these as all that faithful to the Gospel message.
However, MacGregor is quoted as having said,
However, MacGregor is quoted as having said,
Both authors have received incredible acceptance by the general market without watering down their message.
Methinks they should drop “their message” and go back to His message, “repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand.” [Mark 1:15]
Thank goodness for Kevin Lewis and Scott Rae; Lewis, a theology professor, is concerned about the watering down of the message. He says regardless of whom is to fault for dumbing down of the church’s print options; it is clear to him that ...
Thank goodness for Kevin Lewis and Scott Rae; Lewis, a theology professor, is concerned about the watering down of the message. He says regardless of whom is to fault for dumbing down of the church’s print options; it is clear to him that ...
Christian publishers have a decreased commitment to evangelical Protestant orthodoxy.
For proof he points to the quality and type of works offered twenty years ago, many of "of great theological importance" …
today, he said, reputable publishers are releasing books like Benny Hinn’s Good Morning, Holy Spirit — which, he said, had heretical statements about the Trinity in the first edition. He’s also concerned about books promoting open theism.
Ironically, in the print edition BIOLA Connections printed a side bar on R. A. Torrey and his contribution to the faith. [See my Torrey post]
Gundry counters this argument with a couple of Zondervan bestselling authors who have published “works of theological depth” – Philip Yancey and Joni Eareckson Tada. Oh, Lord - he can’t be serious, can he? Although Yancey is an excellent writer one can't call him deep. And Joni is an icon who gets published because she is ... bless her!
When it came time to talk of the Christian music scene and the influence of the secular, one Christian artist says he wants none of it …
Gundry counters this argument with a couple of Zondervan bestselling authors who have published “works of theological depth” – Philip Yancey and Joni Eareckson Tada. Oh, Lord - he can’t be serious, can he? Although Yancey is an excellent writer one can't call him deep. And Joni is an icon who gets published because she is ... bless her!
When it came time to talk of the Christian music scene and the influence of the secular, one Christian artist says he wants none of it …
Steve Camp left a successful career in the Christian music industry in 1994 because the Christian labels were being sold to secular corporations. Before going independent, Camp released 16 records through top Christian labels like Word, Warner Alliance, and Sparrow.“There’s no question Christian lyrics have weakened." Camp said. He encourages anyone who doubts this to listen to the top 20 Christian albums. He said they’ll hear ‘man-centered’ lyrics that are sparse on biblical truth and the name of Christ.
This is the dilemma presented in Coffee Swirls' fine brace of posts on the First and Second Great Commands of Jesus. Basically what we’ve done is reverse the two commandments, making our horizontal ministry to the world more important than the first - our vertical surrender (whole and well-pleasing) to God.
When we love our neighbor with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, we cannot expect God to be pleased if we love Him as we love ourselves.
Pivec really caught my interest when she addressed Hollywood’s increased awareness of and interest in things religious. She wrote ...
When we love our neighbor with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, we cannot expect God to be pleased if we love Him as we love ourselves.
Pivec really caught my interest when she addressed Hollywood’s increased awareness of and interest in things religious. She wrote ...
If the trend continues, Jesus may soon get a star on the Walk of Fame.
Oh Lord, help me, I’ve fallen and I don’t want to get up!
The bottom line is this: Jesus warned us to be wary of the world, its ways, and its wares [Matthew 10:16; 1 John 2:15-16] ... for the life of me I can’t see how getting in bed with its retailing methodologies or adopting its business philosophies just to increase exposure, distribution, and margins makes us a brighter light on the hill or richer salt on an unbeliever’s pathway!
Biblically I'd say they aren’t ... what do you say?
The bottom line is this: Jesus warned us to be wary of the world, its ways, and its wares [Matthew 10:16; 1 John 2:15-16] ... for the life of me I can’t see how getting in bed with its retailing methodologies or adopting its business philosophies just to increase exposure, distribution, and margins makes us a brighter light on the hill or richer salt on an unbeliever’s pathway!
Biblically I'd say they aren’t ... what do you say?
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