Christian Best-Sellers: A New Phenomenon

The surge of Christian “Best-Sellers” is a relatively new thing. Don’t be naive. Christian books are big business and lots of Christian authors are getting very rich writing them. Some Christian authors are making millions of dollars from book sales.

“The Christian market is a $1.2 billion market, around 10% of the broader US publishing market. Christians buy more books and spend more money on books than the average reader.” Jeremy Bouma, author

But have you noticed that small Christian bookstores have almost completely disappeared? That’s because secular publishers have bought out many of the independent presses. There is a lot of money to be had within the Christian book market. And secular publishers want in on it.

Brett Venable, who runs Mustard Seed bookstore in Milford, Del., defends Christian bookstores, pointing to the price advantages of the big chains and how many stores have been forced to depend on selling gifts to stay in business. But he notes a deeper problem throughout the Christian bookselling industry. “I am nowhere near as concerned about the effect of fewer Christian books being sold in Christian bookstores as I am about the poor theology being taught in the bestselling Christian books … It appears to me that the worst thing to happen is not the closing of Christian stores as a result of unfair business practices by publishers, but rather the propagation of loose theology making Christians more ‘spiritual’ but less godly.”

Although there are many excellent Christian books out there, we need to be thoughtful when selecting the books we read. Just because it’s a Best-Seller doesn’t mean it is good or that it’s reliable or that it’s consistent with Scripture. The Bible warns us about this and we should take heed.

“For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 2 Timothy 4: 3-4 NIV (Emphasis mine)

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 NIV (Emphasis mine)

Christian, we need to know the Bible. We need to so know the truth of the Bible. We need to carefully evaluate every book we read, in light of its perfect and unchanging truths. A book is good only to the degree that it aligns with the perfect, infallible, inerrant, sufficient Word of God, the Bible.”

Tim Challies

Father, Give us discernment and lead us by your Holy Spirit. Give us a love for your precious Word so that we may know you better. Guide us into all truth. Thy Word is truth. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

With Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? Check out my page Who Is Jesus?

Sources:

https://www.thecreativepenn.com/2014/11/13/christian-publishing/

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