Sacred Selling

Cross-posted from Evangel . . .

I have been thinking a lot about the way we sell church-related goods and services.

I have been thinking about that and about Jesus overturning the tables of the money changers and sacrificial animal sellers in the temple.

The marketing inside the church has probably never been more feverish than it is today.  Hollywood hires savvy Christian marketers to try to gin up interest in certain films among our demographic.  We trademark little phrases for sale to Christians.  

I recently heard an acquaintance excitedly describe a system for integrating Prayer and Your Priorities.  I shall not share the catchy name for this system so as to avoid smearing the person working on it.  This results in a marketing platform for an inspirational book, a devotional, a daily planner for the system, calendars, sticky notes, etc.    I imagine it will prove attractive for some Christian publishing house.

My question, though, is whether this is a wholesome thing for the church.  As the author of a book, though not a super consumer-oriented one, I think about it all the time.  For example, if called upon to preach at a local church, should I take along a box of books to sell at the end of the service?  Should I even mention the book?  Should I ask whoever introduces me to mention the book?  Should we sell ANYTHING in the church?

The question is not as easy as it may appear.  For example, the market instincts of new publishers spread Martin Luther's work to a large audience.  Without the printing press, Luther probably would have died as just another dissenter.  Marketing and the honest profit motive are surely reasons why the Bible is as incredibly widely available as it is.

But the question remains.  How far do we go in making a profit from the gospel of Jesus Christ?  I don't have a good answer.  Love to hear from you in the comments.

Comments

[Emil]

I went to look for a copy of the New International Version in the simplified English---called the New International Reader's Version. At my local Christian Book Store I did find it, but it was in a girls' (pink) version or a boys' (blue) version. While looking I found a seafarers' Bible, an Airman's Bible, a green Bible ("green" as in Gore), men's versions, women's versions, Bibles for hunters, etc., etc. Is this what we are to be doing? I went home mildly depressed.

Your point about Luther's writings and the power of the printing press to spread Luther's concerns is very good. I think you should take your book when preaching. And, yes, it could be mentioned in the written blurb about who you are. But a table in the narthex? Hmmm.

[Hunter Baker]

Emil, the many flavored Bibles are definitely part of the problem. No question.

[David]

Flogging a book from the pulpit would be a bit much, but I don't think a table in the narthex is necessarily bad. After all, Christ threw out the sellers and money-changers for turning the Temple into a "den of thieves", not a "den of honest businessmen". Offering items for sale that could legitimately contribute to one's spiritual development is probably fine if it's done fairly and modestly.

[Fr Nathan Thompson]

Unfortunately, this mindset has moved beyond the Christian bookstore. Marketing is ultimately about trying to sell something and Christianity has become a commodity. Many churches today are based on marketing principles instead of Biblical principles. Unfortunately, we market Christianity to people who never become disciples and certainly never become apostles (the broad meaning of apostles, those who are sent out) but instead are just consumers. How many times have we heard of people leaving a church because they just weren't being fed. Christ did say that His yoke is light, but He also told us to take up our cross and follow Him. Is attending a service with 1,000 other young beautiful people, being entertained by some praise band that sounds vaguely like Coldplay or whoever the band of the week may be, and then listening to a sermon that never really calls us to a life of humble repentance really taking up our cross. I think unfortunately, that worship has followed the Christian bookstore model instead of "the faith once delivered to the apostles." I do believe that most people involved with these ministries have good intentions, love God and seek to serve Him. I just also know from experience with one of these churches years ago that close to 90% of the people attending had been there less than a year (they took a digital survey that displayed the results immediately.) When the goal is relevance, using marketing principles to grow the church, the actual Gospel that is foolishness to the Greeks and uncool to the hipsters can get lost.

[c matt]

Is attending a service with 1,000 other young beautiful people, being entertained by some praise band that sounds vaguely like Coldplay or whoever the band of the week may be, and then listening to a sermon that never really calls us to a life of humble repentance really taking up our cross.

Well, except for the sermon part (which sometimes can be good but is lost amongst the "Coldplay"), you just described LifeTeen. It is, in short, marketing the Mass to 12-17 year olds.

[Clifford Simon]

Criterion: You can sell a book in church if it's a _good_ book.

(Now, what that needs in order to be a serious criterion and not tongue-in-cheek fluff...)

[Clifford Simon]

In the descriptive not prescriptive mode, I just bought a complete volume of Isaac Watts from the bookstore at my new Baptist church. At this in-church bookstore, none of the books for sale were by the pastor. Further, the saleslady gave to every customer a printed note reading the following:

"We have chosen the books in ---- Church bookstore with a great deal of care. They were selected to equip you and your family with materials to challenge your thinking and enhance your walk with God. We may not completely endorse the author or contents of each resource; they have been chosen because of their overall message or impact. We encourage everyone to read with discernment and to compare everything to the Scriptures - the only Book we can trust to be without error."

[Hunter Baker]

Clifford, I like that. Sounds like a good church.

[Connie Gleave]

Has anyone read the book: "The Mulligan: A Parable of Second Chances" by Wally Armstrong and Ken Blanchard?

What did you think?