This weekend, my review of The Illustrated Children’s Bible prompted a lot more discussion than I was anticipating!  I thought that this week, while I’m working on my behind the scenes blog transition, it might be beneficial to take some time on a “virtual field trip” to a Christian book store.

When I’m talking with new believers, or believers who just aren’t well grounded in their faith, few things make me more nervous than hearing them begin a sentence with the phrase, “I was looking around at the Christian book store…”

When people enter a Christian book store, their guards go down.  Unlike looking through books at a secular store, there is an inherent trust that these books are “good” books, “Biblical” books, books that will teach the truth.  Unfortunately, this is not always the case.

I went to our local Christian bookstore this weekend.  I love it there.  The lighting is soothing, soft praise music plays in the background, the store is attractive and inviting.  I am drawn to the seemingly endless selection of Bibles, Bible covers, piano music, Scripture-filled home decor, and even flannelgraph.  It feels homey.  I fit there.

And then… I turn to see a huge shelf labeled with “You Should Own These Books!”

What’s on the shelf?  Beth Moore’s So Long, Insecurity sits next to Dave Ramsey‘s The Total Money Makeover.  Not so bad.  But among other things, there also sits The Shack.  (I’ve made my opinions about this book quite clear!)  I’m sure that in a short amount of time Brian McLaren’s A New Kind of Christianity will be sitting there, as well – and if you’re thinking about reading it, I would highly recommend you read Mike Wittmer’s thorough reviews (which begin here) of this heretical explanation of a “new kind of Christianity” – which isn’t Christianity at all.

“So, what’s the problem,” you wonder?

Christian bookstores are a business, not a church.  They do not seek to make theological statements.  If it is a “Christian” book and it sells, they will usually sell it.

I would venture to say that we should walk into a Christian book store with as much, if not more, awareness that what all of these items are screaming out at us may not be true.

This week we’ll take one section of the “bookstore” at a time, and I’d like to share some concerns I have with you and what I look for in books and other “Christian” products.  Granted, this will be a very opinion-filled series.  You might not agree with me, and that’s ok.  I just want us to think about what we’re buying, reading, supporting.

There is only one Book that is truly TRUE in everything it says.  There is only one BOOK that can be trusted completely for an accurate depiction of our God.  EVERYTHING else must be judged in light of God’s only authorized biography.

The links above are amazon affiliate links.  I would receive a small percentage of any sales resulting from these links.  But please, don’t buy The Shack. ;)  Image from wikipedia.