Saturday, February 05, 2005

Chrisitan books in the mainstream market


I read an article in Newsweek recently about how independent Christian booksellers were closing their doors as the larger chains started carrying more Christian titles -- presumably based on renewed interest in spiritual topics with 9/11, Passion of the Christ and the best-selling Purpose-Driven Life.

Still, I was a little surprised to see C.S. Lewis featured at his own table (right next to African-American History Month) at the local Barnes and Noble. The table had a healthy collection of his writings, and not just gift-packs of the Chronicles of Narnia. Right across the aisle, there was another entire table with Christian best-sellers.

It's good that the mainstream public is more interested in spiritual topics, though I wonder how long The Door in San Carlos will last?Posted by Hello

3 comments:

ivan said...

I've noticed this too -- that mainstream retailers are carrying Christian music, books, videos, etc. Not sure if this is good or bad. It seems there would be greater access to the Gospel message, but retailers are openly motivated by by pure profit. Christian distributors need to run a business, but many see their work as a form of ministry. Perhaps this is the concept that Paul wrote about -- we should rejoice so long as the message of Christ is preached and God is glorified.

ivan said...

Philippians 1:15-18 was the passage to which I was referring.

Rob and Jen said...

hi...it is very cool. C.S. Lewis is very popular at the bookstores. I flipped out the other day cuz Pastor Erwin's new book (our pastor from Mosaic) was on display on the FRONT table at Borders. Pretty cool. It's called the Barbarian way and I highly recommend it. Kind of a compilation of his last two books but more readable. Still challenging!