This is a true story. I went to 3 (yes, 3) Christian bookstores last week, looking for a copy of the Westminster Catechism (or, hopefully "The Complete Idiot's Guide to..." since I have a tendency to feel a leeetle out of my league when we get deep into the doctrine...)
However, not 1 "Christian" bookstore had a copy. I was flabbergasted. They don't have any true doctrinal books at all, or hardly any. One of the 3 had a book on Systematic Theology, but I didn't reconize the author's name, and one of the "oh what a great book" quotes on the back was from somebody that I considered theologically unsound...I wish I could remember who. I actually asked the guy at the one store WHY there were no such books at his store. He said that basically: a. the store had to be ecumenical, and the Lutherans have their own store, and the Baptists have their own store, etc. (By which I presume he means e-store, since the only denominational Christian bookstores that I have found in my area are Catholic.) and b. there really wasn't much demand for the more doctrinal stuff.
I browsed each bookstore. They each had entire sections of nothing but "Christian" fiction (and I don't mean Pilgrim's Progress) and lots of books by Joyce Meyer. I saw books with titles like "If men are like buses, why can't I catch one?" (And no, I am NOT making that up! )
I realize that this has basically become a rant, but I do have an actual question. Well, 2. First the not-so-nice one: what in the world happened to Christian bookstores? One of the 3 I was in is a chain that has been in the metro area for years, and I don't remember it always being this bad. Is everyone just going for the cotton candy - fluffy, sweet and melts in your mouth? Or as the little old lady in the Wendy's commercials used to say, "Where's the beef?"
Now for the actual question - although I am sure I could order the WCF from amazon.com (since you can order anything there, it seems) is there a Christian e-store that would have wheat and not just chaff?
OK, I feel better now. It's just that when something like this happens, I look around. If no one else seems to be upset, I begin to wonder if it's just me...
BUT I'M PRETTY SURE THE EMPORER IS...ahem.
Mary
:yes:
However, not 1 "Christian" bookstore had a copy. I was flabbergasted. They don't have any true doctrinal books at all, or hardly any. One of the 3 had a book on Systematic Theology, but I didn't reconize the author's name, and one of the "oh what a great book" quotes on the back was from somebody that I considered theologically unsound...I wish I could remember who. I actually asked the guy at the one store WHY there were no such books at his store. He said that basically: a. the store had to be ecumenical, and the Lutherans have their own store, and the Baptists have their own store, etc. (By which I presume he means e-store, since the only denominational Christian bookstores that I have found in my area are Catholic.) and b. there really wasn't much demand for the more doctrinal stuff.
I browsed each bookstore. They each had entire sections of nothing but "Christian" fiction (and I don't mean Pilgrim's Progress) and lots of books by Joyce Meyer. I saw books with titles like "If men are like buses, why can't I catch one?" (And no, I am NOT making that up! )
I realize that this has basically become a rant, but I do have an actual question. Well, 2. First the not-so-nice one: what in the world happened to Christian bookstores? One of the 3 I was in is a chain that has been in the metro area for years, and I don't remember it always being this bad. Is everyone just going for the cotton candy - fluffy, sweet and melts in your mouth? Or as the little old lady in the Wendy's commercials used to say, "Where's the beef?"
Now for the actual question - although I am sure I could order the WCF from amazon.com (since you can order anything there, it seems) is there a Christian e-store that would have wheat and not just chaff?
OK, I feel better now. It's just that when something like this happens, I look around. If no one else seems to be upset, I begin to wonder if it's just me...
BUT I'M PRETTY SURE THE EMPORER IS...ahem.
Mary
:yes: