Publication and Pride. Simple Question.

[OneOfHisElect]

There are many great men and women authors out there who have given us vast amounts of theological insight through their writings. Most of us would admit that we have our favorite and not so favorite authors to whom we turn to for different interests. My concern, however, in these days especially, is the promotion of the authors over their content when it comes to their books.

When I look for books I seem to find the name of the author plastered across the cover and, in most cases, their name is in a larger font than the title of the book. Usually this is accompanied by either a giant picture of themselves either on the front or back cover.

My question is this: How much self promotion does an author really need? Why all the showmanship? If the author wishes to put their name on the book why does it need to be the main focus? Is this a slip into commercialism? Or am I the only one who sees a concern here? (I speak primarily of the "mega church" pastors, Olsteen, Jakes, etc. but I am beginning to see it in reformed circles as well, Sproul, MacArthur and others).

 

[MW]

If the authors are truly meek, and seeking to serve the Lord with a sincere heart, they would feel just as uncomfortable about these things. Our Lord Himself refrained from making a public display on specific occasions, especially when He was being provoked to do nothing more than make a great appearance before others; but as it was necessary and beneficial He publicly taught the people and left them in the hands of His Father to call them to account for their judgments concerning Him.

Anyone who comes into the public eye for the purpose of doing good has another area in which to exercise himself in the grace of mortification. Others do them a great disservice in flattering them, or in exalting them, or in making them one of their "favourites," besides the fact that such partiality is usually prejudicial to the truth and the way of righteousness. But at the end of the day stewards are not even permitted to judge their own labours in so far as they have been faithful in doing the work of the Lord, and must commit their labours to the great day when the great Judge shall bring everything to light, 1 Corinthians 4:1-6 -- "that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another."

 

[Don Kistler]

It is not the author who makes those decisions, but the publisher. The author writes the content, or at least approves the content of the book. But it is the publisher who makes the cover, chooses the endorsements, etc. Years ago when John MacArthur wrote "The Gospel According to Jesus," folks in the fundamentalist camp were critical of all the Reformed men who endorsed the book on the cover. But that was the publisher's call, not MacArthur's.