Brent Hobbs is Lead Elder/Pastor of New Song Fellowship in Virginia Beach. He blogs at Brenthobbs.com
Over the past year, there’s been a small but constant stream of criticism in SBC social media about certain books available in LifeWay stores. A few titles and authors are brought up frequently as evidence that LifeWay leadership must not care about sound doctrine or that they care about money more than biblical faithfulness. I reject those characterizations and you should too.
Everyone agrees there should be a line drawn determining what books LifeWay should sell. The issue for us today is how tightly that line needs to be drawn to our own views, preferences, and opinions.
It would be easy for any theologically aware believer to go into a Christian bookstore and find titles we disagree with. Disagreements would fit a wide range—some big, some small. Some doctrinal, some practical. Some important, some minor. No matter where the line is drawn, people will always be able to find titles that are just inside that boundary line and say, “But why is this book here? If you cared about truth, certainly this book wouldn’t be on your shelf!”
LifeWay’s critics want Lifeway to function as a theological gatekeeper in a way Southern Baptists have never agreed it should function. Yes, we all agree there are boundary lines. But as someone who considers myself theologically educated and discerning, I am aware that if I personally drew the boundary lines, I would have a tendency to draw them too narrowly and mirroring my own views & preferences. LifeWay’s critics have consistently shown a lack of self-awareness in this area.
Here are a number of problematic assumptions and unwarranted jumps in logic that LifeWay’s critics make. These form the foundation of why I reject their conclusions and their methods.
- LifeWay cannot be seen as endorsing the viewpoint or contents of all the books they sell. Two books advocating different viewpoints may sit beside one another on the same shelf. Which is the endorsed LifeWay position? Sometimes stocking a book might mean nothing more than the work is a prominent example of a viewpoint we would disagree with. Let’s take an egregious example. Should LifeWay sell the Book of Mormon? Initially almost everyone would say no. But what about people who are interested in apologetics and studying other religions? Might there not be a place in a Christian bookstore for books that compare the beliefs of different world religions? Along with that copies of the books or writings of those religions? As far as I know LifeWay doesn’t have such a section and doesn’t sell the Book of Mormon. At the end of the day, I think that’s the best decision. But I hope my example goes to show that a product selection policy might (should be) much more than simply agree/disagree.
- The fact that I care about sound doctrine does not necessarily mean I only sell books I agree with. Mohler’s theological triage is an important concept here. We have to make decision about what issues are going to be that would cause us to include or exclude certain works. But I think most people who are involved here know that determination shouldn’t be left to the self-appointed theological watchdogs. The people who love patrolling (controlling) what readers have access to are not the ones I want making those kinds of decisions.
- It’s not clear to me that LifeWay needs to play the role of arbiter on close calls. What about books that fall on the borderline? A critic may list a book as out of bounds but other theologically educated believers might see it as acceptable. I myself have a category for books that I wouldn’t personally recommend but see no problem with having them available for people who want them. The critics seem to have no such category.
- The critics ever-narrowing set of parameters that may never be satisfied. Those who criticize in this area have shown to be implacable. LifeWay has removed a number of books over the years because of concerns expressed through various avenues. One of the critics’ favorite targets was recently removed. I didn’t see a single one of them express appreciation for the decision. It was a battle won (in their own minds, their criticism actually had little, if anything to do with the book’s removal) and they were on to the next title. Their list is long and I’ve seen nothing to make me think they would ever be satisfied. At least nothing short of letting them go through a LifeWay store and overturn book racks of their own choosing.
- LifeWay leadership has demonstrated through years of faithful writing & service that they place a high priority on biblical truth & faithfulness. I’m particularly thinking of Thom Rainer and Ed Stetzer here, who often bear the brunt of this kind of criticism. (As if their main role is retail product selection anyway.) Both of these guys have served Southern Baptists well and faithfully for years. They’ve stressed the importance of sound doctrine in each of their ministries. A long list of others at LifeWay should be included here too. The idea that the folks at LifeWay are sitting around board tables in Nashville rubbing their hands together and laughing evil laughs at all the money they can make off selling bad theology would be a laughable caracature if it weren’t asserted so regularly by LifeWay’s critics. It doesn’t make sense.
The critics say they’re planning to force LifeWay to address these issues on the floor at this year’s SBC Annual Meeting in Columbus. That’s why I wrote this. Because I have heard them and I disagree—with both the content of their arguments and their strong arm tactics. I’m confident everyone in the convention hall will see through this (threatened) childish tantrum for what it is.
Sorry for poor formatting, I’m in Columbus and my laptop is at home. Wrote this on mobile and it didn’t come through exactly like I wanted.
Hope Dr James will forgive after all the grief I give him about his paragraph breaks.
When I was barely old enough to walk I’d go with my pastor dad to the Baptist Book Store, now LifeWay Stores. Used to go with him to the Baptist Book Store on Main St. in Houston, TX. I loved them then, and still do today.
LifeWay Stores have an impossible job, they will never please all Baptists. Do they sell books I probably would not? Yes. But I have gladly supported them through the years, and continue to do so today.
Also, it should be remembered they run a business. Some not in business to make ends meet, make a profit, and pay employees, might do things differently. But then, they are not in the same situation. Remember also that any profit they make goes back into the Lord’s work.
LifeWay has well over 100 stores nationwide. My dealings with them have been very positive. They stand as a lighthouse to the truth. I support them and hope others do as well.
David R. Brumbelow
Good words
I think you make a good case but I will still complain if I see something I think is egregious. But a floor fight at the convention? Seriously?
I will say I have recently been quite disappointed in some traditional Baptist authors lately, but I haven’t read their latest books so I don’t complain.
Oh and I don’t mean traditional theologically.
Absolutely Clark. I think everyone agrees egregious cases should be excluded. Some people are just too quick to throw the flag.
I don’t know Brent I think there’s probably an agreeable point, among reasonable minds as to where the parameters should be drawn.
Sure, I agree with that. There is a parameter currently. And I’m not arguing that it’s perfect. My point is that the critics’ parameters are unreasonably strict and their questioning the integrity & judgment of anyone who might advocate a less strict standard than they want is sinful & divisive.
Unfortunately, the angry, extreme and belligerent critics act as if there are only two options – acquiesce to their control and domineering and angry demands or have no standards at all.
We can have reasonable discussions without about where the lines should be drawn – and we should do that. Have the discussion. But we do not have to give in to the anger of a few voices to say we have standards.
I agree with both you guys.
(Can we at least agree to get the heaven dreaming and Health, wealth and prosperity anti gospel off the shelves?) 😉
They already took the Heaven tourism stuff off a few months ago.
from my perspective, as someone who was in the thick of it and was instrumental in having several books removed, it’s important to note that there were several books that I brought up, such as books espousing the mystical practices of roman catholic mystics, that once I asked about were pulled almost instantly.
it’s not like there was a struggle back in forth in whether or not to keep them, or whatever, and so it seems to me, brent, that the article makes it sound like all the books that were pulled were more or less cool, that there was no content that was intolerable and objectionable to 99% of SBC people, when in reality there was.
but i think the fact that the vast majority of books that “we” “asked” to be pulled, were pulled, suggests that the parameters were reasonably clear and were not as vague as people make them out to be.
and lastly, i think the reason why there was no overt appreciation shown was because, speaking specifically of alex malarkey’s book, you say this :”One of the critics’ favorite targets was recently removed. I didn’t see a single one of them express appreciation for the decision. It was a battle won (in their own minds, their criticism actually had little, if anything to do with the book’s removal) ” and yet I find that difficult to believe.
when a post is written targeting a specific book and lifeway’s relationship to it, that trends worldwide in every major news publication, gets millions of views and tens of thousands of retweets and facebook shares-to say that this fact had “little if anything” to do with its removal” seems…inaccurate and disingenuous….to say the least.
I just can’t see that not having an impact, especially because up till this point the book was not even on lifeways radar. the fact that they did not acknowledge the impact this had on it being pulled, and in fact ascribed that book being pulled to ulterior reasons.. is why there is not much appreciation being sent that way.
just some insight/thoughts 🙂
I’m not
You may be over -estimating the influence of one group in getting certain books pulled and claiming more credit than 8s warranted.
Correlation us not causality.
There was a process in place and when’s turning to remove those books for some time. They don’t just make unilateral decisions.
Your comment takes a lot more credit for the LifeWay changes than is perhaps accurate.
I’m not going to get into the book I mentioned in my article, except to say I stand by my characterization. If you want to know why maybe we can talk in person one day.
As to your other point, which I think is valid, my post emphasized one aspect of this issue. The other side is that yes I am glad for LifeWay removing the books they have removed. There are others I will be glad to see go. And what’s more I think people at LifeWay want the parameters narrowed too, though probably not to the extent that you guys are advocating.
Here’s what I wish you guys would realize: by your (pl.) belligerence, you’ve made the whole issue toxic. I and others who might otherwise call for some narrowing of parameters can’t address it publicly (though we have privately with people at LifeWay). You guys are the ones who have set up the “you’re either for us or against us” scenario. And if I have to choose, I’m against you. To be clear again: you guys are the ones forcing the either/or decision. Instead, you could work productively, have patience, and don’t get all bent out of shape when every decision doesn’t go your way, you might actually find people willing to listen and work with you.
Let’s not fool ourselves. Certain books were taken off the shelves due to people complaining about them being there, in the first place. There have been many book placed on the shelves at Lifeway stores that should NEVER have been there, in the first place. The Shack is one of them.
David
Got no bone to pick with LifeWay as a corporate retail outlet of popular theology and religious charms. It’s a business from which I’ve personally found nothing lately of use.
However, I do have some pastor friends from other states who’ve sent me recent photos of their visits to locations in Nashville etc. Didn’t know Lifeway carried “Jesus candy” and “Big Bold Faith” matching wallets, key rings, etc.
Without focusing eye attention on the item’s in the paraphernalia section photo, I thought at first I was looking at the inside of Dr. Chickenfoot’s Voodoo Shop in the French Quarter.
Upon closer inspection however, it looked more like the gift shop of a “Cracker Barrell”.
Retail is retail.
When the Sunday School Board of the SBC made the decision to change the name of Baptist Book Stores to Lifeway, they essentially opened the door to the controversies that have since that time surrounded it. The reason I say that is that from my recollection when it was Baptist Book Stores, the stores were essentially a giant church literature closet which sold anything Baptist – Sunday School Quarterlies, WMU (Women’s Missionary Union for those under 40, LOL), Brotherhood Commission, RA’s (Royal Ambassadors), GA’s (Girls in Action) materials as well as the official Baptist Hymnal and anything published by Broad and Helman?. I don’t remember there being a lot of books by famous Christian authors in the 1970’s other than Billy Graham. There weren’t any Beth Moore Bible Studies, however there were more intensive Bible Commentaries which were offered. The Contemporary Christian Music market didn’t really come into its own until Amy Grant and that was around 1982 or so. Therefore, there wasn’t much of a Christian media market that existed in the 1960’s and 70’s and the Baptist Book stores were never confronted with questions of which authors should they carry because there were no Joel Osteens, or Joyce Meyers writing books. The stores were exclusively in the south and catered to Southern Baptists as a support to SBC churches.
This all began to change in the 1980’s when a distinct Christian media market came into being with authors such as Chuck Swindoll and later Charles Colson and the explosion of CCM (music). The leaders of the SBC made a decision to tap into that market and they specifically wanted to reach the larger evangelical market beyond the members of SBC churches. To do this they deliberately removed the name Baptist Book stores and gave it the less defining name, Lifeway. With the advent of Lifeway, there was an effort to expand the stores beyond the traditional SBC states in the south and open stores in states where there are few Southern Baptists (CA, PA, MN, for example) and for these stores to be profitable. As a result, these stores were now selling in places where the overwhelming majority of their customers are non SBC folks – many from Lutheran, or even Catholic backgrounds and these stores are competing with the Family Christian stores, which have few, if any theological boundaries on what they will sell.
As a result of this business decision to sell to the larger, non SBC market, there will always be issues of controversy over what is carried in Lifeway stores and online. This begs the question, what is the purpose of Lifeway stores? Are they in existence to be a profit center to the SBC? – If so, it will be challenging to sell books, etc. which are pleasing to 90% of the SBC but still be a viable retail business when Lifeway is now selling primarily to a non SBC audience who can easily drive down the street to a Family Christian store if they find the Lifeway stores to be too limited in their selections.
This also leads to a question of should the SBC be in the business of competing in the private for profit market of book stores. I don’t think anyone has asked the question of what Lifeway’s purpose is because they were always around from Baptist Book Stores and have essentially been “grandfathered in.” Now, that they are selling to a primarily non SBC audience, their mission has changed somewhat.