Attack of the Labelmakers
It seems that controversy has entered all spheres of Christendom lately, and the last standout of American Evangelical culture, the Christian bookstore isn’t immune to it. Now, it’s true that through the years there have been many “Christian” books that aren’t worth the paper their printed on, but for the most part, these books sold or didn’t sell based on the old maxim that the customer is always right, and that customers are smart enough to inform themselves about products they purchase. Apparently, LifeWay Christian Stores has started to doubt the ability of it’s customer base to decide what they like and don’t, and started offering its own opinion.
That’s right folks, just like those CDs you hid in your room with the “Parental Advisory” sticker, some books in LifeWay bookstores may be dangerous, and are labeled with a red sticker that warns “Read With Discernment” (as opposed to what I ask – coffee, beer, painkillers?). Now, it’s pretty clear to me that LifeWay is bowing to pressure from some of the more ADM-minded people who either shop at their stores or have influence about company policy, and being the libertarian minded guy that I am, I would agree that they are completely within their rights to do this. It’s their business, and they need to decide how to run it. (I will note, though, that it does seem somewhat hypocritical to continue to sell a product you think dangerous enough to require a warning label).
As a service to LifeWay, I propose that they don’t stop at printing labels for these books. I say why not do their customer base a favor and add warning labels to their entire inventory? Here are few suggestions to get them started:
- Christian Music under “Pop/Rock” heading – Warning: The music on these CDs is highly derivative and over-produced. Listening to more than one hour straight will cause you to want to kick small animals.
- Thomas Kinkade prints – Warning: Displaying these paintings in your house may cause you to be ridiculed by friends and family. Plus, they will clash with your couch.
- Test-a-Mints Breath Mints – Warning: These mints may help the stench coming from your mouth, but they can’t help the darkness in your heart. Additionally, these are really just Certs with Christian packaging.
- The Holy Bible – Warning: Taking this book too seriously will seriously f*** up your life. Seriously, you probably shouldn’t even try to understand this on your own. Try asking your pastor, or better yet, buy one of the LifeWay approved commentaries on sale now!
HT: Brant Hansen
51 Comments(+Add)
They forgot to add “and beat your children” after the part about kicking small animals.
I hope people vote with their wallet on this one and refuse to patronize a bookstore that would do something this ridiculous.
Everything we take in should be taken with discernment, and I’m sure if I went in with that label at these stores almost all the opposite books would be labeled.
But that won’t happen, because I’m not a squeeky wheel who demands that a bookstore fit my opinion of what it should and should not carry.
With this Lifeway is actively saying “We are no longer a Christian bookstore, we are a bookstore made to suit the whims of one very small portion of Christianity who think they are the only ones welcome in the kingdom. ”
A better sentiment would be “Don’t feed the crazies”
Hopefully this has the same effect as music labels and suddenly makes all the helpful, scriptural, God-honoring books with these labels cool to kids trying to upset their parents.
Phil – that was really necessary.
Out of everyone here, I’m probably the last one you’ll find in a Christian bookstore (a serious waste of time). But what’s at the root of your problem here?
BTW, didn’t you say you were some sort of pastor or ministry worker. Why the language?
Not a real good example to our teenagers, they will not use the asterisks, but who cares. Everything is OK in today’s Christian atmosphere.
There was a time when Christ delivered people from such language, those days are gone.
What language?
Why are you assuming I was using a curse word? F*** could stand for any of these words.
Maybe you’re the one with the dirty mind?
1) It looks like he’s ****’d out any language.
2) I suspect it was to match the theme of the article
3) Before commenting any more on “language”, please read this as a frame of reference. It will save us all a lot of trudging over old ground…
Really?
Chapter & Verse please…
I don’t see that we’ve been “delivered” from mere words, any more than we’ve been “delivered” from three-piece suits…
I love Brandt’s wit:
Along with the comment from TheBob:
Priceless.
You’re correct, no chapter and no verses that cannot mean something else. But I also admitted the obvious:
“Everything is OK in today’s Christian atmosphere.”
By the time my grandchildren are adults, there will be no need for asterisks, but then again, no chapters and no verses. Just words, just sounds. The entire thing sometimes seems so careless and without any consideration for anyone except the absolute freedom of our expression.
I probably would feel very uncomfortable in the midst of your private conversations, but then again, I am still in bondage. Don’t worry, this will be my last word on the subject, I’m sure my impact is profoundly unremarkable.
wow
ever heard of p@$$ive aggressive?
Yeah, no warnings on any of MacArthur’s books, no warnings on Joel Osteen’s books, no warnings on the Veggie T**** videos (some might misinterpret T***), no warnings on the Joyce Meyers c***, no warnings on the front doors that say, ‘Careful you might slip on the carpet’.
We want your money. “Family” “Christian” “Stores”
“Discernment” “Ministries”
Carry on Phil – I’m still trying to get over my “weaker brother” problem.
Thanks for the disclaimers Chris – they worked wonders and I now see perfectly clearly.
You guys will justify just about anything to make a point I guess. Paul really missed it when he was encouraging the Ephesians:
I’m still trying to get my mind around how typing f*** suddenly equals anything goes…
Well, I’m off to rob a bank…you know, since anything goes and all. Might as well make the best of it.
Actually I really liked the one for the bible. he he
But then I am british
If Phil was adding “vulgarities” to most articles and comments, that would be one thing. But to my memory, this is the first time he’s even added a word with ***’s in it… That doesn’t seem that all “careless” or “without consideration” to me, but quite the opposite.
I doubt you would, as I don’t believe I talk any differently in private than I write in public (though I might say “crap” more often than I write it, since I still remember a HS teacher explaining to me that she would give any of us an “F” on any paper w/ the word “crap” or “stuff” in it…). However, I don’t consider that this makes me “better” than other Christians who might use stronger language in personal conversation, within the bounds in the referenced article above…
Did you read the article linked above? Really?
This verse is talking about the content of speech, not the words used.
You who have eyes to see…
I would amend this to say – “there is an honest attempt to major in the majors and minor in the minors in today’s Christian atmosphere…”
First of all, Chris L’s post that he linked is very helpful.
Secondly, phrasing it in the way did actually does “give grace” to hearers who have been messed up (and then healed) by the Word.
Ian’s comment shows that this is clearly a cultural and even a generational thing.
When I was growing up, you NEVER would say that something sucks or that you are pissed off. Both of those phrases are so common place in my generation that people say them all the time in mixed circles.
As I said, the article that Chris linked is very helpful.
Would I have typed what Phil did? No, I probably would have said “…mess you up.” But it doesn’t then automatically fall under “currupting talk.”
Hmmm. I’ll have to think about this. I’m gonna help Phil rob a bank so that I can witness to the tellers.
should have read “…in the way Phil did…”
And my point is that many people immediately agreed with that sentiment. Yes, the Word of God rocked my world!
I will take the high road (somewhat at least) and apologize to any who may have been offended, but I think you all may need to look up “irony” in your dictionaries. Also, a little research as to how that concept relates to satire would be helpful as well.
So guys – why even bother with the asterisks. Phil, please adjust the OP and just put in the full word. Chris L, Jerry, Ian and Nathanael have all given you adequate justification.
Curious that a brother so free of the constraining forces of phariseeism would even feel the need to use asterisks, no?
The level of transparency (to defend anything as long as it’s coming from the right team) is astounding when put to the test.
I found it funny what Kamp Krusty stated concerning Left Behind and The Shack and that the Left Behind series is acceptable while The Shack is not.
I am on a Christian Community site and one of the people that wants to be my friend is promoting the Left Behind series… Since I think that is one of the worst theological books out there… meaning I do not believe in the Rapture and that I do not see the use of high technology will be used as those left behind kill off the enemies of God… as the books promotes… I will not “be friends” with this person… is he a nice guy… most likely…
I had thought about making a Generous Orthodoxy page and asking him to be my friend… but thought that might be a bit too cruel.
iggy
Just be careful up there – we wouldn’t want you falling off your horse.
And I was wondering why Phil needed asterisks while using the word “foul”… as in foul up your life…
But then to the pure all things are pure and to the corrupt…. well you know… we see what is in us I guess.
iggy
Paul,
What was the purpose there?
You insinuated that your brother in Christ was on a high horse.
To me, that falls more under the category of “corrupting talk” than a tongue-in-cheek reference to vulgarity.
The asterisks are pretty much out of consideration for those who may be offended, actually.
It’s actually an interesting phenomenon to me. If I would have written “freak” as a substitute, would people still be upset. It meant to mean the exact same thing, and in many time it’s said in the same spirit, but for some random reason, it’s unacceptable.
Now, personally, I do try to avoid using colorful language, but it’s not really out of moral responsibility as much as just being courteous. But a person can just as easily curse someone without using “bad” words.
Nice try Nathanael – more transparency.
Any time a person trumpets,
“Da da da da – I will be taking the high road here…”
he is broadcasting a little arrogance.
Is labeling a brother in Christ a heretic considered “corrupting talk”?
Phil – no need to backpedal here. As per my opening comment, I am simply questioning the necessity of using bad language.
Obviously you guys are perfectly content with it and see it as a non-issue (perhaps even with your children and toddlers?). Not trying to make you guilty of something you see nothing wrong in.
If you included a “f***” in your comment, I would not criticize your usage of it (except to point out that you’d criticized others for doing the exact same thing – which is a nod to hypocrisy, not the language you use).
Out of deference to the ‘weaker brother’ who might imagine that just reading the word was sinful… Kind of like the “beep” inserted into the broadcasts for those who would be offended by hearing a “bad word”, even if context and lip-reading render it obvious…
Did you read the linked article?
Seriously?
Paul C,
Why do you lump all together in such a way… so you mean people like me also?
I am on record for telling Tony Jones that I felt his use of almost the exact phrase (with asterixes) was offensive… which Ken used the same phrase over and over to tell others how offensive Tony was…
Ken used the phrase much more than Tony and no one spoke out against Ken but me in that Ken could have used other words to convey what Tony stated.
Why was it not offensive for Ken to quote Tony over and over and over and it was for Tony and Phil to use it here?
To me that was a HUGE disconnect and a HUGE double standard.
iggy
Phil…
It was a little offensive but I got the point.
iggy
He is the overarching law that prevails most often – not the law of Christ:
“Every way of man is right in his own eyes…”
Chris – I already said there is no need to continue defending. Please carry on – I’m going to take the “weaker brother” stance on this one and watch from the sidelines.
Iggy gets a gold star!
Seriously, explaining satire kind of weakens its potential impact, but it was the whole Tony Jones thing that I was referencing.
Nothing would be funnier (well, probably something would) than seeing a Bible with a warning label quoting Tony Jones at a LifeWay store. I mean, since they’re putting labels on stuff, they might as well put some good ones on there…
Phil – I apologize. Although I still would object to referencing that phrase, Iggy’s reference and your acknowledgment jogged my memory about it being a Tony Jones original.
I still hate it, but my objection was more substantially directed at you since I assumed it was a Miller original. I do apologize for that. I remain an enemy of course language until some Christian maturity sets in.
This thread is a fine example of how to miss the point. Have we even hinted at commenting on the content of Phil’s post which is the stupidity of the type of censorship that the ‘christian’ ‘book’ store is engaging in?
I’m free on this: reading is the greatest gift we have, books run a close second. The whole idea of labeling a book as such is stupid.
I wish I could remember the store that did it, but there was a store that put stickers on Christopher Hitchens’ book God is Not Great. However, they conveniently located the stickers to cover up the word ‘not’ on the dust jacket so that it said, “God is … Great.” It was stupid just the same as warnings on the Shack.
As if God gave us minds so that we wouldn’t think.
The question I would propose is this: If the owners of the bookstore feel that some of this material is “questionable”, than we must conclude that filthy lucre is their motivation.
And I agree wholeheartedly with Jerry’s observation that there are no warnings on Osteen or all the prosperity sections. Let us be real, Christian bookstores are a business for profit, not for truth.
Yeah, the Olsteen observation was perfect.
I love Brant.
He is so refreshing.
Hey wait – I love Thomas Kinkade!
That. Is. Awesome.
Paul C (#25):
Careful, you’re gonna get sued. Only
GodSteve Camp can tell if an apology is insincere.It’s a distraction I could do without…
That said, the whole label concept is silly, everything should be read with discernment.
For those offended… did you not notice the parental warning label on this post? It should have made you aware you might be offended…
iggy
A few years ago I went to a Lutheran Youth gathering in Orlando. It was a really great experience for the most part. The last day, I went to the “Lutheran Books Store” where you could purchase all kinds of cool t-shirts, books, stuffed flying monkeys, and CDs from Christian artists. Every single CD had a warning label. “Warning this CD has been checked for approval with LCMS doctrine.”
Made me want to puke.
oops, should have read “Warning this CD has not been checked for approval with LCMS doctrine.”
whoops…
“Calvin’s Institutes”
Attention: Please read with caution, some doctrines are in variance with Scripture.
“Your Best Life Now”
Caution: This book will only make sense to Americans
“A Generous Orthodoxy”
Caution: The word “orthodoxy” may not be recognizable.
“How to Hear From God” – Joyce Meyer
Caution – Save your receipt as a seed faith gift.
Warning on most ODM blogs…
iggy