Bubble or Patron?

[Heather Goodman]

Christians have their own publishing houses, record producers, stores, and magazines. I've decided to pursue publication in CBA because I desire to see the Church claim (reclaim) their position as a Patron of the Arts. While part of this includes shepherding individuals in secular realms, I believe part of this is creating lighthouses of art.
But where is the line between making a bubble that protects and shelters us from the world and building a lighthouse to shine into the world?
What are your thoughts?

[Jennifer]

This is an interesting question. A few years ago, my parents owned a Christian bookstore, and my mom and I went to CBA conventions every summer, so I know a bit about the market. To be honest, when I was at those conventions, I felt like I had to search really hard though a lot of "Christian" junk to find anything that even slightly resembled a lighthouse. I always found good stuff, but the market is so dominated by the mediocre and mindless that it was quite a challenge. Maybe that is changing though. There are a few Christian publishers I know I can count on to put out really great work and a few musicians who are on Christian labels who defy stereotypes and cliches. I would love to see the church (as you say) "reclaim" its position as a producer of high-quality art. Unfortunately, I think that the CBA has a long way to go before it can really gain that reputation, particularly in the world at large. Some of the most Christian, truthful, and "lighthouse-like" art I've come in contact with in the last few years has come from largely secular publishers and labels. I wonder why this is.

[Tammy Parker-Walker]

Unfortunately a lot of people end up writing "junk" to make thier living. It's funny how perceptions have changed over the years and now the secular publishers are drawing more of the really good writers, whether they are for novels, teaching materials ect. I think it's become easier to just "spit'' out a not-so-good book and make money, than spend the time on a piece and let Christ shine through it.

[Heather Goodman]

It's interesting because I started this thread before going to the Transforming Culture symposium (about art and the church). I was leaning heavily toward CBA, but now I'm reconsidering. It's not that CBA is bad, and as I've said before, it seems to me that CBA is in it's adolescence. If they're willing to go through the awkward elbows and knees, than maybe we can grow. Growing doesn't mean leaving behind the niche they have. It means expanding.
ABA already has an expanded market. I'm not saying that ABA puts out good material and CBA puts out bad. Both put out both. But I think I'd have more freedom in ABA. Maybe I'm wrong. But I'm going to spend the next few weeks praying about this.

[Brenda Gribbin]

When the rector of our church was asked about a "Christian" yellow-pages publication, he told the individual he wasn't interested. They asked, "Don't you want to know the plumber who comes into your home is a Christian?" He answered, "No...I want the plumber to know I am a Christian." Very different. I just participated in a church sponsored art exhibit that was highly publicized and extremely organized. However, it was not highly selective...in other words, anyone who painted a scene from the Garden of Eden was in...no filter as to technical or aesthic quality. Out of the 150ish works, maybe 30 were high quality...well conceived and executed pieces (and I'm not counting my own work.) I had rather be turned down because my work is not up to the standards of the exhibit than be part of a HUGE collection of mediocre work. As artists, we are not driven to perfect our God-given talents if we always take the easy routes. (I'm preaching to myself here.) There is a time and place to stay in your "bubble", and use your talents for the glory of God within the worldwide church community. However, we have a responsibility to hone our skills and use them as tools to usher unbelivers into His presence. I don't care if the audience is Christian...I want the audience to understand that I am a Christian, and that I have the same struggles they do.

[Jerome]

I personally have a really extreme view of the Christian industry such as books, music and entertainment. I wish the whole industry part of Christianity would just fall off a cliff. I feel it's a huge inbred bubble that only feeds it's self and alienates the rest of the world. Which blows my mind because the christian industry only makes up like 10%(don't quote me because I'm just guessing on the percentage) of the music, books and entertainment industry. I feel the same way about Christian radio. There isn't JCM Jewish contemporary music or BCM Buddhist contemporary music. Why do Christians have to separate themselves? I feel that Christian arts and entertainment would be way better if they had to compete with the rest of the world.

But as a musician I feel the same way about the music industry as a whole... secular, christian and the whatnot. I feel no musician deserves a multi-million dollar advance like Eminem or Britney... mainstream pop(that includes country music too) music is killing music. Pop music is also inbred and stagnant. We'd be better if all bands just had to tour to make a living and to sell their cds... to actually work and let the quality of their music sell the records... not their stupid name..

[Heather Goodman]

Jerome--you might be interested in a blog post Barbara Nicolosi wrote--WWJD about the disgust with the parallel universe we Christians have created.

[Sue Dent]

A few years ago, my parents owned a Christian bookstore, and my mom and I went to CBA conventions every summer, so I know a bit about the market.

Did you know this about the CBA and ECPA market? The Journal of Religion and Popular Culture. This article describes in great detail the gatekeeper functions of both CBA and ECPA. Not much has changed since this article and not much will change. They serve a particular market and they have writing conventions and guidelines in place to make sure this niche market is not offended. BTW Niche=Bubble.

How sad that all "Christian" bookstores carry niche market books without a second thought while non-affiliated Christian authors are not given the same consideration.

In some small way it's nice to hear that the "Christian" bookstores handle the music industry the same way. My book has been read and received wonderful reviews from CBA readers. It's published by a non-affiliated Christian publisher. Despite all the wonderful reveiws from Christian readers, you'd be hardpressed to find it in a "Christian" bookstore. Not to worry. All the major booksellers now have Christian sections that aren't affiliated with any particular orginization. Plus, one has the advantage of getting on the shelves with general market books.

How cool is that?

Bubble popped. :)

[Heather Goodman]

I agree that it's more important to me to have books on the shelves of Barnes and Noble than in a Christian store.
Actually, it's more important to me to write a good story than to care where on the shelves they are.
Thanks for sharing that article. I'm going to sit down and read it tonight.

[Sue Dent]

I think the more important thing for me is to let others know that the reason CBA and ECPA books fill "Christian" bookstores is because "Christian" bookstores are primarily "CBA" Christian bookstores. Even those that claim they're independent rely on these two niche market affiliations for the bulk of their literature. Anyone who writes for the general Christian market or writes as a Christian for the general market, will have a difficult time getting on the shelves. No, it doesn't matter now because the bigger booksellers are coming around. But it has mattered for a very loooooooong time--good story or not.

That article is very eye-opening. :)

[Jennifer]

I have been in conflict about this question for years. When my parents first bought the Christian bookstore, I was appalled and embarrassed. I definitely resonated with many of the comments that have been made in response to Heather's original post. The problem was, however, that I actually worked there, on and off, for several years and got to know the people who came in the doors. It's really difficult to tell someone they're wrong when they look at you with shining eyes and tell you how much God blessed them with ________ (whatever Christian book, CD, product that I happen to think is pretty much garbage). Do I tell them that they're wrong? As much as I really wanted all Christians to love Dostoyevsky, Flannery O'Connor and T.S. Eliot as I much as I did, I simply had to come to terms with the truth that there are some people out there who simply never will read these kinds of Chrisitian authors. What, then, is my alternative? To write all of those people off and ignore them? Or do I accept that sometimes the Holy Spirit works in ways that I simply don't like and that even make me a little nauseated? Can I maybe try to point them in the direction of what I would consider "the best" in the Christian fiction market, encouraging them to broaden their horizons as far as they can be stretched?

And another thought: The reason my parents didn't put "mainstream" Christian authors on their shelves, but stuck to the CBA/ECPA market, was not because they didn't think that Christians didn't publish anywhere else (they are WAY smarter than that), but simply because they had to make decisions based on keeping their business afloat. People come into Christian bookstores looking for very particular and specific products. The article that Sue mentions is completely right; if books don't match what the Christian bookstore customer is interested in (the Christian fiction aesthetic), they simply won't sell. A book or CD might be the absolute best thing out there, but if it just sits on the shelf, it doesn't do the store owner any good. My mom kept a few books on her shelves "just for the principle of the thing" that just sat there for years, but you can't run a successful business that way. And don't think that secular publishers or booksellers don't make decisions in much the same way. They are, after all, businesses, not simply good-natured patrons of the arts.

In re-reading Philippians chapter one recently, I was struck by Paul's point in verses 15-18. It has come to his attention that some people are preaching the gospel for the wrong motives: envy, rivalry, and selfish ambition (market share? monetary gain? self-advancement?). His response is completely different from what mine would have been. Instead of condemning his rivals and warning everyone to stay away from them and disdainfully washing his hands of them, he actually says, "What does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice" (1:18a). Gulp!

All of this is to say that I think this issue is a lot more complex than I used to think. There are weighty questions and things to consider all around, with no one answer satisfying every problem. As much as I have serious problems with much of the CBA/ECPA, I simply cannot forget the real people who walked in the door of my parents' store with their real stories of real life change.

[Sue Dent]

I belief wholeheartedly that ECPA and CBA affiliated publishers serve Him with their writings and according to their sales figures, they do a really good job of it!

They serve their market well. I think it helps Christian readers and definitely general market Christian publishers to know that for years "Christian" bookstores have only carried ECPA product and books. So many assume otherwise and wonder why other grand Christian books aren't in these stores.

Things are changing a little though (not that CBA or ECPA should feel obligated. After all, they are their stores) but I think the bigger booksellers will pick up the slack first (and they already are) by adding Christian sections to their bookstores that have books that serve all markets of Christian fiction. Even at that, some Independent Christian bookstores are starting to carry books other than those published by CBA and ECPA affiliated publishers. :)

[Heather Goodman]

Like you said, Jennifer, there are more issues in this "simple" question than I realized at first.
There's the idea of, is it okay to have Christian publishing houses (forget CBA or ECPA rules)? Is it okay to have something sponsored by Christians? Would it look more like Christians patroning the arts or would it look more like us retreating into our own world?
The second issue I'm realizing as an artist: some are called to minister more to non-Christians and some to the Body of Christ. Of course, as Christians, we should strive to do both, but where is our primary gifting and calling? And of course, no matter what, as artists, we should be striving to make good art (this is a different conversation entirely--those called to be artists, which I think brings the mantle of striving for good art and being perfectionists, versus all Christian being called to bring creativity and beauty into the world simply because of the Imago Dei--I plan to talk about this at some point on my blog).
And then, besides those two more abstract questions is the more practical question: if there is a place for Christian publishing houses either to be patrons of good art or to minister within the body, how do you flesh that out? What type of boundaries do you have? Should these boundaries be different for the different purposes (creating something for use in the sanctuary, so to speak, versus for the general marketplace)?
So many questions...