Right there with ya on this one.

See "Jesus-Pencils, Knock-Off Logos, and Crappy Music" here:
http://michaelkrahn.com/blog/2010/11/18/jesus-pencils-knock-off-logos-and-crappy-music/

and "The Pitchman Comes to Jesus..." here:
http://michaelkrahn.com/blog/2010/11/20/the-pitchman-comes-to-jesus/

Definitely looking forward to part II as this was a great start.

I too am terribly troubled by the growing military tradition within the US. Over the last year every public seems like an event to give standing ovations to military service people and if you don't you're anti-whatever.

The American Evangelical Church has completely given itself over to this tradition. Fourth of July is a time to place the American flag higher than the Cross. We have a serious problem.

The worst things ever done in the name of Christianity have happened when nationalism and faith have been blended.

"I too am terribly troubled by the growing military tradition within the US."

Growing?
My friend, the military tradition in the US has been around for quite some time...what you are seeing is it being publicized by the MSM.

Shane,
This country was born in blood and revolution. Revolt be her middle name, and America has been a military power even when she wasn't being a world military power.
We do war far better than we do peace...which may explain somethings about this nations past and current foreign policies.

Hmm...I'll have to think on that some more...there seems to be a fascinating thread of thought in that...um...hmm.
right.
But the motivational factor from the docks of 1770 Boston, to the sands of Iraq and Afghanistan is that we will, without hesitation, impose our will on whomever displeases us.
Economically, or militarily.
This is how the world works...and America, despite the wishful thinking of a certain religious segment of our nation, is no different.
It is who we are as a people...which is one of the reasons why I'm doing my best to untangle my emotions, my heart from the cares of this nation and world.
(And that is a struggle of epic proportions, when stupidity goes unchecked and everyone who should know better hangs on to that stupidity like it's the last train leaving a plague ridden town)

So if I walk into a bookstore, christian or secular, and I see militaria, or self-help, marketing your product, and/or various other titles that seek to increase what I have, or wish I had...I make a conscious effort to brush it off as another example of the world trying to pull me back into it's fold.

It is sad to see, but really, this is the way the world operates...the only thing you can do is not get sucked into the same mindset...and that...that is a struggle of continuous rememberance.

Shane, et all...I'm not sure why you are shocked at finding the selling of military flags at a Christian bookstore such an abomination...Christian bookstores have been selling slices of Americana since their inception.
Also, why the horror of a military flag? For many Christians a military flag (I can also readily understand our countrys misuse of military power) reflects the honor, sacrifice and nobility of past American military causes (both individually and as a nation) which reflected the government "wielding the sword" to punish those who do wrong (Romans 13)
I think Christian pacifists over-react to many American Christians who mostly are simple, sentimental patriots, who generally don't "love war", but do love their country AND love Jesus. Having said that, I appreciate brothers like Shane who shake us out of our American-centric selves

Do you favor your right to worship freely? Do you favor the right to choose your religion instead of a state approved one? Then think about what would happen if we did have the great military we do now. And by the way, read Romans chapter 13 for a better perspective.

"It's the Soldier, not the reporter who has given us freedom of the press.
It's the soldier, not the poet who has given us freedom of speech.
It's the soldier, not the campus organizer who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.
It's the soldier, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It's the soldier who salutes the flag, serves under the flag and whose coffin in draped by the flag, who gives the protester the right to burn the flag."

Ladies and Gentlemen, think about that.

Just because a somebody is in some government's army...they 'wield the sword to punish those who do wrong'? Really?
Soldiers gave us freedoms? Thomas Jefferson said “The God Who gave us life, gave us liberty at the same time.”
You may also remember this - "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
I recall there were very well trained soldiers who wanted to deny us those things.
And all around the world very smart, well-equipped and efficient soldiers still oppose freedom. Some of them are Americans.
There may be such a thing as a 'Just War', but what's happening in Iraq and Afghanistan very definitely does not meet the qualifications.
Worship of war and the military is just another idolatry.

Great points, Shane. I don't even remember the last time I went into a "Christian" bookstore. If I need a good book I can buy it on Amazon. I really don't need the rest of the Jesus snuggies or Scripture candies or whatever else they're selling these days. It's a shame that this post turned into some kind of "God and country" debate, because I think you were saying a lot more that just that. I'm very sympathetic to small business owners, but I don't have a lot of sympathy for the national chains that are just making a buck off of a lot of useless trinkets. I can't wait to read Part 2!

I wonder how much of what we see in modern "Christian" bookstores are imitations (of course thoroughly modern) of the trinkets and wares traveled in the Catholic in the age of Reformation. Get a wooden statue of Saint Anne for sore feet, a bronze figure of Saint Allowyshius for headaches...get a Thomas Kinkade to see "Jesus' light," or this Cross with a Bible verse in front of a large American flag...

Truly sad to see this kind of junk traveled out before our people. Sadder still that they have little to no discernment about it.

Oh, btw, thanks to William Green for making my point. "The Soldier..." wow man, just wow.

Wow, this conversation is covering a lot of mileage.
First of all, Christian bookstores are simply that, bookstores. I do not believe for a minute that because they are selling military flags that eventually they will be selling nearly naked girl pictures with Bible verses...at least not for that reason. [I can think of other reasons they may do it but that is another conversation.] They are a store and they need to stay in business. Either sell what sells or go out of business. There was a time when it was only at a Christian bookstore you could buy Christian books, back in the 70’s I believe. This is no longer the case. Barnes and Noble and many others carry the same books, or Amazon and others online.
Make a choice about how you will do business, if you cannot do business that way, then do not go into business. Unless you are a national chain with huge bucks, you will not make it in today’s economy. I am not defending the current level of marketing in today’s national chain Christian bookstores, but reality being what it is…here we are. Foolish trinkets for such customers who buy them. It is tragic that you see Bibles costing hundreds of dollars, but someone buys them. Like all things retail, stores sell what people buy. Why do we have a drug trafficking problem in the US, because people buy them. I think the stores are reflecting the condition of the Church in America more than they are anything else.
Second of all, it is because of people going into bookstores and checking out books and then buying them on Amazon that the bookstore is becoming a dying breed. Folks take advantage of the convenience of the store access; but do not do what is necessary to help them stay open, Buy Books. I do this, and I freely admit that it is because I am cheap and do not want to pay too much for anything on my budget. I rarely pay full retail for books because as a pastor I have to buy too many books in a year. This is the very reason that Barnes and Noble is selling itself off.
Third, the most likely candidate for Christian bookstores being lighthouses today are those that are supported and run by churches. The church makes a choice to start one; fund the thousands it will take to place bare minimum stock, the thousands it will take to support the qualified staff, and then you have a chance to reach out without worry about “making it.”
And Fourth, "The Soldier" was spot on.

I agree with much of this article in principle; I too have been frustrated by the sheer amount of "Jesus Junk" out there, and even less impressed by the majority of books published under the guise of Christian publishing. I find much of this completely unnecessary. It seems everyone's just looking to get a book published.

As others have mentioned, these retailers feel pressured to add merchandise to stay open. I wonder if a different model -- e.g., a coffee shop with a few select books for sale, or the church-run bookshop mentioned above -- is a better one, if we need Christian bookstores.

I am, however, disappointed (but given the author, not surprised) by the way this article started. It is very politically pointed, and I have to wonder if Claiborne would react differently if he happened to see items promoting a secular leftist POV in the store. Politics is politics. (And for the record, I don't like to see *any* of that in a Christian bookstore.)

And I seriously, seriously doubt that "Before long we’ll be pushing posters of scantily-clad women accompanied by a verse from Song of Solomon." That parenthetical comment seems added simply for the sake of hyperbole.

Good article. Just to add, you cannot seperate Romans 13 from Romans 12. There is a clear distinction between the role of God's people and the role of gov't.

The book ends of Romans 13 reads like this: Romans 12:19-21

19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 13:8-10:
8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

what an incredibly bankrupt "worldview" that "The Soldier" promulgates.

That rhetoric is an insult to all oppressed Christians who suffer real persecution for their faith.

What an insult to the true freedom that the secret Churches in Saudi Arabia, North Korea, China, etc. experience and live in daily.

I don't know if I should be mad or just sad.

The ultimate dream of God is peace. The presence of the military and the necessity of a military is only evidence of the sinfulness of the world and that we are hopelessly bound in this life to take up the means of evil to fight evil. The existence of "The soldier" only confirms the brokenness of the world that Christ must redeem.

Christians should be living and proclaiming that a better way and a better day is coming.
There's plenty of people in the world who are happy to take up weapons. Let them. The Church is set apart for a different kind of work.

That work is not giving our energy to justifying what will be swept away by the coming reign of God.

What is putting the corner bookstore out of business is the internet trade. It's far easier to go on Amazon at Midnight then it is to get to the Christian store that closes at 7pm or is not on my way home from work.
But the idea that it is wrong or pathetic for a Christian store to sell flags is upsetting. I am a Christian. I am an American. And I am a patriot. I am very tired of hearing about how I cannot be a Christian AND a patriot. To say I cannot be or should not be is pure legalism. A Christian store has every right to sell these items and if a church exists in this country it should be proud to display that flag. Anti Americanism will destroy us and our freedom to worship freely. I did not like the arrogant and anti military attitude of this article and I would not buy this author's book. I would however buy one by William Green! Thank you for saying it like it is.

My only two comments..

1. Copying them (answering the question in the subtitle).

My problem with Christian bookstores:

2. Too much focus on "my kids and spouse".

"It's the Soldier, ..." Ladies and Gentlemen, think about that.

Soldiers do what was directed in the constitution. The constitution was created by lawyers, farmers, bankers, jewelers Christians and non-believers. The founders celebrated the idea of the citizen-soldier. They wanted an army of soldiers who fought when needed and then went back to their real occupations. Soldiers are not different, they do not solely guarantee our freedoms. That is the job of all of us, together.

Think of it this way...when the US Congress voted on the compromise tax bill, one of the dividing issues for conservative Republicans was maintaining unemployment benefits. Was the mind-numbing military expenditures EVER brought up by those budget-conscious conservatives?

Noooooooooo!

Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition!

Testamints, Ticket Servant, Dove Awards, God Tube, etc. Yes, I think we do like to copy, especially if it will garner a following of loyal consumers who we know will buy the product because it is "Christian". Yuk!

"I am very tired of hearing about how I cannot be a Christian AND a patriot. To say I cannot be or should not be is pure legalism."
Well, EB, you should tell Jesus how you feel since it's His principles that Shane (and others) are suggesting we follow. What did the Jews in His day expect? The Messiah to right the political system, 'take the nation back for God' and set up shop in the Holy Land. Jesus refused and told them they were wrong for thinking that. If you think that such rebuke applies only to 1st century Jews, I'd love to hear your explanation.

"A Christian store has every right to sell these items and if a church exists in this country it should be proud to display that flag."
Should Chinese churches proudly display their flag? Should German churches put up Nazi flags? Sounds extreme but, at the time, they believed they were doing the will of God.

"Anti Americanism will destroy us and our freedom to worship freely."
Oh no, how will Jesus survive?!? Where in Scripture are we promised an absence of suffering? Nowhere! In fact, Jesus promised we would suffer if we followed Him. Why do you think this does not apply to Americans? Is someone else supposed to carry your cross? Or does it mean you are following your country instead of following Jesus?

"I did not like the arrogant and anti military attitude of this article and I would not buy this author's book."
I suggest you throw out your Bible while you're at it because it doesn't sound like you would agree with what God has to say.

I do not think we can take Romans 13 and use it as a defense for patriotism or military might. In fact, if you really look at Romans 13 then you must conclude that there should not be a USA. We should still be under British rule because we should have submitted to their authority instead of revolting.
I am an American and I do support the men and women of our military. However, I am first and foremost a citizen of God's kingdom. I agree w/the person who stated that the "need" for war and military are another unfortunate result of the fall.

The last straw will break the camel’s back.