Wednesday, March 23, 2005 AD
Category error
From Couldn't Help Noticing comes this list of winners from Christian Retailing magazine's 2004 Retailers Choice Awards. The list of categories reminds me of the old comment about how "statistics are like bikinis - what they reveal is interesting, but what they conceal is vital":
More seriously, some of these categories and winners seem to reflect a medieval Catholic approach to the Christian life, in which the promises of the Gospel are obscured by a plethora of artifacts that are invested with a quasi-sacramental ability to bring us closer to God: the "You Are Loved voice message photo frame", for example. And quite what "self-improvement" is doing as a category in "Christian" awards is anyone's guess.
But that's what happens when we lose sight of the central importance of doctrine. The Gospel is doctrine, cannot be anything else by its very nature: it consists of certain promises, statements, declarations, teachings that need to be heard and believed (see my recent post on this subject). While Christians are not all called to be doctrinal theologians in an academic sense, when we throw doctrine out altogether we end up throwing the Gospel out with it.
What are we then left with? Watered-down Law in the form of self-help manuals and step-by-step guides - because God will surely not deny His grace to those who do what lies within their power - and trinkets to help us feel closer to God (since the promises of the Gospel, as held out to us in Word and Sacrament, are no longer sufficient to achieve this). The Retailers Choice Awards category list, in other words.
Health/Fitness: 10 Essentials of Highly Healthy People (Zondervan), Walt Larimore, M.D.That's right - awards for "wall decor" and "decorative accessories", nothing for "doctrine" or "theology". Just doesn't sell, y'see.
Evangelism: What's So Amazing About Grace? (Zondervan), Philip Yancey
Series: "Women of Faith Study Guide Series" (Thomas Nelson)
Wall Décor: Names of Jesus cross (Inspirio)
Devotionals: His Passion (Integrity Publishers)
Nonfiction: The Faith of George W. Bush (Charisma House), Stephen Mansfield
Relationships: The Power of a Positive Wife (Howard Publishing), Karol Ladd
General Gifts: You Are Loved voice message photo frame (Lighthouse Christian Co.)
Bibles: Revolve (Thomas Nelson)
Music: Adoration (Sparrow), Newsboys
Gift Books: Daily Inspiration for the Purpose-Driven Life (Inspirio), Rick Warren
Charismatic: Knowing God Intimately (Warner Faith), Joyce Meyer
Christian Living: Next Door Savior (W Publishing), Max Lucado
Decorative Accessories: Family silver flip photo frame (Lighthouse Christian Co.)
Spiritual Growth: Experiencing the Heart of Jesus (Thomas Nelson), Max Lucado
Spanish: Una vida con propósito (Vida Publishers), Rick Warren
Jewelry: Fashion Jewelry Collection (Bob Siemon Designs)
Self-Improvement: Everybody’s Normal Till You Get to Know Them (Zondervan), John Ortberg
Children: 20 Bible Verses Every Child Should Know (Standard Publishing)
Fiction: And the Shofar Blew (Tyndale House), Francine Rivers
More seriously, some of these categories and winners seem to reflect a medieval Catholic approach to the Christian life, in which the promises of the Gospel are obscured by a plethora of artifacts that are invested with a quasi-sacramental ability to bring us closer to God: the "You Are Loved voice message photo frame", for example. And quite what "self-improvement" is doing as a category in "Christian" awards is anyone's guess.
But that's what happens when we lose sight of the central importance of doctrine. The Gospel is doctrine, cannot be anything else by its very nature: it consists of certain promises, statements, declarations, teachings that need to be heard and believed (see my recent post on this subject). While Christians are not all called to be doctrinal theologians in an academic sense, when we throw doctrine out altogether we end up throwing the Gospel out with it.
What are we then left with? Watered-down Law in the form of self-help manuals and step-by-step guides - because God will surely not deny His grace to those who do what lies within their power - and trinkets to help us feel closer to God (since the promises of the Gospel, as held out to us in Word and Sacrament, are no longer sufficient to achieve this). The Retailers Choice Awards category list, in other words.
