As some of you may or may not know, one of my part-time jobs is working at a Christian bookstore. In the time I’ve been working I’ve come to ponder why some people do or don’t shop at a local Christian bookstore, instead of ordering from an online source.
There may be a number of reasons someone would find ordering books and materials online:
1) Convenience--ordering from home, anytime, anywhere.
2) Content--selection, more books than any one bookstore could hold in inventory.
3) Customer Centered--efficient, good customer service/order processing.
4) Cost--better pricing.
Perhaps a bad experience in the past, or less than optimal customer service has also caused people to use online services instead of supporting “Christian” businesses…and rightly so…or maybe not?
If the four stated reasons make sense then perhaps we should apply this to attending church too….Instead we can now podcast, stream video, watch it all on TV. Let’s look at this a bit closer:
1) Convenience--it is more convenient to download or turn on the TV than it is to dress, drive to and attend church.
2) Content--you can pick and chose your “pastor for the day” as well as sermon topic.
3) Customer Centered--you don’t ever have to deal with real people so you will always get efficient, fast service focused on YOU and not what YOU can do for them.
4) Cost--most websites, TV programs and Podcasts are free.
Perhaps a bad experience in the past or less than perfect church service/ministry operations has caused people to disassociate themselves from the community…then it’s just hearing the Word of God without dealing with those “Christian” people….and rightly so…or maybe not?
As with local Christian bookstore and local Christian churches, there is an obligation to provide for the wants and needs of the body of believers AND just as important is an obligation for the body of believers to provide support Christian businesses and churches.
So, my questions to you are:
1) What is the purpose of community?
2) Does the Bible speak on supporting Christian businesses?
3) Does the Bible speak on attending a local church?
4) What would happen if we close all local Christian bookstores?
5) What would happen if we close all local churches?
6) Any other thoughts or comments?
4 comments:
"As with local Christian bookstore and local Christian churches, there is an obligation to provide for the wants and needs of the body of believers AND just as important is an obligation for the body of believers to provide support Christian businesses and churches."
Amen. To add to this statement: I think that, along with the support, someone who is dissatisfied with the convenience, content, customer service, and/or cost at a local Christian church or bookstore has an obligation to convey that dissatisfaction to the organization. This will help to better all parties involved. We all fail as humans and sometimes our game face doesn't quite make it. That's why there's grace.
Hebrews 10 spells out the need to support one another. Ya know, the "exhorting one another" and "stirring one another up to love and good works." The act of selling everything one owned and giving it to a commune as seen in acts. The blasphame against God when the husband and wife didn't give the full price for their land. Should we support local Christian businesses as much as it makes sense.
Its the "making sense" part that causes the problem. Colossians 3:23 tells us that we are to do all things as if unto the Lord. Here is where Adam Smith's invisible hand prevails. I have been to Christian bookstores where the service was not only worthy of Col 3:23 but where actually worse than most local businesses. I'm not talking about one bad experience but repeated bad experiences. The invisible hand has since guided my puchasing decisions to other organizations. But, preference is always given to the Christian.
Interesting blog.
Saikoaiko says we should convey our concerns...hmm, I don't shop at any of the "Christian" bookstores because they should be able to figure it out over these years...same owners, same stores, same poor service.
Too bad they don't read this blog. Maybe they should put some time and money into some training and base their employee evals on customer satisfaction.
It seems that if you got rid of the "Christian" in their store names they would go out of business even sooner. WE HAVE been supporting them, and they don't even bother to learn customer service or even model what their most popular book says to do.... Maybe they should take one of the Bibles home and read it.
It's as if, the customer is a burden to their work projects, staff conversations and such.
Sorry, I'm gonna keep shopping online and/or at Barnes & Nobles, Borders, etc. They need to earn our patronism.
And if Churches behave in the same manner, find another one and/or go online where things are beautiful, polished and always at their best.
I worry of churches that model the churches of Sardis and/or Smyrna...lost their first love and/or are lukewarm about Jesus...which in modeling should be to love and serve others...then move on or help make a difference.
Hope you'll let me post this comment ;) !
OK, you have listed 5 questions to get some inputs. Here are mine, lets try Q no.1, the purpose of community. Can anyone leave alone and just having one computer? Can anyone become a "real" Christian without having non-Christian friends to witness, to talk to? Can anyone learn from their mistakes of having met the wrong people should there was no community? "Strength one another"- it takes community.
Q no 2, - "dont go weary in doing good.." - we will never know how a person would find Jesus, could be by reading Christian flyer content of verses, a bible or listening to a song as they pass by a christian bookstore, miracles happen anytime and anywhere.
Q no.3, Please also refer to Hebrews 10:25
Q no.4, close down something, unemployment would happen. besides we could limit God for doing HIS things through those stores and its stuff. Every owner of bookstores, they must have had vision for opening it in the first place, the vision could have been planted in their heart by God for a long time. Would they let the vision die?
Q no.5 - In Indonesia, many small churches closed down by some authorities, but hundreds will be built and its growing! Thats our God, He can multiply.
GBU
-roz
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