Pathetic

Originally Posted by ReformedDave

Here's the current best seller list of "Christian" books this month. Look how many are about 'me, me, me'! Very few are even remotely about God.

With all due respect, Dave...

Have you ever heard the expression "You can't judge a book by its cover"?


Same is true of a book's title.


Have you read them all? Not the reviews... the actual books.

[Brett Prince]

Dave, I love you, and often think just like you. On this one, though, I have to say that the titles are designed to sell books--but often the content is extremely God-centered.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by ReformedDave

Here's the current best seller list of "Christian" books this month. Look how many are about 'me, me, me'! Very few are even remotely about God.

Top 50



March 2007
Ranking Title Author/Publisher
1 Moments Together for Couples Dennis & Barbara Rainey, Regal (Gospel Light), c
2 Get Out of That Pit Beth Moore, Integrity (Nelson), c
3 The Five Love Languages Gary Chapman, Northfield (Moody), p
4 Facing Your Giants Max Lucado, W Publishing (Nelson), c
5 The Seven Pillars of Health Don Colbert, Charisma (Strang), c
6 God's Promises for Your Every Need: 25th anniversary ed. J. Countryman (Nelson), p
7 Ever After Karen Kingsbury, Zondervan, p
8 90 Minutes in Heaven Don Piper with Cecil Murphey, Revell (Baker), p
9 Rick Warren's Bible Study Methods Rick Warren, Zondervan, p
10 Captivating John & Stasi Eldredge, Nelson Books (Nelson), c
11 Wild at Heart John Eldredge, Nelson Books (Nelson), p
12 Praying God's Word Day By Day Beth Moore, B&H Publishing Group, c
13 White Chocolate Moments Lori Wick, Harvest House, p
14 Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World Joanna Weaver, WaterBrook, p
15 God's Answers for Your Life: 25th anniversary ed. J. Countryman (Nelson), p
16 Having a Mary Spirit Joanna Weaver, WaterBrook, p
17 The Way of the Wild Heart John Eldredge, Nelson Books (Nelson), c
18 The Purpose Driven Life Rick Warren, Zondervan, c
19 My Utmost for His Highest Oswald Chambers, Barbour, p
20 Kingdom Principles Myles Munroe, Destiny Image, c
21 Love and Respect Emerson Eggerichs, Integrity (Nelson), p
22 For Women Only Shaunti Feldhahn, Multnomah (WaterBrook), c
23 Family Karen Kingsbury, Tyndale, p
24 Jerusalem Countdown, revised John Hagee, Frontline (Strang), p
25 The Confident Woman Joyce Meyer, FaithWords (Hachette), c
26 199 Treasures of Wisdom on Talking With God Andrew Murray, Barbour, p
27 The Bible Promise Book: New Life Version Barbour, p
28 Half Price Living Ellie Kay, Moody, p
29 Battlefield of the Mind Joyce Meyer, FaithWords (Hachette), p
30 Prayer Philip Yancey, Zondervan, c
31 More Devotions for Dieters Dan Dick, Barbour, p
32 The Hope Chest Wanda Brunstetter, Barbour, p
33 What Every Christian Ought to Know Adrian Rogers, B&H Publishing Group, c
34 My Utmost for His Highest (updated) Oswald Chambers & Jim Reimann, ed.; Discovery House (Barbour), p
35 Jack Bauer's Having a Bad Day Tim Wesemann, Life Journey (Cook), p
36 Heaven Randy Alcorn, Tyndale, c
37 Love and Respect Emerson Eggerichs, Integrity (Nelson), c
38 Every Young Woman's Battle Shannon Ethridge & Stephen Arterburn, WaterBrook, p
39 David Beth Moore, B&H Publishing Group, c
40 Voices of the Faithful Beth Moore, Integrity (Nelson), c
41 Prayers for Emotional Wholeness Stormie Omartian, Harvest House, c
42 Lies Women Believe Nancy Leigh DeMoss, Moody, p
43 Jerusalem Countdown John Hagee, Frontline (Strang), p
44 Blue Like Jazz Donald Miller, Nelson Books (Nelson), p
45 For Men Only Shaunti & Jeff Feldhahn, Multnomah (WaterBrook), c
46 Plain and Fancy Wanda Brunstetter, Barbour, p
47 Before I Wake Dee Henderson, Tyndale, p
48 Safe in the Shepherd's Arms Max Lucado, J. Countryman (Nelson), c
49 Woman to Woman Joyce Meyer, FaithWords (Hachette), c
50 The Power of a Praying Wife Stormie Omartian, Harvest House, p

I've started a thread to this point and made some comments regarding the Covenant Parters with Hutchinson in this vein of thought. This is the problem with American christianity. It follows too closely with the world. Jesus defined the world as "Marrying and given in Marriage" and then John I think said "lust of the eyes and lust of the flesh and pride of life"....Our world is hedonistic, Materialistic, and ego centric. The church is not meant to be clostered monks but by no means are we supposed to be so self centered and materialistic that this becomes the main theme in many churchs...what YOU can get out of it.

The gospel message used to be how YOU have sinned and are worthy of judgement, but not it's about what YOU can get OUT of God...a feel good message.

Yet sexual immorality is running rampant through out our schools....and it's not just the kids either. It's the teachers too. Drug abuse, Broken marriages, Homosexuality. The church is afraid to appear "judgemental" now. Instead we are being trained to tell them how to "Live your best life now!"

It's all about us, not about Him

Originally Posted by Brett Prince

Dave, I love you, and often think just like you. On this one, though, I have to say that the titles are designed to sell books--but often the content is extremely God-centered.

Ditto.

[Felicity]

19 My Utmost for His Highest Oswald Chambers

Dave ........

Have you never read Oswald Chambers?! Believe me .... it is deep rich stuff.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by CareyM

What if it draws us closer to God or helps us to have a deeper relationship with God?

You know, sometimes as Christians we can get in a rut and we need fresh perspectives.

I think the issue is is this: What is the quality of that relationship? Not quantity, but quality. Anyone can have a relationship. An abusive husband and his wife have a relationship.

Is our relationship with God ,God centered or us centered? Is it about serving Him or is it about how to get more out of this relationship (Him serving us)

Is our closeness with God done on His terms or is it just us THINKING we are drawing closer to God. What are the motives.

See there is a right way and a wrong way to do anything, including serving God.

Now Im not saying this is true of the book you are reading because I have not read it

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

I know the titles might be misleading ... but to say that all these books are egocentric ... is a stretch ... a montage.

Some may be egocentric ... perhaps... it would requiring reading them alll.

but to say there are many books on this list that are not God focused may be unfair also....

Yes there are some peddlers cashing in on the self-help craze ...

but I also see a movement that is seeking a more intimate and deeper relationship with God ... a central theme in many of the books listed.

He didn't say they were all like that.

[ReformedDave]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

I've started a thread to this point and made some comments regarding the Covenant Parters with Hutchinson in this vein of thought. This is the problem with American christianity. It follows too closely with the world. Jesus defined the world as "Marrying and given in Marriage" and then John I think said "lust of the eyes and lust of the flesh and pride of life"....Our world is hedonistic, Materialistic, and ego centric. The church is not meant to be clostered monks but by no means are we supposed to be so self centered and materialistic that this becomes the main theme in many churchs...what YOU can get out of it.

The gospel message used to be how YOU have sinned and are worthy of judgement, but not it's about what YOU can get OUT of God...a feel good message.

Yet sexual immorality is running rampant through out our schools....and it's not just the kids either. It's the teachers too. Drug abuse, Broken marriages, Homosexuality. The church is afraid to appear "judgemental" now. Instead we are being trained to tell them how to "Live your best life now!"

It's all about us, not about Him

You've said 100% correctly.

[ReformedDave]

Originally Posted by Felicity

Dave ........

Have you never read Oswald Chambers?! Believe me .... it is deep rich stuff.

I've read everything Chambers wrote. I know the man's writings fairly well and for devotional stuff it's not bad...Just too esoteric and subjective for my taste.

The vast majority of books on this list are sheer infamil!

[ReformedDave]

Originally Posted by Brett Prince

Dave, I love you, and often think just like you. On this one, though, I have to say that the titles are designed to sell books--but often the content is extremely God-centered.

I'm familiar with many of these authors and believe me it "all 'bout me" and an inch deep and a mile wide. About 5 years ago I started to read books written about God by men of God(and no not just systematic theologies). When you do it gets very lonely as you realize what you've been missing and very few understand where you are coming from.