Book business requires toughness

Blessings owners Angela and Mark Hutchinson.

This is a tough business (or calling) to work in –≠unless you’re either being mentored by someone who’s done it before, or have experience.

Like a newborn baby’s long term health is often set on course in the first 48 hours, a Christian bookstore’s initial buying often determines its longevity.

We’ve found that churches will provide some support at the outset to get you noticed; but ongoing astute buying and a desire to integrate into the larger, community marketplace will be key to survival.

Like other stores, we take lots of special orders, but our aim is to be so intuitive that we have the item in stock before people start asking. That, and a major launch six years ago into remainder and overstock titles, have kept us going – in two small town locations, which all logic and reason says shouldn’t actually support their own stores. 

Paul Wilkinson, Searchlight Books, Cobourg & Brockville, ON

Celebrate the entire ‘Christ event’

I applaud Earl Banks on his commitment to questioning traditional doctrine in light of theology (‘Writer defends anti-Christmas view,’ February). However, his concern over celebrating Christmas raises a deeper theological issue: Why did Jesus come, and how do we understand the atonement?

To state that Jesus’ birth “doesn’t help anyone,” because “it’s his death which dealt with our sin,” is neither biblical nor theologically correct. 

To interpret 1 Corinthians 11: 25-26 as a command to only celebrate Jesus’ death is one interpretation. 

However, when Jesus says, “do this in remembrance of me,” he may very well be referring to the entire ‘Christ event’: his life, death and resurrection – which would then indeed be a call to celebrate his birth in some form.

Furthermore, if Christ’s death is the only important aspect of atonement, what do we do with the first three gospels which deal largely with his life? Did God step down into this world simply so that he could die? If so, why didn’t he just die in the manger? 

Moreover, if “it’s his death which dealt with our sin,” what is the point of the resurrection? Why bother coming back? 

Many scriptures such as Hebrews 4:15 and 5:8-9 hold up the significance of Christ’s work. Romans 5:10 explicitly states that it is Christ’s life that saves humanity; and                 1 Corinthians speaks of Christ’s resurrection swallowing death in victory.

So whether one celebrates Christmas or not, the fact is that Jesus’ birth is important – and not only so that he could then simply die. 

Rodney K. Wiebe, Abbotsford

Homelessness a national disgrace

Homelessness is Canada’s shame. How can any Canadian with a roof over their head and food in the fridge, eat and sleep soundly, knowing that so many of our fellow humans are out there going hungry and without shelter for yet another night?

Why is it that only a few churches provide meals on certain days of the week? Where are the other so-called Christian organizations? Why isn’t each and every church feeding, clothing and housing the needy?

Let’s get busy fixing the problem! Let’s not spend more money on studies and homeless counts. Give the compassionate, caring folk in the congregations the opportunity to be the ‘hands and feet of Christ!’

Chuck Monroe, Victoria

Law honours Grant De Patie’s life

Thank you for the inspiring story your paper ran last year about the faith of the De Patie family.  

It was such good news to hear  that the law has actually been changed as a result of Corrine De Patie and her family’s perseverance. Grant De Patie’s life continues to have a meaningful reach, thanks to the power of our awesome God working through his people, transforming everything into something good.

I want to say congratulations to Doug and Corrine on this significant accomplishment. Your efforts have resulted in a law change that is long overdue, and will also honour the memory of your very special son, Grant.  

Thank you, God bless you.

Linda Stanton, Lake Country, BC

Faith made Super Bowl touchdown

“TD Jesus, man! . . . It’s all God . . . It’s all God!” The words of David Tyree after his touchdown reception at the Super Bowl.

He became a Christian at the prompting of his mom, who died in December. So . . .

My take on ‘the catch’ which set up the winning touchdown is that it was perhaps the greatest athletic display in human history (okay, maybe Bob Beamon’s 29-foot-long jump is close.) It astounds me every time I watch the replay.

The only play in football history which comes close, in my estimation, is Darren Flutie’s sideline leaping catch of Danny McManus’ pass in snowy Calgary – which set up B.C.’s winning touchdown on the last play of the game in 1994’s CFL Western final.

But I digress. God bless David Tyree.

Peter Sawatsky, Surrey

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Faith made Super Bowl touchdown

As an Orthodox priest who formerly was an Anglican priest, I read with great interest your interview with Diana Butler Bass (‘Good news for mainline churches,’ February).  

I was particularly appreciative of her citing St. Augustine’s well-known image of the church as a “hospital for sinners.”  

In the interests of historical fairness, however, it must be pointed out that St. Augustine (and all of the Church Fathers, St. Dorotheus of Gaza included), would repudiate her stance that one can “not have any corner on who God is and how Christians are supposed to act in the world.”

Rather, St. Augustine would emphatically assert that Christians  do ”have a corner on who God is” – because God has revealed himself finally and fully in Christ. This revelation abides in his body, the church – and is witnessed to authoritatively in the church’s scriptures.  

The early Christians considered it their divine mandate to ‘’tell people how to behave” and “what they should think” – not because they were arrogant enough to think themselves smarter than others, but because they were humble enough to accept the apostolic tradition as authoritative.  

For St. Augustine then, as for the Orthodox today, the task is not to accept “other voices in [the] mix and other wisdoms”; rather, it is to remain faithful to the life-giving apostolic gospel, even when confronted with dilutions and distortions of it.  

By refusing that call, the “liberal churches” have indeed demonstrated that, for them, “anything goes.”

Archpriest Lawrence R. Farley,

St. Herman of Alaska Orthodox Church, Langley

Anglican ‘liberals’ really apostates

The matter of same-sex blessings is only a consequence of so-called bishops renouncing the vows made at their initial ordination.

Bishops have been called and consecrated to be Chief Shepherds – not champions for political correctness within the church.  

We do not bless adultery, or pedophilia – because both are completely contrary to the Word.  So is homosexual conduct, whether monogamous or otherwise.  

The time has long since passed for certain clergy to realize God’s word is not subject to the approval of people in purple shirts and white collars – and definitely not subject to any majority vote, at any synod.  

The really damaging aspect to this thinking is making same-sex couples believe their union is blessed. The church does indeed welcome all sinners, including homosexuals; but that does not mean the church endorses such activity.  

We are all saved by grace and we are called to repent; by claiming to bless any sinful activity, a church clearly misleads its members.

For too long we have used the polite words ‘liberal’ and ‘conservative’; but the correct terminology in this matter is ‘apostasy’ versus ‘orthodoxy.’

Any schism within the Anglican Church must be placed at the foot of the apostates: weak-kneed clergy, and parishioners content to blindly follow in their footsteps.

There is no possible union between apostasy and orthodoxy.

Frank C. Wirrell, Abbotsford

‘Culture jammer’ is too irreverent

I found the feature on the ‘Culture jammer’ (January) disturbing.

For Aiden Enns to title his magazine with what is universally understood as an epithet for the name of our Lord betrays his lack of reverence for the risen Saviour.

Using such common and vulgar jargon also breaks the third commandment of The Decalogue.

I am hearing, more and more, careless and profane descriptions for Deity – which reflect a lack of understanding of the holiness of God, on the part of all who use them.

Rick Crompton, Surrey

Thanks for Testimony and Roundup

I am pastor of a Lutheran church; I am really enjoying BC Christian News – especially the Testimony section. Thanks for your works.

Sanghun Kim, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Aldergrove

A huge thank you for the acknowledgement of my new store, in your Regional Roundup (February). I have had so many customers come in as a direct result of reading about it.

Unfortunately, they went to the address listed, and found that we have moved!

Due to unforeseen circumstances (a major structural problem and no heat) we had to move within three days; 11 customers (strangers!) moved the store for me. They came when they could, and did what they could. A couple of ladies who couldn’t help move came a few days later to help unpack!

What a blessing these new friends are!  What encouragement to me, and those who hear this story. There truly are unselfish giving people willing to help – just because. There is definitely support for this Christian bookstore in New Westminster. The customers spoke loud and clear in their actions. 

Our new location is: 712B 12th Street; the phone number is: 604-395-7724.

Krystal Edin, ChristRox, New Westminster

March 2008