Some History Behind Christian Stores

A few weeks ago I visited my local Christian store to buy a book I had been looking for for a long time. As I was standing there looking at all the products on the shelves, I went in one my thinking modes. What was it, I wondered, that gave rise to the need for stores that sell only Christian products? Why don't we Christians just buy what we need at any old store?

Perhaps to answer this question, we should keep in mind various reasons why we are Christians to start with. There is a teaching of Christ that has special meaning for my purpose here; that is the commandment to be in the world but not of the world. This profound teaching is difficult to understand, but very important.

Since we Christians should not be "in the world", that means that we shouldn't take part in all the things that the world says are worthwhile. The world to me means our popular culture, and all the things that and majority of people says we should do. We can't be held to those low standards in how we entertain and educate ourselves.

But how exactly do we do all that if the majority of stores out there aim to make money while paying little or no attention to morality? How do we balance the desire to have some entertainment while keeping grounded in Christ? I would submit to you that we do this by shopping at Christian stores.

Christian stores are run by Christians just like you. The resources there are carefully chosen so that you can trust their spiritual value. Christian resources aim only at high standards of quality, so you can be assured that you are not compromising your morals or standards by purchasing them. These products are lifesavers for many people.

Let's look at books as an example. Anywhere else, the book selection is sketchy at best. There could be some trashy romance novel around any corner. And just because it made the newspaper's bestseller list, doesn't mean it's good. You need Christ centered books that will fill your mind with uplifting teachings and Christian principles.

I sincerely hope that your city has one of these stores for you to visit. Just a short while ago, I found out that my city had one and I never had knowledge of it before. You can find out for sure by asking someone in your congregation to point you in the right direction.

Don't fear if you can't find a physical location for a store in your city. The internet will have what you are looking for every time. And there will be a much better selection to choose from. If I had to choose, I would go with the internet every time because it is so much more convenient.