Family Christian

[philtvnews]

I find it very interesting that you can go to numerous sites all over the web...everything from the Christian music web sites to Best Buy.com...wal mart's web site, etc., yet when you go to Family Christian Store's web site and enter "Petra Farewell," no records come up! Isn't that just SAD!!!! I mean, come on, Family Christian is probably one of, if not THE largest Christian retailer and they don't have any records of the upcoming release. Why is this!

[RockOn]

I don't know about Family Christian Stores anymore.

Here in Louisville they are open for a few hours on Sundays. I mean...COME ON...the Lord gave us a day of rest for a reason.

[BForm]

We need to get something straight about Family Christian Stores. They are no longer Christian. They aren' t Christian owned and probably not even operated by Christians at the upper level. Many of the books you will find there now are not even Christian. Sure, they are "religious" and talk about God. But they are not Christian by any historical creed. They should just call themselves Family Stores.

It's just like the FISH radio network. They began abandoning "Christian" in their promotion but instead refer to themselves as being "safe for the whole family".

But as far as Petra not being on there. I'm sure it's not any kind of boycott. They just don't know enough about the sentimental value of this last CD to pay it any attention. Just chalk it up to ignorance and indifference.

[AlwaysJohnLawryFan]

I know The Family Bookstore has closed down in the mall where I live. I have to go to another christian store and they didn't have it.

[Jonathan]

When I worked there back in 1999-2000, they were changing from Zondervan to Family Bookstores.

Whenever I go in there, I can just sense the commercialization and sterilization of Christianity, and I can't help but feel kind creeped out.

It seems to be just a lot of junk to make money off faith. Some of that schlocky stuff may be truly inspirational, but it's hard for me to be moved by any of it.

[unlost]

There is even more on the issue on his site

http://a1m.org/

[axelegend]

On a related note to the above discussion, one thing that has been irking me lately is how Christian bookstores (not just Family Christian) sell NON-CHRISTIAN music.

Last year, I had the chance to audition as a guitarist for the Trans-Siberian Orchestra - an opportunity that I passed on, for the simple fact that I would have had to delay finishing my senior year in college. Nonetheless, I met all of the band members, the managers, etc. I can tell you this: the Trans-Siberian Orchestra is NOT a Christian band, yet ALL of the Christian bookstores in our area sell their music. For example, Faces, the first solo CD from Chris Caffery (one of the main guitarists in TSO, and also the "emcee" for the TSO East Coast touring section) - it includes songs with titles such as "Don't P*** Me Off" and "G.D. War" - and the lyrics are (unsurprisingly) much worse than those two titles. Granted, Chris is a very talented guitarist and a super-friendly guy to chat with, but obviously does not write or release Christian music. TSO's Christmas CDs do sometimes have a generic Christian twist in the stories they tell (all TSO CDs are rock operas), but TSO is NOT a Christian band! Yet ALL of the Christian bookstores and music stores stock TSO CDs. I first noticed this when I walked into one of our local Christian stores last month. It just so happens that the Petra show that I am promoting this weekend in Youngstown falls on the same day (and time) - in the same city, nonetheless - as a Trans-Siberian Orchestra show. I arranged to have posters and flyers for our Petra show at the bookstore 2 months before the show. Last month I checked up on the flyers and posters, only to discover that they were all removed, with TSO promotional materials in their place. Talk about frustrating! I bit my tongue, but was extremely disappointed that the store was promoting a NON-CHRISTIAN band over one of the pioneering (and unquestionably) CHRISTIAN rock bands. It really is no wonder that the members of Petra have become fed up with the Christian music industry.

Sorry for the long rant, but sometimes you just have to wonder about the "Christian" bookstores and industry. Many people complain that the world (and our society as well) is very materialistic and greedy - and it's disheartening to see those same negative worldly influences extending into "Christian" bookstores and music stores.

[misterbob]

Hi (just a disagreement, not an argument or a flame session).

I had a very long chat with the manager of the local Family Christian Store about the Sunday hours. We both agreed that the store being upon on Sunday was in direct violation of the working on the Sabbath guidelines.

However, and I agree fully with her, Family's decision to open on Sunday was in direct response to folks that do work on Sundays with permission (i.e. Pastors and Church Volunteers) from God.

Family felt that they should be open on Sundays to accomodate folks that have specific needs on Sundays and, perhaps just as importantly, to be available for anyone who felt inspired on Sundays for any reason. We both liken it to churches that have bookstores/bookswaps, etc. on Sundays before and after their services.

While Family is certainly trying to make a profit (God forbid a Christian company make any money...but that's another discussion!), their reasoning here makes total sense to me. I can't tell you how many times I have used their store on Sunday because I wanted to work on a Sunday School presentation for the following week or to find a good accompaniment track that just popped into my head.

So...like I said...if you want to rag on Family's stores from a merchandise point of view, that's fine with me. However, the Sunday openings have far much more to do with God's mission (in my view) than they do with violating Biblical law. If a church bookstore can be open on Sunday, why can't Family be open for churches that don't have their own bookstore?

I'm done...thanks for reading.

[Pethead1]

I drive 25 miles to Family befor I drive 4 miles to Lifeway.

[unlost]

hey axelegend- they used to ban CHRISTIAN music from christian bookstores if they looked or sounded too worldly. I saw it with my own eyes! Larry Norman, Stryper to name a couple.
I think we are seeing the other side of the "coin" now (I'm also implying that the coin is the motivation behind it all).

[Edward]

Wait a minute.

S: (n) Saturday, Sabbatum, Sat (the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians.

S: (n) Sunday, Lord's Day, Dominicus, Sun (first day of the week; observed as a day of rest and worship by most Christians.

The day is no longer important. Paul started the new trend, not being tied to a day. Jesus arose from the grave on the Sunday, so that was justification for the change. It matters not what day it is, just that you take a day to honor God and rest.

Businesses should be able to remain open without scorn, because they have the ability to schedule people off, and nobody works seven days a week in retail (maybe except the manager who is not running the show properly).

Having managed retail and service providers before, I can tell you that while I scheduled for people to be off on a Sat or Sun for worship, few used the time off for that purpose, but they all griped about missing church when asked to work an extra shift on that day, in a pinch.

Family Bookstores USED to be owned and managed by Christian people. The management in the main office was tight knit, and very Christian. They did close alot of the mall outlets, changed the name and format to free standing buildings.

Family decided to mass/broad market, eliminating the Christian element from the name. I think that this has backfired. Why? They left the malls. In my home town, they move to an intersection that is hard to cross. The store is larger, colder. In the mall store, it was always packed, people were always talking, meeting someone in the music section with like tastes, etc. I liked going in there, especially when dragged to the mall by my wife. Now, I never go, because it is not at the mall that I am dragged to now.

[Michael]

Correct... Saturday is the Sabbath, not Sunday. I relax on Saturday and mow the grass on Sunday.

I'm thinking that maybe Family Christian doesn't put stuff up on their Web site until they have it in hand. I doubt any retailers have the product in stock yet.

[RockOn]

I agree that the day itself is not important per se (some people have to work on Saturdays and Sundays), but FCS are now open 7 days a week. And if pastors or other church workers can't take advantage of the other six days a week to get their materials, then maybe they should reprioritize.
The Bible does talk about a day of rest (not that we all completely rest by sitting on our thumbs and doing nothing), and as people of the Bible we should follow the example in God's word to take a day of rest. Even if monetary profit is lost, we'll gain back in eternal riches for following God's directives.
With six other days to get materials, that should be plenty of time. What kind of message does this send to the unchurched who know enough that there should be a day of rest, and yet see a "Christian" bookstore opening its doors seven days a week? To me, it stings of compromise for profit's sake.

But, hey...that's just me.

[BForm]

I agree with you Rock. I kind of chuckled when I saw the explanation of church workers needing to buy materials on The Lord's Day, as if that would be their only opportunity. Sure, we don't know anyone's heart for certain. However, a quick look at what seems to govern the rest of their decisions makes a sudden spiritually motivated one unlikely.

I also have to question this teaching that says that "any old day will do" for a day of rest. I don't know that we have that luxury. The 1 in 7 principle still applies. Jesus IS our sabbath rest and is Lord of the Sabbath. The first day has been referred to as The Lord's Day since New Testament times. John was worshiping on the Lord's Day when he was caught up into heaven in the middle of a worship service there.

Notice how there has been a complete transition from the last day to the first day. That doesn't appear to be a coincidence to me. I don't think going from the last to the 2nd, or 4th, or whatever we choose really makes any theological sense.

I'm gonna do some research on this one.

[Pethead1]

Does it realy matter? It is not an essential doctrine. There is nothing that says a christian can not make a profit.Let it go if you do not like what a store does do not shop there. Big fat harry deal.

I had to choose the lesser. I have les trouble with a place open on Sun than seling books and CDs a week or 2 befor street date.

Your choice will not keep any body out of hell,so it is not a deal.