"So they poured out for the men to eat. And it came to pass, as they were eating of the pottage, that they cried out, and said, O [thou] man of God, [there is] death in the pot. And they could not eat [thereof].” ( 2 Kings 4:40)

It is our conviction that, as there are “many Christs” (cf. Matt. 24:23, 24; 2 Cor. 11:3, 4) representing many “Christianities” (cf. Gal. 1:6-9), yet there is only one true Christ, who reveals and expresses Himself only in true Christianity, that which is essentially “Protestant”, or “Evangelical”. Evangelical Christianity is scripturally faithful, historically validated (cf. Eph. 4:8- 16), and broadly trans-denominational. It embraces all those who hold to (a) the Triune nature of the One and only God ( Deut. 6:4, 5; Isa. 43:10-12, 48:16; Matt. 28:18-20), (b) the unique, exclusive, saving nature of salvation in Jesus Christ (cf. Jn. 14:6; Acts 4:12), affirmed in (c) the historical gospel (cf. 1 Cor. 15:1-4), as (d) received by faith alone, and not by works (cf. Hab. 2:4; Rom. 4:2-5; Eph. 2:8, 9), and (e) proven by a changed life, marked by obedience to God’s commands ( Jas. 2:14-26; 1 Jn. 4:1-7).

These parameters necessarily exclude those who oppose this biblical gospel: these include Romanism, the cults, “Liberal” churches, and their “Emergent” offspring; these ones represent that doctrinal and practical “death”, which ever threatens the “pot” of Christian orthodoxy! Thus, we consider “Christian publishing” in this Evangelical context.

“Modern” Christian publishing stems from an invention (the printing press) and a revolution (the Reformation). The printing press (invented 1440 A.D.) allowed books to be printed en masse, while the Protestant Reformation, over time, produced (a) religious tolerance, (b) the panorama of Protestant denominations, and (c) the need and desire for books for the purposes of religious instruction, at the leadership and “lay” level.

It was from these premises that Grand Rapids, Michigan would become (in time) the “Christian Publishing Capital”, primarily via the godly, publishing enterprises begun by Baker, Eerdman, Zondervan, and Kregel. These “Big Four” were Dutch immigrants and staunch Christians of the “Reformed” school. Though the following extract is from the Baker website, and though the details differ between publishers, yet it accurately summarizes the spirit of Evangelical Christian publishing, at that time: “When it came to religion, they chose…the conservative Reformed Church in America (or) the more conservative Christian Reformed Church. Both denominations maintained a hard line against dancing, card-playing, Sabbath desecration, the movies, and religious liberalism…(they) were both knowledgeable and devout, theology being a frequent subject of dinner-table discussions. The desire to preserve the best of their Reformed heritage prompted the Eerdmans, Zondervans, and Bakers to establish publishing houses that would later be leaders in the religious publishing field.

Here began (Herman Baker’s) love for books, his knowledge of theology…His love for the classics…a love that permeated his publishing activities long after his company had diversified to include massmarket books for everyday Christian living… (Baker’s) first title proved to be typical of what Baker would always prefer to publish--- conservative, scholarly, biblical material---a book that had more than an even chance of becoming a standard reference work. Herman (Baker) was more interested in books that would be reprinted at regular intervals over a long period of time than those that would zoom to the top of the charts for a few months and then disappear.”

Worthy sentiments and goals, indeed! This brief summary expresses an ideal, an “ethos” for Christian publishing that reflects scriptural doctrine and practice. First of all, it reflects the injunction/warning of James that, among the brethren, there ought not to be, “…many masters (i.e. “teachers”, marg.)”, as teachers would receive the “… greater condemnation” ( Jas. 3:1; cf. Matt. 23:15). In the context of Christian publishing, “teaching” involves not only the authors of the printed materials, but the printers and distributors of those materials!

Following from this, the Christian publishers of yesterday acknowledged the importance of sound doctrine (cf. 1 Tim. 4:16). As even a small amount of “poison” can pollute the “pot”, so false doctrine, tolerated amongst God’s people, can cause them to be “destroyed” (cf. Hos. 4:6), and “cut off” ( Rom. 11:22) from God. Though not refusing to publish newer works, these publishers refused to publish heretical works, even if such works might generate income by “zoom(ing) to the top of the charts for a few months and then disappear(ing)”. In this, these publishers fulfilled the words of Christ that they, as good “householders” of God’s truth, would be enabled to bring forth of this godly “treasure (things) new and old” ( Matt. 13:52).

The above summary also reflects the biblical revelation that a Christian’s life is not to be divorced from a Christian’s faith. Christians are to “do all”, whether “in word or deed…as to the Lord, and not unto men” (cf. Col. 3:17, 23). Though Christians are “in the world”, yet they are not “of the world” ( Jn. 17:14-16); they often work for the ungodly, in a godly fashion (cf. 1Thess. 4:11, 12; 2 Thess. 3:12), and where conscience demands, they refuse to be “yoked” together with the ungodly ( 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1; cf. Amos 3:3). It naturally follows from this that when Christians initiate, own, or control businesses, properties, etc. (including publishing ventures), that they do so in a godly fashion, whether the “higher powers” (i.e. human governments) allow or not (cf. Dan. 3:16-18).

Sadly and tragically the “Christian” publishing of our day has, for the most part, completely repudiated the godly, biblical principles that under-girded the publishing endeavors of those who came before; the “pot” of godly Christian publishing has been quite “poisoned” with books, dvd’s, etc. promoting out-right heresy and a worldly ungodliness (cf. Titus 2:11_15, 3:10, 11). Indeed, as one peruses the offerings as found from the presses of the “Big Four” themselves, one is left wondering what would be the response of the men to the materials currently published by the companies that bear their names!

The next article will begin to document this decline in Christian publishing, explaining how these publishers have sunk to this low state.