Christian Research Service Alert!
TBM BookManager, Ltd.
May 16, 2007
Take equal amounts of dirty motor oil and
pure water, place both in a clear container
and shake vigorously. Slowly but surely,
the dirty motor oil will rise to the top.
Canadian Christians' looking for solid, Bible-based materials may be in for a big surprise when they browse the cyber-shelves of online Christian bookstores powered by TBM BookManager, Ltd. Unless they are careful, they will be exposed to much more than just Christian authors and books.
Headquartered in Kelowna, BC, Canada, BookManager is a secular company that provides software and data solutions for both secular and Christian bookstores. While BookManager services stores in England, Ireland, the Bahamas, and the U.S., their "software is used by the majority of Canadian independent booksellers, and includes a large number of Christian bookstores"
"We support well over four-hundred stores that consider BookManager to be an integral asset to their business. The data we are now providing to both booksellers and publishers is opening the doors to a whole new era of prosperity in the industry" ( http://www.bookmanager.com/tbm/?q=h.company ).
Recently, Christian Research Service spent a considerable amount of time talking to managers and employees of numerous Canadian Christian bookstores powered by BookManager, and informed them that pornographic materials were lurking within their online bookstores.
After the initial shock and disbelief, some planned to contact BookManager and complain, while others planned to drop BookManager altogether.
One manager planned to contact BookManager and request the removal of the non-Christian and pornographic materials. But with a "Title Link" of "over 4,000,000" books, the chances of that happening are slim to none.
Also lurking among BookManager's titles are page-after-page of books that promote: cultic theology, occultism, homosexuality, lesbianism, pro-gay, transsexualism, prostitution, New Age, satanism, profanity, XXX-rated materials, Word-Faith and,
-- Understanding Loved Boys and Boylovers by David L. Riegel (published by SafeHaven Foundation)
-- Harmful to Minors: The Perils of Protecting Children From Sex by Judith Levine (published by Thunder's Mouth)
-- Varieties of Man/Boy Love by M. Pascal (published by the North American Man/Boy Love Association)
-- Witchhunt Foiled: The FBI vs NAMBLA (published by the North American Man/Boy Love Association)
This is a significant problem for Canadian Christian bookstores and any Christian bookstore that is powered by BookManager. Indeed, the mere presence of non-Christian authors and books within Christian bookstores--whether in Canada, the U.S., or worldwide--is a sobering reminder that Christians have let their guard down and failed to apply the Biblical tests to authors, books, and materials within their online and walk-in Christian bookstores (1 Thessalonians 5:21; 1 John 4:1).
Years ago, when Christian Research Service began its research into the Christian bookstore industry, one of the main concerns was that it was only a matter of time when pornographic and other perversion-promoting materials would be encountered within online Christian bookstores.
While secular companies like BookManager have the freedom to advertise, promote, and sell whatever they wish, Christians who own, manage, and work at Christian bookstores are accountable to God and the Biblical guidelines He has established.
Online or walk-in Christian bookstores can be either a blessing or a curse. If they cannot be operated within the strict guidelines of Scripture, instead of compromising the faith and endangering the spiritual welfare of the believer, then it is time to protect the body of Christ, uphold God's holy word and shut the bookstore down. Afterall, the Lord has promised to take care of those who love and trust Him:
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me (Hebrews 13:5-6).
Besides, to lose everything for the sake of Jesus Christ is to lose nothing and gain everything.
The bottom line is that Christians need to step-up to the plate and stand strong for Jesus Christ. To sit back and do nothing goes against the clear-cut commands of Scripture and welcomes judgement from God.
Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen. I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty (Revelation 1:7-8).
Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong; and the one who is filthy, still be filthy; and let the one who is righteous, still practice righteousness; and the one who is holy, still keep himself holy. Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end (Revelation 22:11-13).
As we draw closer and closer to Jesus' return, solid, Bible-based authors and books are slowly but surely being pushed aside and replaced by non-Christian authors and wolves in sheep's clothing (1 Timothy 4:1-5; 2 Timothy 3:1-17; 2 Timothy 4:1-8).
For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God (Romans 14:11-12).
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap (Galatians 6:7).
The prophets prophesy falsely, And the priests rule on their own authority; And My people love it so! But what will you do at the end of it? (Jeremiah 5:31)
The dirty oil is rising to the top. The handwriting is on the wall for the Christian bookstore industry. In the meantime, what will YOU do?
Supplemental reading (parental discretion advised):
Amazon defends sale of pedophile book: Refuses to pull adult-child sex title, also selling NAMBLA product
For the Master List, articles, and news releases concerning the Christian bookstore industry, go to http://www.christianresearchservice.com/ChristianBookstores.htm
Bud Press is the
Director of
Christian Research Service
and a Christian Investigative Researcher. Christian Research Service is a
discernment ministry that provides information, documentation and
referral on a wide variety of issues to the body of Christ and the Christian
news media worldwide.
© Christian Research Service 2007