there are a lot of books out there.
a lot.
as i was browsing the shelves at borders and barnes and noble this week, i noticed a complete lack of books on poverty, injustice or social awareness (excluding the consumeristic sociology kind — there are plenty of books on food, technology, and pop culture).
there was one book i saw which captivated and challenged me. it is a photo journal called what matters.
other than that, zilch.
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27 responses to “sexy books”
i wanted to come up with some snappy, quippy answer Anne and even though I thought of some it just didn’t seem right. I am not sure there is a way to “advertise” these topics to make them more appealing. I think it is someone’s passion. For example, I became a lot more interested in justice after reading Gary Haugen’s book Just Courage. I am wondering (out loud) if using Madison Avenue type of advertising would cheapen the power of the subject. What do you think? Like I said…just thinking out loud.
When I was in college, I read Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger (by Ronald Sider). It had just been published at the time (this tells you how old I am!) and it opened my eyes.
It is hard because you really can’t do such subjects justice in a short advertising spiel. How can the enormity of poverty or injustice ever be made sense of? I think the reason people aren’t paying attention is not that it is not sexy enough, but that it is so big they simply cannot comprehend it. I think people need to read of both the problem and the solutions in small doses. Don’t give them stats about the millions of people in poverty- tell them the stories of a few people effected by it. Don’t overwhelm people with the massive needs in mission- tell them about a few small things they can do. Maybe once people have a handle on the smaller things they can progressively be introduced to bigger and bigger problems+solutions.
Simple, it’s very difficult to see results when dealing with poverty. And this is particularly true with industrial age mass efforts.
Everyone remembers “we are the world”, but Africa is still a mess. So next time you’re going to pass and move on. This happens all the time with other charities and relief efforts. It seems hopeless…like even if you do something you’re not.
That’s why it infuriates me when I hear people justify/mandate large, aggregate, obfuscating efforts (particularly government programs) with scripture. In the New Testament we weren’t told to pay taxes to help the poor. We were told to SEE them, and personally go do something.
When you personally get involved you see the results.
IJM has done a great job of getting the cause of justice out there…although maybe that’s only because I heard Haugen speak at Willow Creek Leadership Summit. I bought his book for when I need a hit of urgency…but I haven’t read it yet.
Wow, Anne. Maybe you’re right about books not being sexy enough…Maybe it’s not a book we need at all. Maybe what we need is more people like you…who’ve been to poverty-stricken areas and who have a passion to share with the rest of us about the needs.
WAit. “a hit of urgency”…Did I REALLY write that? “a HIT of urgency”? Good grief! Sounds like I only care about the world when I have time to do so. Ugh…I am ashamed of the truth about myself.
Maybe because most works on injustice issues identify problems more than line out practical solutions. Injustice is the result of mankind’s sin; until that is eradicated, injustice will continue.
We spent 4 years in Central America. Hurricane Mitch came. Look it up on Wikipedia. In Honduras, aid flowed in. The customs workers took a cut of everything that came in. Though meant for their fellow impovershed countrymen, they took for themselves. I’ve given for shoes. 50,000 pairs arrive, some salaried guy will take 50 pairs for his nieces and to sell to the neighbors. How do you eliminate the reality of sin at every level?
As was pointed out the other day re: vulernability of the oppressed, injustice exists because it CAN exist. We beat against it like a child with a wet noodle whipping an elephant. We can make some efforts, but we’re not eliminating the elephant.
Read a book on it, good. Help a needy family in your area for Christmas. Sponosr a child. On a micro level we can fight it; the macro level, the big picture–“the poor you will have with you always “(said after someone seriously wasted expensive stuff on Jesus). Can we eliminate it? No. Can we maybe give a few people hope along the way? Yes.
the subject brings so much guilt to people they turn their eyes and drive off into the sunset never to ponder on such things again.
when something makes you feel guilty there are 3 typical responses: you address it (fight) , you deny it (flight) , or you just keep feeling guilty until you no longer even know what the fellling of guilt feels like (coma).
that’s what is so great about the U.S. – there are so, so many drugs (money, sex, booze, pills, shopping, sports, career, etc) that we have at our disposal to simply melt away any awareness of anything that may make us the least bit uncomfortable.
gotta go and don’t really have time for this today – have much, much Christmas shopping to do :)
hope in the dark is a good example of this sort of book. in fact, i’m working with a group of missionaries on doing a similar type of book on the issues of sex trafficking. how would you like to have a picture book at child prostitutes on your coffee table?
I think Gary Haugen has written a compelling justice book. His new book Just Courage is fantastic and encourages Christians to be brave, not safe, when it comes to dealing with issues of justice.
Gary’s book is awesome – it’s a rarity.
My question isn’t so much how to make poverty sexy, but just what would make a book about this powerful – since there are so few.
For me, I find that most times when people talk about missions and social justice there is A LOT of emotion that goes into the discussion.
I think there are a lot of people, that would rather have cold hard facts (about poverty, statistics, etc) and then be able to assume their own response, rather than feel that they have to either be emotionally invested to the point where people think they are crazy.
Obviously, some emotion is involved in decision making, but sometimes in the church I have seen people get so angry and accusatory because people aren’t as passionate about missions as they are. That’s like getting angry at someone because they like to cook versus clean. We all have things that “call” us, things we are passionate about. I think missions takes on this life of its own where people somehow assume that THIS IS THE ONLY segment of the Church that is the MOST important. I think people are turned off by the mentality, not the cause. They stop reading books….
If I were to read a book on missions work, outreach programs or social justice I would want the following concepts integrated so that I could feel encouraged that my money was being used wisely:
1.) ROI – Return on Investment : Let people know how programs (raw data) are being effective in solving problems like hunger, AIDS, sickness, etc. Just saying that 10 bucks goes here does nothing for me as an average individual (other than make me feel good that I did something). But I don’t really understand the cause and therefore, I am less likely to get involved or give AGAIN.
2.) Don’t always ask me for $$. There is an art to awareness and fundraising. Most of those parts don’t include asking for $$. We need to make people more aware and do more leg work so that there is longevity and sustained giving based on people really getting behind a cause and not just an emotional one time gift.
3.) Be conversational, not accusatory: So often if people are telling me about a cause I feel like I am the one that is being accused of the oppression and then those same people ask me for money. A book that has a conversation with people to bring awareness and support is different than feeling like anytime I read/talk to someone about a social awareness issue that I’m going to be bombarded with negativity.
4.) Be organized. I’m guilty of this very thing. Sometimes we get so passionate about concepts and ideas we tend to want to push them, before they are ready.
I bet the title “Poverty Whore” would at least get some attention. I believe this concept is taught at most churches but we leave it at church. That is why one on one discipleship is so important. If we followed the Bible and shared what we knew, we really would not need any more books on the subject. Don’t let me discourage you if that is what your next book is about. I am just saying we as Christians need to do our part. I would definitely read the book.
Perhaps not sexy enough….. but I think it’s more like…
1) too painful to give attention to problems that are mammoth
2) people feel very impotent … often people don’t see the difference they make
3) there are so many options to help so many causes. it can be very overwhelming.
4) people have lost hope…. it’s too big to help all.
5) not enough changed hearts. hearts changed=more like Jesus=impact
sure, maybe we don’t let it be sexy enough…. perhaps we don’t let it bet dirty enough either. That’s why i dug your post on the motel and your visit to hang with the people there.
time for a paradigm shift. how do we do it?
I’m not sure HOW it could be powerful but I bet you could be the WHO that made it powerful.
No answers this morning. I think it’s kinda like how people’s attitudes change after they’ve been on a mission trip. Whether they help those in poverty or neglected kids or abused women or whatever — we don’t sense the urgency until we’re thrust into the face of it. How can a book do that?
I agree, if we had as many books on mercy and justice as we do on church growth, relationships, and sex we may be doing a lot more to influence the Kingdom in more physical ways.
There are a few I have found helpful. Tim Keller’s “Ministry of Mercy” is an amazing book on the churches call to mercy. Sider’s book is a bit off theologically, but is great for stats and is challenging. He has several books that challenge Christian consumerism. Also, as already mentioned, Haugen’s books are great resources.
Because if people read about those things, “poverty, injustice or social awareness” they might have to do something about it… better to not read those books and not have to do something about it :)
I think there are some great books out there about this subject
HIV Aids and Orphans:
“There is no me without you”
]by Melissa Faye Greene
AND
“Red Letters, living a faith that bleeds”
by Tom Davis.
I have read both twice!!
Poverty in America:
“The Irresistible Revolution”
by Shane Clairborne
AND
“The Revolution”
by Heather Zempel
I think the biggest question is why so many church people think social issues are a trend set into motion by Hollywood rather then a mandate set by the words of Jesus.
BTW the last book I mentioned, “The Revolution” is a collection of essays by different experts on subjects like Human Trafficking, Poverty, AIDS, etc.. The books give detailed information of organizations helping to make a difference in each area. ANYONE could pick up that book and find ways to help be a part of the solution.
Unfortunately, I grew up around a lot of people that hyped all needful situations. It caused me to gloss over a bit through my teens as to what people int eh worked and immediately around me were going through. I became very self focused and didn’t see things.
Over the last 10 years or so, God has been opening my eyes and stripping things away in my life that are allowing me to see what He wants me to see and I am noticing and in turn…acting.
You asked, what would make one of these books motiviating. I think, a reason. I know that may sound harsh. we shouldn’t need a reason to care, but the reality is that sometimes things are done without intent and what’s the point. I love that the scripture says to “do it all for His glory”. I believe that is more motivating factor than anything I could imagine. I do it all for Him.
I read book this last year called “the Dangerous Act Of Worship” by Mark Labberton. It stuck me deep and really challenged me to action. And it constantly reminded me that as I care for those around me, and fight for justice and mercy, I am doing it for Him and worshiping Him. Here’s a quote,
“When worship is our response to the One who alone is worthy of it, Jesus Christ, then our lives are on their way to being turned inside out. Every dimension of self-centered living becomes endangered as we come to share God’s self-giving heart. Worship exposes our cultural and spiritual complacency toward a world of suffering and injustice. Worship sets us free from ourselves to be free for God and God’s purposes in the world. The dangerous act of worshiping God in Jesus Christ, necessarily draws us into the heart of God and sends us out to embody it, especially toward the poor, the forgotten and the oppressed.”
evan shaw blackerby brought up a good point. I sometimes wonder if fear may have something to do with it. We hate to feel incompetent, and when faced with crises that are seemingly overwhelming, we shy away from the challenge (generally).
God can accomplish great things through individuals, but think of what He can do through larger numbers of people. The odds may be overwhelming, but if believers across the world joined forces to actually strategically combat the growing poverty crisis, the outcome could be amazing.
We’re fighting a spiritual battle anyway. Isn’t an army stronger when working together towards a common goal? Just imagine what could be done! Remember OnePrayer last summer? What if all those churches who participated in OnePrayer rallied together to work towards fighting one or more aspects of poverty (water, shoes, etc.)?
Those books are out there; they just aren’t at Barnes & Noble – or your local Christian bookstore. Ron Sider’s Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger is a great place to start. I don’t know about “sexy,” but the book is absolutely merciless in not letting the reader get away with making excuses. As is Richard Foster’s Freedom of Simplicity.
“Sexy” books usually make us feel good about ourselves. The call to radically change our lifestyles so that others may live doesn’t. I think that pretty much explains it.
I think to make the books have an impact the best way would be to write it – ya know – write it all good and exciting. Make it accurate – use scripture, numbers of orphans, kids in poverty, hunger – you know all the empirical data you can find. Get a real good sleeve on it and even some great quotes on the inside or back cover.
Get it published up and ready for mass consumption.
Then (and here’s the kicker) – make it not available via the Internet. Or Borders. Or even Barnes and Noble. Nope – the only way you can buy this book is in person in Uganda. Or maybe at the Enat Alem Orphanage in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Heck, you could even stock a few in Indonesia. Kenya. Tanzania. India. Russia. China (underground of course).
Then you don’t have to worry about marketing the book. God will do the rest for you – because I find it hard to believe that anybody but the coldest person could travel to these places and not have their heart broken for the very things that break God’s.
great idea, tymm. kudos.
First, there are a myriad of text books on all of these subjects. You could probably get a list from the local university sociology department. So, I think the question is what aren’t there any ‘mass market’ books. What would such a book tell you? That these things exist? Where they are? What to do?
I think some of these issues are heavily covered in fiction…so that’s my answer….tell a story and you’ll have an audience.