Some Christian publishers encourage thoughtful political engagement

With the U.S. presidential election this month, Christian retailers in red or blue states have the goods to prompt political discussion—that is, if shoppers want them.

Moody Publishers has sold nearly 29,000 copies of How Should Christians Vote? by Tony Evans (May), with Family Christian Stores a top customer. Amy E. Black, a Wheaton College professor of political science, has also published with Moody. Her Honoring God in Red or Blue: Approaching Politics With Humility, Grace, and Reason (May) encourages the Christian to be a voice of reason in the political fray.

“Grateful to have two highly educated and well-spoken authors addressing this important topic,” Janis Backing, publicity manager for Moody Publishers, said the two “approach the subject from a different perspective, but each one provides helpful information about the important role we play as citizen and a Christian in every election. They each challenge readers to consider a variety of issues as they work through the process of choosing a party or candidate.”

InterVarsity Press addresses political matters from differing perspectives as well. One of its most recent titles is A Free People’s Suicide: Sustainable Freedom and the American Future (IVP Books, July) in which author and sociologist Os Guinness argues that the American experiment in freedom is at risk.

“In some quarters, our book by Ron Sider titled Fixing the Moral Deficit is quite popular,” said Jeff Crosby, associate publisher and director of sales and marketing. “It addresses a different set of core issues than Guinness and from a somewhat different political or ideological perspective, and yet there is an overlap and both fit well within the broadly evangelical framework that InterVarsity Press is known for.” 

InterVarsity has also published What Mormons Believe by Robert M. Bowman Jr. (IVP Books, August), which contrasts Christianity with Mormonism, the faith practiced by Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney. In June, Worthy Publishing issued The Mormonizing of America by best-selling biographer Stephen Mansfield. And in October, Kregel Publications offered an updated and expanded edition of Answering Mormons’ Questions by Bill McKeever and Eric Johnson.

Mardel’s 35 stores were seeing a “pick up” in the sale of political/election titles closer to the election, said Kevin McDonell, merchandise manager. McDonell sees Joel C. Rosenberg’s Implosion: Can America Recover From its Economic and Spiritual Challenges in Time? (Tyndale House Publishers, June) as a success, along with Indivisible: Restoring Faith, Family and Freedom Before It’s Too Late by James Robison and Jay W. Richards (FaithWords, February).

As in previous years, Logos of Dallas hasn’t seen a strong performance in political book sales. However, owner Rick Lewis sees two titles “ahead of the pack” at his store: A Free People’s Suicide and How Do You Kill 11 Million People? Why the Truth Matters More Than You Think by Andy Andrews (Thomas Nelson, January).

The late Grant R. Jeffrey’s One Nation, Under Attack: How Big-Government Liberals are Destroying the America You Love (WaterBrook Press, October), takes a battle-ready approach.

“Christians, like all Americans, are hammered by political slogans and propaganda, usually rendered in a few lines and out of context,” said Ron Lee, senior editor at WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group. “Rarely do they have a chance to read an in-depth treatment that takes a careful look at the bigger picture, examining the story behind the story. And hardly ever do we see an analysis of America’s economic and political challenges viewed in light of biblical prophecy. That is one of the things that Grant Jeffrey brings to the discussion that makes this book important.”

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