Some members are disappointed that Mr. Tkach's book, Transformed by Truth, will not be given free to them, like previous church books have been. Why is the church charging members for this book?
We are not publishing the book. Multnomah/Questar Books asked Mr. Tkach to write the book, and Multnomah is paying for the printing, promotional and distribution costs.
Multnomah can remain in business only if it charges for the books it publishes. If the church wants copies of the book for all our members, then the church would have to pay Multnomah for them.
Even with a large-quantity discount, that would require a lot of money. The financial condition of the church has changed considerably since we gave away books.
Right now, it is not financially prudent for us to give away books, even to our own members. We are planning on making enough from the sale of the book to be able to provide free copies to church pastors.
Why is PTM selling the book, and not the church? And why will profits go to PTM and not to the church?
The church is not organized to deal with the legal and tax issues involved in commercial transactions. PTM is, and it is also organized to advertise and fulfill orders. PTM is a ministry of the church. Whenever PTM makes a profit, it reduces the need for the church to give financial support to this ministry.
To see the overall financial picture of the church, we add the WCG and PTM budgets together, and on the bottom line, it makes little difference as to whether money went first to the right hand or first to the left. The end result for the church is the same.
But for those outside our fellowship, PTM gives us the opportunity to advertise the magazine and PTM as a ministry worthy of financial support. Many Christians are happy with their own church and do not wish to give money to a different church--but some are willing to support ministries such as PTM.
PTM will be offering Transformed By Truth to members (through a form scheduled to be published in the Aug. 19 WN) at a discount price, less than what retail-price bookstores will charge.
While Mr. Tkach and others worked on this book, neither he nor anyone else will personally profit from the sale of the book.
Why doesn't PTM promote our fellowship?
In order for us to publish, we must have outside funding. But in order for the PT to receive outside subscribers and advertisers, it cannot be seen as the promotional tool of a specific denomination. Therefore, PTM serves the needs of the church in less direct ways.
First, the PT is one way in which the church preaches the gospel. Although many of the subscribers are already Christians, some are not. And Christians need reminders of what the gospel is and how it speaks to issues of the modern world.
Second, the PT can be used to supplement personal and congregational evangelism. Members can share the magazine with interested friends, perhaps by saying: "Here's a magazine my church supports. Perhaps you will find it helpful."
There is no need to draw attention to the fact that the magazine has a subscription price-- that is simply normal for a magazine. Congregations may also use the PT (such as the cardholder program) to supplement local evangelism efforts and to have more options available for visitors.
The book Counterfeit Revival, which the church is promoting, has some negative things to say about Promise Keepers, which the church has also promoted. What is our position on Promise Keepers?
Even when a book is good and helpful, we cannot give a blanket endorsement of everything in it. We agree with the primary conclusions of Counterfeit Revival, but not necessarily every detail. But we do not give blanket endorsement to PK leaders, either.
Apparently one member of the PK board of directors is involved in the counterfeit revival. This does not negate the tremendous good that PK has already done. Promise Keepers has been of great Christian value to many people, including many WCG members, and we support our members' involvement in the movement.
We do not believe that PK as an organization is promoting the counterfeit revival. We have not seen any effort to promote unusual manifestations in their meetings. Of course, Promise Keepers involves more than a million men, and whenever this many people are involved, some of them will inevitably be a little unbalanced. A book like Counterfeit Revival can be a word of warning, to evaluate all things by Scripture.
Actually, Promise Keepers is promoting revival as one of its themes this year. That is a major theme for the Stand in the Gap gathering in Washington, D.C., to be conducted Oct. 4. And in the pastors conferences before PK stadium events this year, pastors are given a copy of a booklet called Becoming an Agent of Revival. In this booklet, the following seven characteristics of genuine revival are listed:
1) Renew your passion for prayer.
2) Experience unity in Christ.
3) Value God's Word.
4) Invite godly worship.
5) Validate conviction of sin.
6) Anticipate inner joy.
7) Live out biblical obedience.
We agree with these principles of revival, and pray that Christians worldwide will experience genuine revival through the efforts not only of PK but also through churches and other organizations calling people to faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
July 22, 1997, WN, page 11
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