Christian Excellence in the Market

In a review of the latest Harry Potter book by J. K. Rowling, Christian scholar and all around nice guy, Scott, takes issue with the quality of the "Left Behind" series:

Because it's a Christian book series, I'm hesitant to call it a "waste of money" but it's also sad that a Christian book fails to measure up even to a children's series written by a mediumly-experienced author. I guess I just don't want to be disappointed reading a good idea served up in a mediocre form. It's like listening to a poor sermon.

A lot of not very good products appear (and disappear) in the Christian marketplace. Often you will see Christ oriented products that are direct rip offs of existing ideas or trends. A perusal of the local Christian bookstores, music racks or mail order catelogs reveal a bleak picture: products intended only for the Christian mass market that lack innovation or even basic production values.

More than anything, those products are nothing to brag about, certainly nothing fit to pass on to unbelieving friends and family. The desire to serve Christ is commendable, but I desire ingenuity and excellence. This is why Big Idea Productions (maker of Veggie Tales and 3-2-1 Penguins) stands out to me--their execution and ideas are good, resulting in products that stand on their own, even outside a Christian context.

Demand and support excellence. Exhort those that that are not.