“What’s the difference between promotion and self-promotion? How do we promote ourselves/our books so that we honor God, respect others, and use common sense?”
The constant tension between marketing and ministry has plagued the Christian author, speaker, bookseller and publisher forever. Why? Because Jesus threw the money changers out of the temple. Because we are commanded to die to self and to humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord….
And yet, our society…our culture insists, even demands, that we market and promote our message.
Hanging on my office wall is the following saying from Ignatius Loyola:
Work as if everything depends on you.
Pray as if everything depends on God.
And another one is from James 5:16:
…the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Maybe that is the beginning of the balance. People in business, not just publishing, must work hard and make every effort to excel in their field of expertise. We never question a bank needing to marketing their wares, but if a “Christian” bank were to do so the critics would surge with vitriol. The principles of a successful business come into play with regard to our profession. We are in the “business” of communicating the message of redemption to a world that doesn’t read. Thus we are called to excellence in our craft for we have a message that can change lives. If we do not make every effort to be an “evangelist” (see marketer) of that message, the message will likely not be read or heard, and thus ministry would rarely occur.
Even the Mother Teresas, Thomas Mertons, Richard Fosters, John Eldreges, and Henri Nouwens of the world were “out there” in the public eye. They had a message of change that they were called to deliver. Thus they took the speaking engagements, they worked with their publishers in publicity, and they wrote absolutely stellar books that nearly sold themselves. Our challenge is to avoid the “Publican” attitudes of “I”, “Me”, and “My”. Instead we should strive to incorporate the “Us”, “Our”, and “We”.
How do you keep your balance?
Great stuff, Steve. Sometimes we excuse our mediocre efforts at promotion with a false humility that says that it is God’s job.
Steve,
Good word for keeping our priorities in the right place. Thanks!
Love that quote by Ignatius Loyola. Good reminders here, Steve. Thanks!
Excellent topic. At my first writer’s conference at Mount Hermon a couple of years back I was paralyzed by not knowing how to pitch. These editors and agents are Christians. Aren’t they going to dismiss me if I talk about myself and my projects? I got over that quickly. The bottom line is that if we’re working for God we should believe in the work we’re doing. We do need to have a foundation of humility, but our efforts must be promoted with passion. Otherwise, why bother pursuing publication?
Thank you so much for writing this! I have been processing this quite a bit over the last week. In fact I spent a lot of time asking God about it yesterday. Thanks for letting Him use you to speak to me.
In high school — many years ago now, I’m no afraid to admit — I expressed to my mom how nervous I was about giving my first speech.
She gave me a piece of advice that still sticks with me: “It’s not you that’s on the stage. It’s your speech.” Once I took that to heart, I wasn’t nearly as nervous speaking in front of people.
The same way with selling our writing. It isn’t about us, but about the Message. Once we take the me, myself and I out of the equation, marketing should come a lot easier.
Well said!
It is truly a balance we must master. At a recent Mt. Hermon conference I spoke on the topic and afterwards an author said boldly, “Marketing, in essence, IS my ministry.”
I think she captured it perfectly.
Steve
Andra, I look forward to the day I’m able to convince myself of that! I think that my problem is that I tend to connect myself so personally to the writing that it seems that it is but an extension of myself. However, I will remember to at least try to take myself out of the marketing. Very good advice.
I think so too! I worked in Church ministry for 11 years. It was EASY to see it a ministry. However, sitting at my computer to write doesn’t always feel like ministry. I need to remember that God can use me as a writer to encourage others!
Phillip Yancey has a good essay called “They Also Serve Who Sit And Click”. I think I may need to read that once again!
It’s well known that money makes people autonomous. But how to act when somebody has no money? The one way is to receive the credit loans or just college loan.