Do you ever have times when you look at your college and you go, “What are they thinking?” That’s how I feel about my alma mater, Moody Bible Institute lately.
Actually, I don’t have a single problem with the education they are providing. The longer I’ve been away from MBI the more I’ve appreciated their focus on ministry preparation. They are doing what 99% of Christian colleges refuse to do, prepare students for vocational ministry at the undergraduate level. I am very thankful for the excellent degree I earned from Moody. If anyone is looking for a ringing endorsement of their programs… you’ve got one from me.
But I am disappointed in Moody Press. (An arm of the school) I’ve reviewed several of their books in the past and one of the things that drives me nuts is that they seem to have a negative bend on pop culture. (Look at their website, you’ll get a glimpse on the style of fear they use to sell books.) For instance… the books I read last year all mentioned September 11, 2001 in the opening chapter as a literary hook to the books over-riding topic of spiritual warfare. [Sorry, I think that’s as cheap as appealing to Hitler to talk about politics.] And this year they have released a couple of books with a negative view of “emerging church.” (Something I’m neutral on.) Now, it doesn’t bother me that
they want to write apologetics for “traditional evangelicalism” as that’s to be expected from an institution who forced out a bunch of professors who took a positive view on something as benign as progressive dispensationalism. What is bothersome is that these publications approach cultural questions from a defensive, rather than discussion, angle. (Here’s my review of their hot title right now, “Sex, Sushi, and Salvation.”) In Sex, Sushi, and Salvation… the author essentially made fun of the emergent discussion. To me this lacked class as it devalued the many good people who are exploring it legitimately.
Let me clarify. I don’t think this is an abnomaly/conspiracy for Moody. I think this is very much the “old traditions” doing what they always do… keep the base happy, don’t take risks, publish things that are safe even if it offends the majority with its simplicity.
What breaks my heart about this approach is that as they continue to publish books with a very “1990s” approach to culture and the result is that readers are paying less and less attention to what is being published. I can’t think of the last time people were buzzing about a Moody book. That’s a concern. I want to see the best stuff with my alma maters name on it… and if it weren’t for Ray Pritchard I’m not sure I’d be excited about anything they are publishing. I keep trying and will keep trying, it just hasn’t been rewarding lately.
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