Unreal sales for Driscoll’s Real Marriage

Seattle’s Mars Hill Church paid a California-based marketing company at least $210,000 in 2011 and 2012 to ensure that Real Marriage, a book written by Mark Driscoll, the church’s founding pastor, and his wife Grace, made the New York Times best-seller list.

According to a document obtained by WORLD, Result Source Inc. (RSI) contracted with Mars Hill "to conduct a bestseller campaign for your book, Real Marriage on the week of January 2, 2012. The bestseller campaign is intended to place Real Marriage on The New York Times bestseller list for the Advice How-To list.”
The marketing company also promised to help place Real Marriage on the Wall Street Journal Business, USA Today Money, BN.com (Barnes & Noble), and Amazon.com best-seller lists. ...

read more: http://www.worldmag.com/2014/03/unreal_sales_for_driscoll_s_real_marriage

You cannot imagine Tozer, Ravenhill or others doing this. There are a few practical steps to help promote a book or simply make it known but what we read about goes beyond it all.

It hasn't caused me any damage. It may indeed cause "massive damage" to Christendom, but it won't hurt the eternal church.

"...and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

I would like to know why this post is allowed and the Bill Gothard thread was shut down? On that thread people were reminded not to "slander" and to pray for the brother. On this thread people are just shaking their head and saying it was to be expected, it's "pitiful" etc. Where is the encouragement to not slander and pray for Driscoll?

It seems to me that there is a double standard here? There is other preachers that are mocked and ridiculed frequently here (or their teachings are alluded to) on SI and nothing is said. But when someone brings up a featured speaker on SI they're usually shut down. arranger

I suppose one singular difference may be because Mr Driscoll's own office have acknowledged their own actions fully. You cannot be slandered if you have acknowledged something oneself.

church spokesman Justin Dean responded via email, saying, "Mars Hill has made marketing investments for book releases and sermon series, along with album releases, events, and church plants, much like many other churches, authors, and publishers who want to reach a large audience. We will explore any opportunity that helps us to get that message out, while striving to remain above reproach in the process. Whether we’re talking about technology, music, marketing, or whatever, we want to tell lots of people about Jesus by every means available. That’s what we’re all about and have been since 1996.”

I would add to this thread that there is a temptation for any brethren in public ministry to rely on these things in some measure. I have fallen in this area to rely at times on the arm of the flesh or something that could help from a worldly perspective. Each time I have done so the Lord has met with me quickly to show me the futility and even damage this causes to get materials out.

I am thankful the Lord is keeping SI on the narrow way where God Himself is able to promote His resource to the nations for His glory.

May God keep all His servants from relying on Egypt.

Isaiah 31
King James Version (KJV)
31 Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the Lord!

2 Yet he also is wise, and will bring evil, and will not call back his words: but will arise against the house of the evildoers, and against the help of them that work iniquity.

3 Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When the Lord shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen shall fall down, and they all shall fail together.

I do agree brother there are some right ways to make small investments for godly materials. Every single christian book publisher takes even some small step to get the word out about their materials.

What I feel others have had ought against is to invest money purely to get a "status" of new york times best seller and therefore have it "seem" like it is a mainstream book.

The best materials are spread by word of mouth. There is a big difference between book being a best-seller because of its success because of content and a book being a best-seller because money namely $200,000 and a church group of thousands was thrown behind it.