Bookstores: My Favorite Haunt
An email from a good brother, Coram Deo, about his visit to a Christian bookstore in the U.S. while on vacation prompted me to share my experience with such bookstores in Singapore.
Now, I love books and am someone who loves browsing through a bookstore for hours on end. Borders at Wheelock Place used to be a favorite haunt of mine. Ultimately, the fact that they are a secular bookstore just means that I have not much interest in what they had to offer.
So I spend much of my time in bookstores in Christian establishments. There used to be one at Jurong Point, the nearest mall to where I stay, but the small shop has since closed down and given way to some store selling items that have a wider consumer appeal.
Ah, the wonders of free enterprise!
Anyhow, in his email, the good brother lamented the fact that it was really difficult to find good Christian books in Christian bookstores nowadays, and that such establishments have somehow decided to cater to the lowest denominator rather than promote literature teaching true Biblical Christian living.
I can empathize with him when he complained that there were more books by Joyce Meyer, Joel Osteen and other prosperity preachers on sale than any by the good teachers like A.W. Tozer, A.W. Pink or even Charles Spurgeon.
In fact, just last week I was at a Christian bookstore located in Raffles Place MRT station and I had a hard time finding any book worth reading. They had an entire shelf devoted to the writings of Joyce Meyer, and the rest of the shelves had folks like Creflo Dollar, Che Ahn and, of course, Joel Osteen. I also checked on the versions of Bibles available, and I wasn’t at all surprised to find out that most of the translations were the NLT and NIV. Oh, and they had the “Precious Moments” version of the Bible too!
Yuck!
Sure, I agree that operating a bookstore is a commercial undertaking with wages to pay and rent to pay, so the owner will need to cover as wide a base as possible, but how is it that in covering the bases, only one particular aspect is well represented?
How about those who, like me, simply do not subscribe to such heretical teachings and yearn for true meat? Moreover, I agree with Coram Deo when he said in his email that the supply basically reflects what the true demand is, and unfortunately we are seeing a big demand for man-centered teachings rather than God-centered wisdom.
With the sad state of Christian bookstores in Singapore, I thank God that some churches have decided to cater to those who truly yearn for good Christian books. For example, Calvary Pandan Bible-Presbyterian Church has its own bookshop, while Covenant Evangelical Reformed Church has a book club and folks who operate a small book stand after services where one can pick up great books.
Recently, I have also come across an online Reformed bookstore — eTulip — that I find a true blessing. If you, like me, have been looking for good books at local Christian bookstores but have been unable to find any, give eTulip a go. They do deliveries and even have a mailing list where you can sign up to receive updates on new releases.
Happy reading!
Photo Credit: “Cat and Cannon Bookstore, Lake City, Seattle” by Brewbooks.
The author is not affiliated with the bookstores at the above-mentioned churches, nor eTulip, and does not derive any benefits, financial or otherwise, from recommending the establishments.
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Tags: A.W. Pink, A.W. Tozer, Bookstores, Borders, Calvary Pandan Bible-Presbyterian Church, Charles Spurgeon, Covenant Evangelical Reformed Church, Creflo Dollar, Demand, eTulip, Free Enterprise, Joel Osteen, Joyce Meyer, Jurong Point, NIV, NLT, Singapore, Supply, Wheelock Place
21 Comments
Thanks for the bookstore link — it’s good to see some Puritans on their book list and the prices are comparable to Amazon’s.
Incidentally, I was at the same Raffles Place bookstore (M.Z., I presume?) a couple of weeks back and share the same sentiments as you. I was looking for a hymnal and the staff told me they didn’t carry any. Some of my observations:
- A few copies of Pilgrim’s Progress / Grace Abounding were displayed beside the Joyce Meyer shelf.
- About 5 shelves each of Finance and Charismatic books; a row of Kathryn Kuhlman.
- 1 row of Spurgeon
- Last, I saw a frail woman (who appeared to be sick) perusing some healing prayer books. You know, the ones that ask you to “speak healing”.
It is sad to see such bookstores carry books that lead people astray.
@yongchun -
You’re welcome, brother. Yes, it was M.Z.
I didn’t notice the copies of Pilgrim’s Progress while I was there, probably because I was already turned off. I told my wife that that whole shelf of Joyce Meyer books so need to be taken outside and burned, ha ha!
Poor old woman… I might have gone up to her and advise her against those false teachings. More than anything else, I do have compassion for such because it is quite understandable that people will look for miraculous healing when they are saddled with pain day in and out. I know I would, but we need be mindful that turning to false promises is no solution.
I pray that should I be afflicted thus, that I shall still remember that His grace is sufficient for me, and if I truly love the Lord, then I trust that all of that works for good and His glory (Romans 8:28).
I only found out a few months back that early this year the entire Life Bookstore chain has left Singapore. One of the reasons being that churches now runs their own bookstores as well.
But looking at the direction some of these churches are going, I am glad you have shared the places where I can look for a good Christian bookstore for Christian literature.
@xizor2000 -
Oh, so the entire chain of Life! Bookstores has left our shores!? I didn’t know that… thanks for solving the mystery for me, XZ.
I guess churches have no choice but to step in and fill the gap. Moreover, it serves the churches’ purpose that their congregation get the right teachings (or wrong ones in some cases, see Attributes at CHC).
eTulip is indeed good in terms of the titles available. I have yet to order any from them since I still have a couple of books to finish up before I think of adding to the library. I’m wary of buying too many at one go as I tend to get distracted, and I don’t really complete reading any book.
There’s only one solid bookstore in my area, and even now there’s slipping into stocking Joel Osteen
Not cool…thankfully I buy my books from Monergism Book 99% of the time 
Yep, Life! Bookstores have indeed left our shores.
It can’t be a coincident that both of them - Funan Centre, and Jurong Point are all gone, right? Meantime, a brother-in-Christ also informed me that the one at Parkway Parade (near the church I used to attend) is also gone. So that’s how I came to that knowledge it has left our shores ‘for good’.
Ah, yes, you’ve put your finger on why I’ve stopped reading printed books and do all my reading online now.
You know the usual suspects - gracegems, Spurgeon Archive, CCEL, DesiringGod etc. More than enough for a lifetime of reading, praise the Lord! Right now my 10-year project is going through Matthew Henry’s complete commentary, but I’m being derailed (temporarily) by the discovery of this website and the links to fellow Christian blogs!
If you really must have a printed version, I believe that gracegems has a Sovereign Grace Treasures bookshoppe that does on-demand internet printing.
The main bookstore here is Barnes and Noble and most of their selection consist of Joel Osteen, Juanita Bynum, and Joyce Meyer. The only thing worth getting are the concordances but I’ve already got one. In Pgh, there is an old used bookstore (that used to be a house) and it’s great because there are a lot of good books that nobody wants. They are on the bottom shelf and are dirt cheap. (like $2-4.50) So that worked in my favor
I agree with your views on the sad state of the “Christian” bookstores in Singapore. The reality is that the pulpits is churning out a “lite” version of the Gospel and “lite” version of discipleship, many are satisfied with “fast food” preaching and do not hunger for the “real food” found in sound, biblical teachings of AW Pink, Spurgeon, Tozer.
The ‘Christian” bookstore in PP says they carried Benny Hinn books because “people are asking for it”
The “Christian” bookstore in Raffles Place is carrying books by Joyce Meyers, Jack Hagee etc because “we have a consultant in the US and we received advices on what people want to read and what is selling”.
Sadly, most “Christian” bookstores owners are serving the “god of mammon” $$$ preferring to stock up on trivial decorations and CCM stuff and not providing a ministry to help God’s sheep find the green pastures and good sources of water for their souls.
Another place to find good and sound books: Bethesda BookRoom and FEBC Bookstore.
campus crusade mass media very conveniently organises their books by publisher, so the joyce meyer/ joel osteen stuffs are confined to a couple of shelves (labelled ‘faith words’); and then they have more shelves by publishers like IVP and hodder & stoughton for narrow minded fundies :p where you can find JI Packer and Piper and Spurgeon and other such authors.
May I recommend two links from DefCon on this same topic?
Do you support your local Christians bookstore:
http://defendingcontending.com/2008/02/15/do-you-support-your-local-christian-bookstore/
and
Are Christian bookstore owners responsible for what they sell:
http://defendingcontending.com/2008/05/12/are-christian-bookstore-owners-responsible-for-what-they-sell/
- The Pilgrim
Isaiah:
the book table is not on every week…
and the books come from eTulip, which is linked to FERC.
@xizor2000 -
The Life bookstore at Senkang and Suntec are also gone too.
@Douglas K. Adu-Boahen -
I would buy from Monergism too but the shipping cost is still an issue for me at least. I am grateful for eTulip because they bring in almost the same books offered at Monergism, the shipping cost is negligible even if I ask for delivery, and the cost per book is cheaper than if I purchase the books at USD.
@Thy Word is Truth -
Thank you for visiting and sharing your thoughts, brother.
I used to go to FEBC bookstore for my books, but have not been there for some time because of the distance. It was my haunt for awhile in college when I was attending services at Life B-P.
Unfortunately, they’d have to serve those interests because that’s what people are looking for. I doubt if many Christians here know of the Puritans, Charles Spurgeon or other good teachers of that time to even bother checking them out.
To be honest, if I didn’t learn of these teachers, I’d be wondering what’s there to read, because I won’t even touch those by the prosperity gospel preachers with a 10-foot pole!
@Denise -
Hey Denise, welcome back to Singapore!
Thanks for the info! Where’s this CC Media located, and is it open to non-CCC members?
@Daniel Chew -
Ha ha, I thought so, but thank you for confirming it. When I’m done with those on hand, I’ll be ordering some from eTulip direct. Already making a list like it’s Christmas!
It is on the ground floor of the Yellow Pages Building right outside Braddell MRT
they have all kinds of books from joel osteen to steve chalke to grudem/ piper/ ji packer/ sproul/ normal things as such.
@Denise -
Eh…. I am a Crusade alumni so your apparent knowledge of Crusade stuff piqued my interest. According to your website, you are in Agape UK? Which city?
Campus Crusade Media has a huge collection of books. I can be there for hours looking at all the books that I want to read and buy. Some of the classics that elsewhere do not carry, u can find them here.
It’s open to the public.
SKS is another place where we get our Bible Study materials for our CG.
http://www.sksbooks.com/
When the Australian dollar was cheaper few years back, my dad orders from Koorong Books in Australia, and ships them in.
Actually, many churches have their own church library too. You can get really good books to borrow too. (But these are only open to their own church members.)
@Denise -
Thanks, Denise. I might just drop in one of these days and check it out!
@keropokman -
Thanks for visiting and sharing, brother. I have never heard of SKS before, so that’s a new addition to the list of local Christian bookstores! I’ve borrowed from church libraries before, but there are two factors that I don’t particularly like:
1. It’d be quite bad and un-Christian to be late returning books, ha ha!
I am one who takes his time reading a book, and sometimes re-read a chapter or two because I’ve found something good in what the author wrote.
2. I’d like to own most of the books since I consider collecting good books something of a hobby.
By the way, I’ve been a reader of your blog for some time, and it never fails to make me hungry.