Lately, I’ve heard a lot about the steroid controversy in baseball and I can’t help but equate that to the Christian steroid controversy. My wife and I went into a local Christian bookstore last night and found many examples of Christian steroids. For example, there was a book on understanding and applying every book in the Bible. “All 66 books explained and applied!” That particular volume was about 25 pages long. My favorite example was that of the charismatic section, which should read “how to be devoured by wolves”. That section was packed with books on how to have your best life now, while a book of Jonathan Edward’s sermons was on the “last chance clearance” table. Sure, pick up the book written by the guy with a golden coffee table and a $30,000 toilet, but the book by the greatest American theologian in history has to be on the last chance table. This is why I say Christian steroids are far more dangerous than those used in baseball. Just like baseball players want a quick fix to get huge so they can hit the ball out of the park, so too Christians want to buy the latest merchandising campaign that will get them to spiritual maturity in 40 days or less (or your money back!). How do I know that this is how Christians operate? Simple. It sells. Jonathan Edwards is marked down, Joel Osteen flies off the shelf. Steroids, not just for baseball anymore.