Document suggests Mars Hill Church bought its pastor’s spot on the New York Times best-seller list

Bad comedy. The guy wears a mickey mouse shirt to preach in. That isn’t a clue?

http://www.adamblumerbooks.com/2014/03/07/buy-your-way-to-the-nyt-best-…

When you read that a book made the New York Times best-seller list, what immediately comes to mind? Most of us assume regular Joes on the street bought tons of copies. We assume this must be an amazing book if it has sold so well. I would have never suspected that some sort of manipulation of the system could have occurred behind closed doors.

Unfortunately, this story now casts doubt on the very accuracy of the New York Times list itself.

Mars Hill Defends How Mark Driscoll’s ‘Real Marriage’ Became a Bestseller

Statement from Church:

While not uncommon or illegal, this unwise strategy is not one we had used before or since, and not one we will use again. The true cost of this endeavor was much less than what has been reported, and to be clear, all of the books purchased through this campaign have been given away or sold through normal channels. All monies from the sale of Pastor Mark’s books at Mars Hill bookstores have always gone to the church and Pastor Mark did not profit from the Real Marriage books sold either at the church or through the Result Source marketing campaign

[Jim]

What’s Wrong With Buying Your Way Onto the Bestseller List?

I mean it’s not like inflating your Sunday school or church attendance numbers, or treating honorary degrees like earned degrees, or preaching someone else’s sermon.