It seemed that the more I conducted seminars and taught classes on the deity of Christ, the more people asked for the material in written format. Of course, this got me thinking about writing a book.

I knew that the HANDS acronym was a unique and effective pedagogical tool. Hundreds of folks had benefited from it and shared stories of how it strengthened their Christian walk and witness. I also knew that it had been nearly two decades since an evangelical publisher had released a comprehensive treatment of the deity of Christ for a popular audience. There didn’t seem to be much competition. All I needed, I thought, were a few recommendations from some high-visibility friends and someone to coauthor the book with me.  

Since my days in seminary, I’ve always liked working on a major project with a like-minded person. Perhaps I was starting to take to heart a line from Chuck Swindoll’s ministry creed: “Whatever I do, I will do more with others and less all alone.” Maybe it’s the sense of responsibility and presence of accountability to another person that makes me think harder. Surely it has something to do with my entrenched belief that two heads really are better than one. Whatever the ultimate reason for my preference, I felt strongly about finding a partner. And I felt even more strongly that it needed to be the right person.

When it became clear that the book would take the shape of a non-fiction book pitched between the levels of Sunday school and seminary, I knew that I had to contact Rob Bowman. I got to know Rob through e-mail exchanges and phone conversations while I was a seminary student in the mid-90s. I knew that the deity of Christ was infinitely important to Rob, that he was an honest and careful thinker, and that he was a supremely clear writer. [Frankly, Rob is one of evangelicalism’s finest apologists.] What’s more, Rob was very familiar with contemporary assaults on the deity of Christ and he had spent considerable time engaging those opposed to the doctrine. Academically speaking, I’m a specialist in New Testament literature and language. Rob’s broad experience as a Christian apologist and familiarity with, among other things, groups like the Jehovah’s Witnesses and Latter-Day Saints would be needed to make this book as good as it could be.

Not surprisingly, Rob was excited to hear about the project and to learn that several publishers had already expressed initial interest. By the end of our conversation we had agreed to tackle this project together. I was encouraged and energized. But that wouldn’t last long.

I sent virtually every major evangelical publisher my idea for a book and a nuts-and-bolts write-up of the HANDS acronym. All of the publishers responded quickly and enthusiastically. Deals were nearly struck with a handful of them. But in the end, the committees that made final decisions about what to publish—and what to reject—all said that a book devoted solely to the deity of Christ was too much of a financial risk. They simply wouldn’t be able to sell enough copies of the book—no matter how well written or strategically marketed—to justify publishing it instead of something that would draw more attention—and money—in the popular realm. One publishing committee even told me that, although they themselves weren’t willing to take the risk, the book was so needed that they’d be praying for some other publisher to step up to the plate!

Thankfully, Jim Weaver at Kregel Publications went to bat for us. He saw the ministry potential in the book and persuasively pitched it to his colleagues. The team at Kregel agreed that the book could serve the body of Christ and they took a gamble. They offered us a contract. Jim Weaver and the folks at Kregel have been great to work with throughout the whole publishing process. I feel like they’re partners in ministry and not co-conspirators for financial gain. It’s refreshing.  

I hope and pray that Kregel’s gamble pays off, and not merely because I have a vested interest in the book. Awhile back Collin Hansen wrote an interesting piece for Christianity Today entitled “What’s Not Coming to a Bookstore Near You: How competition to publish celebrity Christians crowds out theology.” The subtitle says it all. What’s Hansen’s remedy? ”If you don’t like what you see in Christian bookstores, vote with your pocketbook…. And when you do see good theology, drop some change.” Maybe if a popular book on the deity of Christ is reasonably successful, other publishers will produce more works of similar genre. Serious theology will never rule the industry, but maybe it can have a stronger pulse in the marketplace. The church would be healthier as a result.

Whatever God is pleased to do with Putting Jesus in His Place, I’m immensely grateful for Rob’s partnership and friendship. The book and I are both better because of his tireless labors for Christ. I’m also humbled by the unflinching commitment to ministry modeled by Jim Weaver—whose unrivaled competence is matched by his character—and the folks at Kregel. May their tribes increase.