Promise Keepers Canada launched the magazine ‘SEVEN’ last year in an attempt to produce more context specific material.  Managing Editor (and my friend) Doug Koop said, “The new magazine’s primary audience is Canadian men. It will focus on issues in the Canadian context, but will not ignore the rest of the world.”

Now, I will be honest.  I’ve not always been keen on Promise Keepers, concerned at some of the experiences I had at a few of their events, both in Canada and the US.  However, I’ve been following this publication with great interest, as it promised not to back down from the tough issues.  I was pleasantly surprised, then, at the Jan./Feb. 2009 edition on the theme: Money: How Much Is Enough?

It was, in fact, the cover image of Shane Claiborne that grabbed my attention, appreciating Seven’s commitment to listen to some important voices not typical of Promise Keepers norm.  On the next page from the Claiborne article was an article about Victor Thomas, a young and successful Canadian business man who shares how his faith impacts his work in high finance.  The contrast is excellent, giving two very unique perspectives from men who both seek to follow Christ is very different ways in very different contexts.

The issue may also set your teeth on edge, flying in the face of it’s own theme with the “Great games. Great toys. Great gadgets.” section, featuring all sorts of frivolous spending options, from a snowball gun to Baconnaise.  As though the contrast could not be more pronounced, in the bottom right corner of the section is an ad for Intercede International featuring a barbed wire protected sign saying “Intercede for the Poor”.

However, before you are too quick to judge the presence of these (and other) ads, I actually think it is important that they are there.  While we can debate different publishing and funding strategies, few (if any) magazines can avoid the tensions faced in this problem.  It would be easy to judge (or unsubscribe) from the magazine, citing that their use of these ads undermined the message of the magazine.  It would be much harder, but far more valuable, for us to recognize that we all live (and compromise) to this tension daily.

I say this not to excuse their (or our) compromises, but rather to underline the very real tensions we face when seek to deal with money in ethical and moral ways.  Choosing to shop ethically, for example, most often means choosing the lesser of evils.  Otherwise, beyond joining the Amish, we all must learn to do the best we can with the choices we face.

This issue of ‘SEVEN’ excellently (if very briefly) highlights the many sides and perspectives of the challenge of navigating our relationship with money as Christians.  Like ourselves, it does not do so perfectly or free of discomfort.  However, it deserves two big thumbs up.  If this issue reflects the quality of future issues, I think we have a lot to look forward to.