Daily Inspiration Quote by Jerry B. Jenkins

A line like this lands with the bluntness of a publishing-world aside that accidentally tells the truth out loud. Jerry B. Jenkins isn’t doing theology here; he’s doing market math. The intent reads less like an insult to believers and more like a candid advisory to writers: if you’re trying to build a career, the Christian retail ecosystem can be a smoother on-ramp. “Less competition” signals a smaller, more self-contained industry with its own channels (church networks, dedicated bookstores, curated conferences). “Lower standards” is the sharper blade: it implies gatekeeping that prioritizes doctrinal alignment, brand safety, and audience trust over stylistic innovation or literary risk.

The subtext is about how cultural industries shape art. When the core consumer question is “Is this edifying?” rather than “Is this original?”, the incentive structure changes. You can be rewarded for clarity, familiarity, and moral reassurance - even if the prose is merely competent. That’s not a dunk on Christian readers so much as a diagnosis of how niche markets protect their own: loyal audiences, predictable demand, and publishers who know exactly what won’t cause backlash from pastors, parents, or homeschool co-ops.

Context matters: Jenkins is best known for Left Behind, a franchise that proved Christian fiction could operate like mainstream blockbuster entertainment. The quote reads like the unvarnished lesson of that success: the Christian market isn’t just a mission field; it’s an economy. His candor also reveals an uncomfortable tension inside religious art - whether it wants to compete on craft, or on belonging.