WE HAVE LEARNED that Thomas Nelson Inc., a Nashville-based publisher of Christian books and other material, has come out with a version of the New Testament aimed at teenaged girls. We also don't know how exactly we ought to deal with this.
After all, we recall Christ's admonition in Matthew 19:14, in which we adults are instructed not to hinder children in such matters, as theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. We also recall the words of Dr Lewis: that Christians ought take great care in expressing their views on doctrinal issues, unless the audience for such views is also entirely Christian. As such, we are mindful of the need to temper our words accordingly.
That said, it's a Bible that looks like a magazine. Or, to use the publisher's phrase, it's "a Bible that looks like a magazine!" Hence, as one might expect, there are within the pages of this new New Testament magazine-style articles that focus on topics from relationships to Christian books.
Christianity Today has an extensive look at this new New Testament, which is no longer called the New Testament, but rather "Revolve." Why did the publisher think "Revolve" up? Here's why:
In focus groups, online polling, and one-on-one discussion (the company) has found that the number one reason teens don't read the Bible is that it is "too big and freaky looking." This fashion-magazine format for the New Testament is the perfect solution to that problem. Teen girls feel comfortable exploring the Scriptures and over 500 further-study notes because of the relevant format!
Revolve is the new look for teen Bible publishing!
Now, when we were teenagers, the last thing that kept us from reading the Good Book was that it was too big and freaky looking. There were quite a number of other things that got in the way, such as our waning faith in the Methodist cause and our interest in things that seemed more important at the time, such as, we don't know, everything. Look, when you're sixteen years old, you're more interested in girls and cars and homework and Taco Bell and going out for the night than you are in your immortal soul. It's because you're sixteen.
Nor did we ever feel uncomfortable about reading Holy Scripture -- bored, perhaps, because being young and immature we failed to realize the majesty and the power of it. Even if one does not believe in it, one cannot deny that it is some of the most beautiful writing ever produced.
In short, it took us a while to get it.
And we think it does take a while for most people to get it. Even if one was brought up in a particularly strict house, we are not convinced that one can truly appreciate religious matters until one has lived a bit, until one has truly experienced life. That's not to say that religious education is meaningless; certainly we believe that our parents' decision to bring us up in a Christian house helped solidify our later beliefs. But we know that we didn't fully understand just what we were taught until later.
True, there are exceptions to that rule; but even John Paul II was known to ski and dance in his youth.
So what to make of all this? "Revolve" has already sold 40,000 copies, which Christianity Today tells us is an impressive accomplishment for such a title. And still, while we do not deny that some -- perhaps a lot -- of good may come out of that, we suspect that a majority of those 40,000 copies were purchased by well-meaning but decidedly not with-it parents. For that matter, the folks behind "Revolve" seem decidedly not with-it.
Consider this excerpt from Christianity Today:
Add to this a great sense of caution over girls and guys praying—yes, praying—together present throughout the book. The editors published the opinion of a boy in "Guys Speak Out" who believes that girls and guys should not pray together before engagement! Another boy, when asked if girls and guys can pray together, advises everyone not to "get carried away."
Also imparted within "Revolve" are various screeds forbidding teen girl readers from, for instance, calling guys they like. As such, we can clearly see from these and other examples that the editors of "Revolve" live in the goateed-Spock universe*.
But let's discuss the two things that, quite frankly, trouble us the most about "Revolve." We do not refer to the name, although we think they probably could have come up with something better. Nor do we refer to the fact "Revolve" uses the New Century Version of the Bible, which we consider simplistic and politically correct. Besides, one can't forget St John's old admonition (see Rev. 22:18-19).
The first issue we have is that there's far more -- too much more -- than just the New Testament. If you read the Christianity Today article, you will see that there are apparently a lot of photos and such within "Revolve." One wonders if that will take away from the message inside. Indeed, as the Washington Times notes:
Then there's "Blab," a column interspersed with the holy writ.
"I'm nearly 14 and I have never even had a boyfriend," one question reads. "Am I the only one? All the people in my class must think I'm pathetic!"
Another question: "What about replacement curse words? My church and my parents don't believe in saying 'Gosh, darn or dang.' Is that wrong?"
Calendars also appear in the text. For Nov. 12: "Grace Kelly's birthday. Be extra feminine today!" For June 30: "Pray for a person of influence. Today is Mike Tyson's birthday."
But May 18 — Pope John Paul II's birthday — is not noted.
No, they wouldn't mention him, would they?
But that little omission not-withstanding, our second issue is with a list of the "Top Ten Great Christian Books" listed within the pages of "Resolve." Christianity Today also didn't think much of it:
On page 186, the girls can find "Top Ten Great Christian Books." C. S. Lewis and Dorothy Sayers haven't made the list. Top honors go to Witnessing 101 by Tim Baker and published by Transit Books. In fact, all of the top ten books have been recently published by Thomas Nelson, most of them through Transit Books.
Here's another curiosity: The eighth of the top ten great Christian books is titled Why So Many Gods? Its authors are Tim Baker and Kate Etue. Kate Etue is also the senior editor of Revolve. She was the one promoting the biblezine on CNN recently ...
Of course, in Revolve, such rules don't apply. It's not a magazine. It's not a Bible. It's not even a study Bible, (Laurie) Whaley told me. It's "an inspirational and motivational Bible product."
The Word of God is not the only thing this product is selling.
Let's be very clear: we find this state of affairs appalling.
It is bad enough that mediocre theological tracts are presented as representative of the best which the Christian tradition offers. That is a gross indecency, and we hope that in future editions the publishers of "Revolve" will correct their list accordingly. After all, in theory, the kids could then move on from "Revolve" into some greater works, such as Dr Lewis' Mere Christianity, for instance. Yet what do we have instead? Well, we shall be charitable and say only that there are better things out there.
The trouble here is that the children who actually end up reading "Revolve" may very well exclude those better works in favor of books like "Witnessing 101." As noted above, this particular book is No. 1 on that list. (And here we thought it would be The City of God!)
From its description, "Witnessing" apparently strives to be with it and down for whatever. It also deals with spreading "the true gospel message." To make it clear to the kids, the book--according to the publisher's Web site--goes into detail about what IS and what ISN'T the Gospel, that latter section dealing with "cults and other religions."
While we have not read "Witnessing," we will say that description definitely sounds a warning bell for us here at The Rant. However, in the interest of Christian fellowship, we will say only that we are concerned for the kids who read "Witnessing," and then eventually stumble upon the Book of Wisdom.
But we also find it crass that a book publisher would so flagrantly seek to profit off selling the Bible, to the point where the power of its words and messages are arguably diluted.
That is not to say that we take issue with the profit motive when it comes to selling religious books. We see no problem with publishers serving God and making a reasonable profit at the same time. However, we do find it unseemly and gauche that a publisher would be so quick to suborn religion to what certainly appears to be capitalist motives. That brings into question not only the publisher's integrity, but the integrity and value of the works that publisher produces.
We would argue that a Christian book publisher, publishing the Word of God, ought not do such things.
----
* "goateed-Spock universe." We think Lileks came up with this first; at least we think he used it. Anyway, it's not our turn of phrase, and it refers to an old episode of "Star Trek" where Kirk and Bones are thrown into a parallel universe, and the evil Spock within that universe has a goatee. This is how you could tell he was evil. This is not to say the publishers of "Revolve" in the above entry are evil, of course. Just that ... well, Gad. You get the idea.
(Links via Bryan Preston).
Posted by Benjamin Kepple at September 28, 2003 11:59 PM | TrackBackYou make a lot of great points, Ben.
However, all I could really do was laugh and laugh at the streaming MPEG video from the site.
You can't pay for that kind of comedy.
Posted by: Kevin White at September 29, 2003 02:43 AMYou know, now that I think about it, this is all about DUMBING IT DOWN for stupid people.
Posted by: Kevin White at September 29, 2003 02:59 AMThe "Star Trek" episode is called "Mirror,Mirror", in case you were wondering, which you probably weren't.
Posted by: Jon at September 29, 2003 04:16 PMBut Ben, the Church is all about hawking its message for profit, so why not this new Bible publisher? It actually makes perfect sense to me -- like any other industry, the religious establishment most certainly wants to market itself to the young crowd, and hook 'em while they're young, before they know any better.
Posted by: Geoff Brown at September 29, 2003 08:21 PMThe problem is there's no god.
Posted by: leon at October 5, 2003 10:09 AMDear Friends,
Excuse me please, let me attract your attention to the psalm 2 and psalm 45 in the Holy Scripture.
The psalms are the praise religious songs to God.
There is in the New American Bible and in the many other versions of the Bible Lord Jesus Christ is not the “Lord” and “King” in the psalm 2 and psalm 45, because the words “lord” and “king” written with small letter in the psalm 2:6, psalm 45:1(2) and psalm 45:11(12).
Psalm 2
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0839/__PFU.HTM - New American Bible (Vatican)
http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/psalms/psalm2.htm - New American Bible
Psalm 45
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0839/__PH1.HTM - New American Bible (Vatican)
http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/psalms/psalm45.htm - New American Bible
But the Holy Scripture tell us, that Lord Jesus Christ is the ”Lord” and “King” in the psalm 2 and psalm 45.
“For to which of the angels did He ever say: "You are My Son, today I have begotten You"?
”But to the Son He says: "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You
with the oil of gladness more than Your companions.
And: "You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands” (Hebrews 1:5, 8-10).
We must to take it into to account, because the psalms are the praise religious songs only to God, not to man.
And there is in the psalm 2:6 David tell us, that God the Father have set the “King” Lord Jesus Christ on the everlasting kingdom.
"Yet have I set My King upon My holy hill of Zion" (Psalm 2:6);
“For so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:11).
There is in the Russian Synodal Bible Lord Jesus Christ is the "Lord" and "King" in the psalm 2 and psalm 45 (44), and there are the words "Lord" and "King" in the Russian Synodal Bible has the capital letter.
I think you will agree with me, that the Holy Bible must to have only one version, and there are the capital letters play the very important role in the modern text of the Holy Scripture today.
"Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment" (1 Corinthians 1:10).
There is the word “King” in the Isaiah 6:5 and Jeremiah 10:10 written with the capital letter. That’s right, because there is in the Isaiah 6:5 and Jeremiah 10:10 Lord Jesus Christ is the “King”, Lord of hosts.
Isaiah 6
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0839/__PNP.HTM – New American Bible (Vatican)
http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/isaiah/isaiah6.htm - New American Bible
Jeremiah 10
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0839/__PPO.HTM - New American Bible (Vatican)
http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/jeremiah/jeremiah10.htm - New American Bible
But there is in the Isaiah 6:1 in the New American Bible the word “King” concerning to the king Uzziah written with the capital letter too. That’s not right.
Please see the right version, where Lord Jesus Christ is the “Lord” and “King” in the psalm 2 and psalm 45, because there are the words “Lord” and “King” written with the capital letter in the psalm 2:6, psalm 45:1 and psalm 45:11.
Psalm 2
http://bible.gospelcom.net/cgi-bin/bible?passage=PS+2&language=english&version=NKJV - NKJV
http://bible.gospelcom.net/cgi-bin/bible?passage=PS+2&language=english&version=NASB -NASB
Psalm 45
http://bible.gospelcom.net/cgi-bin/bible?passage=PS+45&language=english&version=NKJV - NKJV
http://bible.gospelcom.net/cgi-bin/bible?passage=PS+45&language=english&version=NASB - NASB
1. Who is the "King" in the psalm 2:6, the king Solomon, David or Lord Jesus Christ?
2. Who is the "King" in the psalm 45:1(2) and 45:11(12), the king Solomon, David or Lord Jesus Christ??
3. Who is the "Lord" in the psalm 45:11(12), the king Solomon, David or Lord Jesus Christ??
4. Who is the "King" in the Old Testament God the Father or God the Son:
Answer is one – Lord Jesus Christ.
"I am the Lord, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King" (Isaiah 43:15);
"Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his Redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside Me there is no God" (Isaiah 44:6)?
“But the Lord is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King” (Jeremiah 10:10).
“In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon the throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple.
Then said I, Woe is me! For I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts” (Isaiah 6:1,5).
“These things said Isaiah, when he saw His glory, and spoke of Him” (John 12:41), about Son of God, Lord Jesus Christ, King, Lord of hosts.
Excuse me please and please don’t angry to me, let me attract your attention my theological work about the God’s definition in the psalm 2:7 concerning to the nature of one God, and my explanation, that there is in the Old Testament only Lord Jesus Christ is the “King”, but not God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are one “King”.
Please understand me right. I don’t want to change your conviction, but I want, that you only listen my understanding of the nature of God. Listen to me please. It is very important for me.
God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit is one God.
When I tell only about God the Father, I must to tell, that God the Father is one God, not the first God.
When I tell only about God the Son, I must to tell, that God the Son is one God, not the second God.
When I tell only about God the Holy Spirit, I must to tell, that God the Holy Spirit is one God, not the third God.
But I can to tell only about God the Father, that God the Father is the first God’s Personality of the Holy Trinity. God the Son is the second God’s Personality of the Holy Trinity, and God the Holy Spirit is the third God’s Personality of the Holy Trinity.
I must to remember, that I can not to mix three God’s Personalities in one Personality, like Jehovah’s Witnesses. They are speaking everywhere, if Lord Jesus Christ is God, it is meaning:
“Did God say that He was His own Son, that He was well pleased in Himself, that He sent Himself?”
“Who did He pray to? To a part of Himself?”
“Who did Jesus address? Himself or a part of Himself?”
“Who raised Jesus from the dead? If He were indeed dead, He wouldn’t have resurrected Himself”.
They don’t know the nature of one God.
God the Father tell us about God the Son: “Yet have I set My King upon My holy hill of Zion" (Psalm 2:6).
I know, that Lord Jesus Christ is one God, and that He is the “King”. So, when I read in the Holy Scripture “Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his Redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside Me there is no God" (Isaiah 44:6), I know, that there is in this verse Lord Jesus Christ is speaking, because Lord Jesus Christ is one God, the “King of Israel, and his Redeemer the Lord of hosts”, “the first, and the last” and beside Lord Jesus Christ there is no God.
But I know, that beside God the Father there is no God, and beside God the Holy Spirit there is no God.
And if I will tell, that God the Father is the “King” and God the Holy Spirit is the “King” too, it is meaning, that I mix three God’s Personalities in one Personality, what I must not to do.
"Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord" (Deuteronomy 6:4);
"I will declare the decree: the Lord has said to Me, You are My Son, today I have begotten You" (Psalm 2:7).
"I will announce the definition: the Lord has said to Me, You are My Son, today I have begotten You" (Psalm 2:7) in the Russian Synodal Bible.
The combination of this two verses, Deuteronomy 6:4 and Psalm 2:7, let us to name the Lord Jesus Christ "more one Personality", who has the God's nature, like His Father, because Lord Jesus Christ is the true Son of God. But to name the Lord Jesus Christ "more one God" in the combination with Deuteromony 6:4 “our God is one Lord” is meaning to contradict to God's decree (definition), what Lord Jesus Christ declared in Psalm 2:7. God the Holy Spirit is one God by God’s decree (definition) too.
I don’t know, why two thousands years nobody speak about the God’s definition in the psalm 2:7 concerning to the nature of God. I discovered it for myself in the process of my discussion with Jehovah’s Witnesses. It is very beautiful definition of God, and nobody speak about it.
So, when I read “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord” (Deuteronomy 6:4), I know, that there is in this verse I read about the God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. But when I read “I am the Lord, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King” (Isaiah 43:15), I know, that I read only about the Lord Jesus Christ, because Lord Jesus Christ is one God, the everlasting “King”.
It is very simple explanation, and he has not contradiction to the Psalm 2:6 “Yet have I set My King upon My holy hill of Zion" (Psalm 2:6).
There is in this verse of the Holy Scripture only God the Father is speaking:
“Thus says God the LORD, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it, Who gives breath to the people on it, and spirit to those who walk on it” (Isaiah 42:5).
There is in this verse of the Holy Scripture only God the Holy Spirit is speaking:
“Then the LORD said to Moses: "How long will these people reject Me?” (Numbers 14:11);
“"I, even I, am He who comforts you” (Isaiah 51:12).
God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are not one mystery unknowable Personality,
but three different God’s Personalities.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew28:19).
“It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true.
I am One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me” (John 8:17,18).
Lord Jesus Christ tell us, that He and His Father are two different Personalities, like two men, differently He and His Father can not to be two witnesses.
And I am sure, that there is only Lord Jesus Christ is the “Lord” and “King” in the Psalm 2 and Psalm 45, not the king David ore Solomon.
And there is in the Old Testament only Lord Jesus Christ is one God, the everlasting “King”.
“I am the Lord, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King” (Isaiah 43:15);
“Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his Redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside Me there is no God” (Isaiah 44:6)?
“But the Lord is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King” (Jeremiah 10:10).
“In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon the throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple.
Then said I, Woe is me! For I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts” (Isaiah 6:1,5).
“These things said Isaiah, when he saw His glory, and spoke of Him” (John 12:41), about Son of God, Lord Jesus Christ, King, Lord of hosts.
“For so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:11).
The word “King” concerning to God is very beautiful key in the Holy Scripture. There is everywhere in the Old Testament, when I read the word “King” concerning to God, I know, that there is Lord Jesus Christ is the “King”.
And I know, that the glory of God the Father and God the Son is one, because God the Father and God the Son is one God:
“And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:11).
Lord Jesus Christ is God Jehovah.
http://juliagraves.tripod.com/godswarrior/id96.html
Please don’t angry to me, and please understand me right.
Excuse me please my mistakes in English, I am sorry, I don’t speak English.
Thank you.
God bless you,
Vladimir Rumyantsev,
St. Petersburg, Russia,
E-mail: bigroad@olvex.ru