However, I think that there are times when that can definitely be taken too far. We worry that we shouldn't be too negative about other Christians, we don't want to come off judgemental or arrogant. I think as a group of believers accepting "The Message", the paraphrase of the Bible that Eugene Peterson wrote, as something that we can use in our lives and ministries is one of those times where we can not afford to be 'tolerant'. Instead we need to focus on being like the Bereans, who had no qualms questioning even what Paul said.
I am NOT a KJV only person, quite frankly what version of the Bible is better is one of the 'stupid arguments' I generally prefer to stay away from. However, I think that The Message is trying to purposely push an agenda that is going to mislead people and could creep into our churches and be seriously detrimental. I have done some research, compared other versions of the Bible to what The Message says, done some research on Eugene Peterson and read some of the interviews that he has conducted and frankly it's eye-opening. I am going to share a small portion of it here (I confess I am probably not going to quote my sources to the extent I should, I am blogging not writing a college paper). However, I can provide the sources.
First, I shall start with the basic errors and omissions in the paraphrase.
It deletes words like 'adulterers and homosexuals or homosexuality which identify specific sins and ADDS a politically correct reference to environmentalism! 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Do you know know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor theives nor the greedy nor drunkards not nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified...(NIV)
The Message: Unjust people who don't care about God will not be joining in his kingdom. those who use and abuse each other, use and abuse sex, use and abuse the earth and everything in it don't qualify as citizens in God's kingdom. A number of you know from experience what I'm talking about, for not so long ago you were on that list. Since then, you've been cleaned up and given a fresh start..."
The message changes the meaning of scriptures by inferring that it is not homosexuality that is wrong but rather relationships that are not committed and intimate.
I Corinthians 6:18-20 "Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a sman commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body."
The Message: "there's more to sex than mere skin on skin. Sex is as much a spiritual mystery as a physical fact. As written in Scripture, "The two become one.' Since we want to become spiritually one with the Master, we must not pursue the kind of sex that avoids commitment and intimacy, leaving us more lonely than ever-the kind of sex that can never 'become one'.
In Romans 1:21 it adds words that qualify homosexuality, providing a loophole for 'committed' homosexuals who "love" each other.
There is soo much more. He won't list specific sins that are mentioned in the Bible. He eliminates references to God's grace, and adds promises that aren't in the Bible. A lot has also been made of his reference to "as above so below" , a known new age reference.
So why? Why would Eugene Peterson have this sort of approach to paraphrasing the Bible? What is his approach to spirituality at all?
Well lets looks at some of what he has had to say in order to maybe gain some insight.
"Single-minded, persevering faithfulness confirms the authenticity of our spirituality. The ancestors we look to for encouragement in this business-Augustine of Hippo and Julian of Norwhich, John Calvin...Teresa of Avila-didn't flit. They stayed.
"Well, why do people spend so much time studying the Bible? How much do you need to know? We invest all this time in understanding the text which has a separate life of it's own and we think we're being more pious and spiritual when we're doing it. But it's all to be lived. It was given to us so we could live it. But most Christians know far more of the Bible than they're living. They should be studying it less, not more. You just need to pay attention to God.
"Religion, is the major defense we have against God. So how do you take people that are heavily defended against God by religion and get through the defenses? Well, you do it by subversion. .....I wouldn't say we need to do less frontal work with the gospel, we just need to do more of the subversive stuff."
"In the kind of world we live in, the primary way that I can get people to be aware of God is to say, 'Who are you going to have breakfast with tomorrow and how are you going to treat them?...I just want to pay attention to what people are doing and help them do it in acts of faith and prayer. I guess I'd want to say ' Go home and be good to your wife, treat your children with respect, and do a good job at whatever you've been given to do."
THERE IS NO GOSPEL, no sin, no blood, no grace, in anything that the man has to say. He pushes pastors to read more books, more poetry, be artists..tell a story because "every time someone tells a story and tells it well, the gospel is served." I'm not sure he understands the meaning of the word gospel.
I believe that a movement is trying to infiltrate a large portion of the evangelical church and move us toward a trend contemplative prayer and contemplative spirituality. An Ecumenical movement where we try to ensure that no one is offended and everyone is comfortable. Whether people like Eugene Peterson and others are trying to do this on purpose or have merely been deceived I don't know. I won't attempt to question their hearts or their motives. I speak only to there methods.
Eugene Peterson has endorsed the back cover of Sue Monk Kidd's new edition of "When the Heart Waits. Sue Monk Kidd, a once conservative Baptist found the "secret" in contemplative prayer and has now become a strong proponent of contemplative spirituality. Mr. Peterson had this to say "As I read her book, Sue Monk Kidd became a companion to me. I love having her walk with me on my journey."
Why do we want someone with these views to interpret our Holy Scriptures?
Be Diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15
I charge you therefore before god and the Lord Jesus Christ...Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke exhort with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 2 Timothy 4: 1-5
1 comment:
you ROCK -- this is great. One thing I think you should reference (being in Bible publishing and all) is what text you're quoting from in before you use the message. PS... dad would be SO proud.
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