Friday, September 23, 2005
Uhhhh....No, I Don't Think So
Al Mohler points to a couple of Brit stories about The 100-Minute Bible. Quoting the publisher
There will far, far too many people that think this thing is "enough" despite the protestations of the publishers.
The Broken Messenger looks at issues related to "dumbing down" church in a great post.
Len Budd, publisher of the slimmed-down Bible, admitted that much had been lost in the reduction. "Is it a dumbing down of the Bible? Yes, but that's the world today. Although we as Christians love the Bible it is very user-unfriendly. People just don't have time to read it. If this book means more people can answer pub quiz questions on the Bible, so much the better."Everytime we "lower the bar" for access to Christianity, we harm Christianity. Frankly, there is enough scriptural ignorance already filling pews. Can't you just see the first time someone walks up to the preacher after service with one of these things and says, "What a crock -- that's not in the Bibile -- Look here."
So, that's the point? It appears that the purpose behind this project is something closer to cultural literacy than evangelism. The new edition is "not an evangelical document," Mr. Budd explained.
There will far, far too many people that think this thing is "enough" despite the protestations of the publishers.
The Broken Messenger looks at issues related to "dumbing down" church in a great post.
Now modern criticism of the overemphasis on such topics such as hell and sin's consequences that have stemmed from some denominations of Christianity past and present have been fair charges. Such criticism has been rightly brought forth as examples of how legalism within churches has led to a departure from the doctrines of love towards other Christians and unbelievers - and such things are still problems in the church today.Can we really preach less than the whole gospel?
But this criticism has also sparked the unhealthy fear that the message of the Gospel will not be heard if such subjects are taught. A fair reading of the Gospel, however, demonstrates that Christ often taught forcefully and directly on each of these topics.
