Sexcess

Ok, sexcess is a strange title for a post on a Christian board. However this very word is now being used by a major publishing company to sell the Bible to "christians". This is an outrage and shows how far the larger evangelical world has fallen away from Biblical principles. What is this outrage? It is "The Complete New Testament for Men" published by Thomas Nelson. It is promoted as having been "created with today’s modern guy in mind" and with "content that makes Biblical truth fresh and relevant, it might just make Bible reading the best part of your day". On the cover we see phrases like "Sexcess: Sucess with the opposite sex", "Improve your people skills and win", "Top ten list for getting ahead", "34 Tech Savvy ideas", and "fitness tips". Think I am joking? I only wish I were. However you can see this at the Thomas Nelson web page (click here).

So what Thomas Nelson, and the no doubt thousands of "christians" who will buy this item, is telling us is:

1. The Bible has to be "spiced up" with worldly labels and articles in order to make it interesting.

2. That serious Bible study is boring and not something that the "modern guy" is interested in.

3. That Christians should adopt the world's concerns (financial success, sexual lusts, physical apperances) and not God's (holiness, truth, love, etc).

What Thomas Nelson is doing is in direct violation of Scripture (Romans 12:1-2, 1Pet 1:21-2:9, etc). However Thomas Nelson is only a publishing company putting out things they believe christians will purchase. The very fact that there are enough professing christians out their who are as worldly as the day is long and who therefore make up a large enough buying block to cause Thomas Nelson to publish this is indeed frigtening. It shows how far and fast the evangelical church is slipping. Indeed as the great CH Spurgeon warned there is a great downgrade among modern Christians!

He once said:

Dr James White noted this morning in his blog that Thomas Nelson Publishing is using a children's version of the Bible in this edition. White said:

Amen.

IN Christ,
Martin.

 

==Two things. First I have seen this item's cover and its promotion on the Thomas Nelson website (unless you accuse them of mis-marketing their own product). The "problem" has been laid out. If you see no problem with using worldly standards to market the Bible then we have a strong disagreement. Second I have seen "Revolve" in person and was horrified. The idea that they wish to turn to Word of the Living God into a popular girls/gossip style magazine is shameful.

No, this is not a study Bible. Study Bibles have serious theological and/or life principle notes (ie.. the Ryrie Study Bible, The MacArthur Study Bible, The Tim LaHaye Prophecy Study Bible, The Life Application Study Bible, etc, etc). This new idea is nothing but mass marketing. Christians should be outraged.

I promise you one thing. They would not dare, and I mean would not dare, treat the Koran in such a way. If that be the case then why in the world do we approve/defend them when they treat the Word of the Living and True God in this way?

==I have no problem with a "Teen Study Bible" or something like that. The problem here is they are using worldly standards (lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, pride of life) to market the Word of God. Not to mention the fact that they design it to look like one of those cheap gossip magazines. As I said in my post Christians should not need worldly designs (etc) to find the Bible exciting to read. The Word itself should excite us without worldly tricks to get us to read it. What will be next? Will they market the Bible to bored housewives in the format of a trashy novel? Whats next? We must demand that the Word of God be treated with the up-most respect and not made to look like a cheap gossip magazine.

==My information comes directly from their web-site (unless you are accusing them of mis-marketing their own product). There is nothing wrong with talking about those things, per say. However there is something very wrong when those things are masked in worldly language and that very worldly language is used to market it. If they wish to publish a serious study Bible that contains articles/notes on those subjects I would support that 100%. However as long as they continue to cheapen the Word with their worldly marketing methods I can't support them or their product. Sorry.

Martin.

 

==Right. The modern church is sinking into a pit of coolness, compromise, easy believism, feel-goodism, and worldliness. Don't take my word for it either. Just look around. How many christians, quote un quote, are trying to look (dress), sound (talk, sing), and act (daily behavior) just like the world? I not only see this in teenagers (where it could be somewhat understandable due to the stress of the teen years) I also see it in adults! This edition of the Bible being published by Thomas Nelson is a symptom of this serious problem. Notice that their marketing technique is 100% worldly. The phrases, the topics, everything about it is worldly (even the style of the cover). As for the commentary I doubt it is made up of serious Bible studies (etc). It is probably alot of life principles worded with the very same worldy phrases that are found on the cover.

Again I would have no problem with a study Bible that had life principle articles (etc) with in it(directed at teens or adults). That would be great! However to cheapen the Word of the Living God by making it look like some sort of a cheap gossip magazine is offensive. The Word of God should be treated with the respect that it is due. After all it is the Word of the One, True, Living,Holy, God.

We should not try to look like the world, nor should we attempt to bring people into the church using worldly methods (after all such worldliness is what they must turn away from!).

I think some Scriptures are in order:

"Surely God is good to Israel,
To those who are pure in heart!
But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling,
My steps had almost slipped.
For I was envious of the arrogant
As I saw the prosperity of the wicked...

Until I came into the Sanctuary of God;
Then I perceived their end.
Surely You set them in slippery places;
You cast them down to destruction.
How they are destroyed in a moment"

Psalm 73:1-3,17-18

"Do not fret because of evildoers,
Be not envious toward wrongdoers.
For they will wiether quickly like the grass
And fade liek the green herb"

Psalm 37:1-2

"You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God"

James 4:4

"Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lsut of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from this world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever"

1John 2:15-17

We should reject worldly living, marketing, dress, etc. We should live in such a way that honors God. We should treat His Word with the respect it is do. This Thomas Nelson is not doing.

Martin.

 

==There are no problems, at least as far as I am concerned, with study Bibles that contain articles on real issues (ie...life principles). As for children's Bible's I would prefer one that does not pretend to be a comic book (same issue). When I was little I had a big brown children's Bible (w/ pictures). I still have that Bible (btw) and I would prefer it over the comic book things anyday. While it had pictures it was respectful and serious in its approach. It was also faithful to the Word of God. Now the issue here is the way in which this "bible" has been put together and marketed. They are using worldly standards (language, style, etc) and saying that this somehow makes God's Word more appealing to "modern men" (whatever that is). That is a major, and offensive, problem. If they want to put out a study Bible that deals with these issues great. However to treat the Bible as if it is some cheap gossip magazine is nothing shy of disrespect.

==Ok, let's stop there. Why are they comparing the Bible to someones "favorite magazine"? That is the first question I must ask since the two are totally different. Secondly the Bible is to be taken much, much more seriously then someones "favorite magazine". Thirdly why do they feel the need to use worldy "magazine" packaging and marketing for the Bible? Is it because evangelicals have slipped so far from Biblical standards that publishers are now required to treat the Biblical text so lightly? Or are they now trying to reach the lost world for Christ with a worldly bait? Such worldly bait, btw, must be repented of. So, in summary here, this just really blows my mind. Why is this even needed? Again if they want a study Bible then publish a good study Bible. However they should never treat the Bible as someones "favorite magazine".

==For me this was one of the most offensive parts of their ad. Two reasons. (1) Who is this "modern guy"? Seems that they are painting with a mighty large brush. Many Christian "MEN" I know want solid Biblical truth and are not the least bit interested in gossip style columns that offer shallow theology masked in worldly packaging and langauge. So I just don't know who they are talking about. (2) Why does their wordly magazine package and wording make a person's Bible reading "the best part of your day"? I was under the impression that Bible reading was the "best part" of our day because it was during that time that we learned truth, fellowshiped with the Lord, recieved guidance from the Lord, and had our minds transformed by the Word (etc.). Seems to me Thomas Nelson is giving people the WRONG reason for reading the Bible. Seems very worldly.

==First I would argue with their claim that "readable" is an important quality in chosing a translation. While it is important I would assume it would be more important to find an accurate translation. Not saying the NCV is not accurate (I am not personally familiar with that translation) just that they seem to be placing "readable" over "accurate". Second I again return to my point. Why will their worldly wording and style help a person dig deeper into God's Word? Seems their whole approach contradicts their claim! See above.


As a man I can honestly say that I am much more interested in knowing God and truth (being general here) then I am in having "sexcess" or learning about "34 Tech Savvy ideas" (etc). Again I think that their style is worldly and not showing the proper respect for the Word of God. We need to have a revival in the church. A revival in respect for God's truth.

In Christ,
Martin.