The Paper Pulpit: God’s Word and political correctness | Features … – Sanford Herald (registration)

There is a widespread belief in todays world that you are simply not up-to-speed unless you are politically correct in everything you say and do. The self-appointed culture authoritarians who determine what is currently fashionable have even decided that the Bible, Gods Word, is not politically correct.

In Berlin, Germany on November 9, 2006, a group of so-called biblical specialists released a new version of the Bible in which inclusive language and political correctness replaces what they considered some divisive teachings of Christianity. They said the Bible needed a more just language for certain groups.

According to the AFP News Agency the PCV (Politically Correct Version) of the Bible was presented at a book fair in the city of Frankfort. It is published by the Oxford University Press. It no longer refers to God as Father, but as our Mother and Father. Likewise, Jesus is not referred to as Gods Son, but rather as the child of God. The title Lord is replaced with God or the Eternal One. Satan, strangely, is still referred to with masculine pronouns. In other words, God is required to be politically correct, but Satan isnt.

The injustices of all previous Bible translations, it claims, are numerous. It states that the begats in the King James Translation favors fathers over mothers. Out the window they go. And whenever the wife of a Biblical husband is known, the editors inserted her name into the text. The metaphors of evil as darkness and light as good were considered offensive to people of color. Similarly, references to the blind, the deaf and the lame are insensitive to people with disabilities so they were changed.

References to the right hand of God was said to be offensive to left-handed people. My wife, who went home to be with the Lord on April 5, 2016, was left-handed. It never bothered her in the least. Parents guide their children because discipline was considered offensive. References to circumcision posed a problem to the translators because they could think of no way to translate it so it would apply to the female gender. The big challenge came in how to deal with God. Personal pronouns were outlawed. Our Father became Our Father-Mother. To mention one gender, not both, might offend someone.

In addition to the PCV translation, Martin Dreyer, pastor and founder of the sect called Jesus Freaks, published what he called The Peoples Bible in an attempt to make the message of Christianity more relevant and inclusive. Jesus returned rather than was resurrected. He multiplied hamburgers instead of the fish and loaves to feed the hungry multitude. In the parable of the prodigal son, the younger brother squandered his inheritance at dance clubs and ended up cleaning bathrooms at McDonalds.

What needless and misdirected inanity! It is a shame that some people, even when highly educated, can get bent out of shape by the fact that the Bible contains language used by the culture at the time it was written. How else could God have inspired His Word? It seems to me that getting bogged down over whether God is right-handed or left-handed is absurd. I am reminded of another time when those who thought of themselves as scholars argued over how many angels could fit on the head of a straight pin.

I believe it is Gods will for our lives to be changed by the truth found in the Bible, not that Bible truth be changed to fit todays arbitrary politically correct standards. The same Holy Spirit who originally inspired the writers of Scripture is able to guide us to interpret and apply it to our lives and to the culture in which we live.

Please be careful how you live. You may be the only Bible translation some people will ever read.

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The Paper Pulpit: God's Word and political correctness | Features ... - Sanford Herald (registration)