THE MESS-AGE: THE 'BEST-SELLING BIBLE'... THAT ISN'T!

THE MESS-AGE:
THE 'BEST-SELLING BIBLE'...
THAT ISN'T!

CONCLUSION*

"God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they might believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness."
2 Thessalonians 2:11

'THE MESSAGE'
IS MERELY A
"PERSONAL INTERPRETATION"
OF THE BIBLE

 "Know this first of all,
that no prophecy of scripture
is a matter of one's
own personal interpretation."
2 Peter 1:20

"If the 'paraphrased version' changes
the content and meaning of the original,
it is no longer a valid 'paraphrase,'
but rather a 'personal interpretation.'"    
-pastor Brad

The Message is Eugene Peterson's "personal interpretation" of the Bible, no more reliable or authoritative than the commentaries of many other Bible scholars such as John Wesley or John Calvin, who have gone before him (If Peterson had published his book as a commentary, I wouldn't bother addressing The Message).

In my opinion, sometimes his "interpretations" are brilliant and at other times, as we have seen, "not so good." Nevertheless, the personal interpretations of a man, no matter how excellent they might be are NEVER the inspired word of God. It has happened as Janie's dad feared it might (see part 1):

"If they start including 'those commentaries'
inside of our 'Holy Scriptures'
there'll come a day when ole' satan
will get men confused as to which was which.'"

As we have discovered, there are at least 3 major reasons that The Message should NEVER be considered The Bible, in any form.

They are:
1. It is a "personal interpretation," rather than an actual translation of the real Bible (see 2 Peter 1:20-21).
2. It "adds to" and "takes away from" the real Bible (see Deuteronomy 12:32; Proverbs 30:6; Revelation 22:18-19).
3. It changes the meaning and content of the real Bible (see Proverbs 30:6; 2 Timothy 3-16:17; 2 Peter 1:20-21).
And finally,

THE GRAND IRONY

As we have seen time and time again (see Addendums 1-3), The Message does the very thing that the real Bible warns against in Proverbs 30:6:

 "Every word of God is tested;
He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.
Do not add to these words
lest He reprove you and you be proved a liar."

How can Peterson possibly justify such blatant disregard for scripture? Simple! JUST CHANGE IT!

"The believer replied, 'Every promise of God proves true; he protects everyone who runs to him for help.  So don't second-guess him; he might take you to task and show up your lies."
Proverbs 30:5-6, The Message

*This entire series is available in booklet form.  For information as to how to receive your copy simply email:  brad@godthoughts.org and type,
MESS-AGE BOOKLET REQUEST in title box.

GodThoughtsWired!                                                 Friday, March 12, 2010

Evangelizing the Church in the Age of Delusion

The mess-age:
the 'best-selling bible'...
that isn't!

addendum 3

Evidences that 'The Message' is not The Bible

This is the 3rd in a series of addendums that provides irrefutable proof that logically,* The Message must not be considered a legitmate translation of the Bible.

Repentance is No Longer Required for Salvation...
ACCORDING TO 'THE MESSAGE'

Consider the following verses regarding salvation found in the real Bible:
Isaiah: "In repentance and rest you shall be saved" (Isaiah 30:15).
Jeremiah: "Return (repent) O' faithless sons...Return (repent) O' faithless sons..Return (repent) O' faithless sons..(Jeremiah 3:10, 12, 22).
Ezekeil: "For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies, declares the Lord God. Therefore, repent and live" (Ezekiel 18:32; see also, verses 20-31).
John the Baptist: "Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand" (Matthew 3:2).
Jesus: "Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand" (Matthew 4:17).
Peter: "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).
Paul: "God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent...That they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance" (Acts 17:30; 26:20).
The 12 Apostles: "They went out and preached that men should repent" (Mark 6:12).
Jesus to the churches of churches of Revelation: "Repent...Repent...Repent...Repent...Repent...Repent...Repent...Repent..." (Revelation 2 & 3).
The angels: "There will be more joy in Heaven over one sinner who repents...There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents" (Luke 15:7, 10).
I won't belabor the point here, let me simply highlight one of the most ridiculous examples. The "word for word" translation of the real Bible says,

"They went out and preached that men should repent."
Mark 6:12

The Message translation is as follows:

"The preached with joyful urgency that life can be radically different."Mark 6:12, The Message*

Amazing! Shocking? Incredible! Talk about changing the meaning! Remember, when the translation changes the meaning, it is no longer a "paraphrase," it has become a "personal interpretation" (see 2 Peter 1:20-21).
And finally, for good measure, The "word for word" translation of the real Bible says,

"There will be more joy in Heaven over one sinner who repents..."
Luke 15:7

And The Message translation is as follows:

"There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner's rescued life..."
Luke 15:7, The Message*

I can't help but wonder if what one of my colleague's says is true,

 "'The Message' will have no trougble being acceptable
to the authors of the false One World Church system
that is currently being implemented by the United Nations
and the World Council Of Churches and ratified
by the apostate denominations who are supporters
of the Ecumenical Movement."
-ANONYMOUS

*While these studies on The Message are not intended to be an indictment of the author (I do not know Eugene Peterson personally), in order to provide the reader with as much accurate information, I feel it necessary to let the reader know that I am DEEPLY TROUBLED by this issue of "repentance," and its absence from the above verses regarding salvation. The Greek word that we translate as "repent" is the verb, "metanoeo" and it is clear that the removal of "repentance" from these verses is purposeful (We understand this based on The Message's CORRECT translation of "metanoeo" as "repent" in the non-salvation related verses found in Revelation 16:9, 11).

*The Three Laws of Logic (J.P. Moreland, The Apologetics Study Bible, Holman Bible Publishers, 2007, p.1854) are helpful in our understanding of why The Message cannot be considered a Bible. The three laws are:


1. The Law of Identity (A is A). The Law of Identity says that everything is itself and not something else.
2. The Law of noncontradiction (A is not non-A). As Moreland explains, "The law of noncontradiction says that a statement such as "It is raining" cannot be both true and false in the same sense...the principle says that it cannot be raining and not raining at the same time in the same place."
3. The Law of the Excluded Middle (either A or non-A). Moreland continues, "a statement such as "It is raining" is either true or false. There is no other alternative." Either it IS raining, or it IS NOT raining. Those are the only options.
The Laws of Logic demand the conclusion that The Message is not the Bible, paraphrased or otherwise, for at least three reasons:


Reason #1. The Message ADDS content that the Bible does not have (as illustrated by this addendum), thus changing the identity.
Reason #2. The Message TAKES AWAY content that the Bible has, thus changing the identity.
Reason #3. The Message CHANGES THE MEANING (both practically and theologically) of the content (as illustrated by this addendum), thus changing the identity.

The Three Laws of Logic Applied to:
The Biblical Concept of Repentance, Necessary for Salvation

1. The Bible teaches that repentance is necessary for salvation.
2. The Message DOES NOT TEACH that repentance is necessary for salvation.
3. Thus, The Message is NOT the Bible.

 "If logic is the basis of all thinking, and theology
is thinking about God, then it follows that logic is
the basis of all thinking about God."
-Norman Geisler

It can't be raining and not raining in the same place at the same time.

GodThoughtsWired!                             Thursday, March 11, 2010

Evangelizing the Church in the Age of Delusion

the mess-age:
the 'best-selling bible'...
that isn't!

addendum 2:

homosexuality is no longer sin!

The Bible warns:
"Examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil...and do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness,but instead even expose them."
-1 Thessalonians 5:21; Ephesians 5:11

ADDENDUM 2:
 Evidences that The Message is not The Bible
 This is the 2nd in a series of addendums that provides irrefutable proof that logically,* The Message must not be considered a legitmate translation of the Bible.
 "Homosexuality is No Longer Sin!"
...ACCORDING TO 'THE MESSAGE,'
NEW TESTAMENT
"Worse followed. Refusing to know God,
they soon didn't know how to be human either...Sexually confused, they abused and defiled one another, women with women,
men with men, all lust, no love..."
Romans 1:26-27; , The Message (bold mine)

Tragically, The Message is ever-increasingly being used as a "proof-text" that there is nothing wrong with homosexuality, as long as the partners are in love and committed to one another.

Here in Romans, chapter 1, the Gay community finds an ally in The Message to argue that God doesn't care about "sexual preference," rather, love vs. lust is the issue. The Message provides a loophole for "committed" homosexuals who truly "love" each other.

 "Don't you realize that this is not the way to live? 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...don't qualify as citizens in God's kingdom."
1 Corinthians 6:9-11, The Message (bold mine)

 HEAVEN HELP US! Here, The Message has "paraphrased" the specific condemnation of "fornication," "adultery," and both the "passive and active homosexual partners," in the real Bible, and clumped them all together into "use and abuse sex." Thus opening the floodgates of "personal interpretation" as to what contstitutes the "abuse" of sex. Whereas the original words that God gave the apostle Paul left absolutely NO DOUBT, here again The Message has become a tool in the enemies hands to "delude" an entire generation.

And the same is true of the following reference:

 "It's obvious isn't it, that the law code isn't primarily for people who live responsibly, but for the irresponsible, who defy all authority, riding roughshod over God, life, sex, truth, whatever!"
1 Timothy 1:9-10, The Message (underline mine)

The Message "paraphrases" the original revelation of "immoral men and homosexuals" as "riding roughshod over...sex." I'm hopeful that by now the point has been made and the "angel of light" has been exposed?

Is it any wonder that the Gay community has embraced The Message as their "bible of choice," second only perhaps, to...The New Testament Study Bible For...Lesbians, Gays, Bi, and Transgender (No, I'm not joking):

 "Generally speaking, many Christians are judgmental and do not approve of women as Church leaders, divorced people, or homosexuals. However, these biases are not supported by the Bible itself."
-Introduction, page 7,
The New Testament Study Bible For...
Lesbians, Gays, Bi, and Transgende

C'mon Church! We gotta' have the gift of discernment in full operation in these last days! C'mon Church leaders! Stop endorsing something you haven't actually read yourselves ! The cover jacket on many of the most recent editions of The Message touts:

 "We took our entire church
through the New Testament."
-Rick Warren +
 Uhh, no, Rick, it wasn't the "New Testament" that you took your "church" through.

+As one of the most influential people in today's "visible church," Rick Warren has had significantly influenced the popularity of The Message.
*The Three Laws of Logic (J.P. Moreland, The Apologetics Study Bible, Holman Bible Publishers, 2007, p.1854) are helpful in our understanding of why The Message cannot be considered a Bible. The three laws are:

1. The Law of Identity (A is A). The Law of Identity says that everything is itself and not something else.

2. The Law of noncontradiction (A is not non-A). As Moreland explains, "The law of noncontradiction says that a statement such as "It is raining" cannot be both true and false in the same sense...the principle says that it cannot be raining and not raining at the same time in the same place."

3. The Law of the Excluded Middle (either A or non-A). Moreland continues, "a statement such as "It is raining" is either true or false. There is no other alternative." Either it IS raining, or it IS NOT raining. Those are the only options.

The Laws of Logic demand the conclusion that The Message is not the Bible, paraphrased or otherwise, for at least three reasons:
Reason #1. The Message ADDS content that the Bible does not have (as illustrated by this addendum), thus changing the identity.

Reason #2. The Message TAKES AWAY content that IS IN the Bible, thus changing the identity.

Reason #3. The Message CHANGES THE MEANING (both practically and theologically) of the content (as illustrated by this addendum), thus changing the identity.

The Three Laws of Logic Applied to
Romans 1:24-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9;
1 Timothy 1:10

1. The Bible teaches that homosexuality is sin.

2. The Message's New Testament DOES NOT TEACH that homosexuality is sin.

3. Thus, The Message is NOT the Bible.

"If logic is the basis of all thinking, and theology is thinking about God, then it follows that logic is the basis of all thinking about God."
-Norman Geisler

It can't be raining and not raining in the same place at the same time.

GodThoughtsWired!                       Monday, March 8, 2010

Evangelizing the Church in the Age of Delusion

the message:
The 'best-selling bible'...
that isn't!

"God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they might believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness."
2 Thessalonians 2:11

" The Mess-Age"

PART 4

 WHY 'THE MESSAGE' IS NOT THE BIBLE

"Is The Message truly the Word of God?" as it is purported to be?  Is it really 'The Bible in Contemporary Language?'  Is The Message 'purely and simply God's Word?'  Is this book truly 'faithful to the original languages' as we are told it is?...ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!"
-pastor Brad

The Message is NOT THE BIBLE. It is NOT A BIBLE TRANSLATION. IT IS NOT A "PARAPHRASED"* VERSION OF THE BIBLE. The Message IS NOT "faithful to the original languages" nor is it always taken from the original Hebrew and Greek.

Horrifically, The Message does the very things that the real Bible warns against - it "adds to, and takes away from" the very Word of God (see Deuteronomy 12:32; Revelation 22:18-19).

"Do not add to these words lest
He reprove you and you be proved a liar."
Proverbs 30:6

Tragically, the true Bible says, "no prophecy of scripture is a matter of ones own interpretation" (see 2 Peter 1:20-21) and, yet The Message is precisely that...one man's interpretation; sometimes excellent, sometimes terrible, NEVER the inspired Word of God.

*The definition of "paraphrase" is: (noun) 1. a restatement of a text or passage giving the meaning in another form, as for clearness; rewording. 2. the act or process of restating or rewording. (verb) express the same message in different words.

Indeed, the purpose of a "paraphrase" is to "clarify the meaning," or help the reader "to better understand." Please note the definition, "a restatement of a text or passage giving the meaning in another form." A true "paraphrase" gives the same meaning in a different form, using different words to help the reader better understand the original meaning.

A skillful paraphrase can be a magnificent tool to help the reader better understand the meaning of the original content. However, if the "paraphrased version" changes the content and meaning of the original, it is no longer a valid "paraphrase," but rather a "personal interpretation."

The Message is Eugene Peterson's "personal interpretation."

GodThoughtsWired!                             Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Evangelizing the Church in the Age of Delusion

You are subscribed as %%emailaddress%%

the message:
the 'best-selling bible'...
that isn't!

"God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they might believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness."
2 Thessalonians 2:11

 "The Mess-Age"

PART 3:  IS 'THE MESSAGE' THE BIBLE?, cont.

"When we call a book "The Bible," we are referring to the only book in the history of the universe that is supernatural in its origin and maintenance...The words of the Bible were supernaturally penned by men who were supernaturally 'moved' by the Holy Spirit of God."
-pastor Brad

OK. Now that we have laid the groundwork, we are ready to begin our examination. "Examine everything carefully..." (see 1 Thessalonians 5:21). We have established that the book, The Message is promoted, marketed, packaged and touted by the author himself as...The Bible.* Additionally, copies of The Message are now found in virtually every bookstore, Christian or not, in the "Bible section."

Further solidifying these claims that The Message is a translation of the "God-breathed" revelation of God penned by men, "moved by the Holy Spirit of God," a recent edition of this book entitled, "Conversations: The Message Bible with its Translator, Including author notes and Reflections," goes to great lengths separating the words of man (Peterson's comments, notes, and reflections) from the supposed Word of God (The Message).

So, "Is The Message truly the Word of God?" as it is purported to be? Is it really "The Bible in Contemporary Language?" Is The Message "purely and simply God's Word?" Is this book truly "faithful to the original languages" as we are told it is?

As we will soon discover...
ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!


*The Message comes in a variety of styles and formats. The style and fomat will determine how the individual book defines itself. All of them are called "the Bible" in some form, but some include "disclaimers" and others do not. For example, many versions refer to The Message as a "paraphrased" Bible translation (technically, this is what it claims to be), while others such as The NASB/The Message Parallel Bible make no such distinction.
For further study, click on Modern English Bible Translations

For previous messages please click here