The “Poverty and Justice Bible” emphasizes the “over 2,000 verses that spell out God’s attitude to poverty and justice.” A noble motive. However, as the old saying states, “The Devil is in the details.” The Web site for this new Bible proudly presents some of the study materials contained in this special edition. Each poverty passage has its own study guide complete with a “Discover,” “Dream” and “Do” portion. The editors tell us that these practical study guides will help us understand poverty and injustice from God’s viewpoint. As you read them, you quickly discover that these study guides are more from the viewpoint of Al Gore (cf. “An Inconvenient Truth”) than that of God. And illustrations? Absolutely!
Consider this disturbing example of what awaits you in the pages of the PJB. As you study Proverbs 14:9 you are challenged in the “Do” section of the study guide to, “Identify your ignorance and do something about it. Use the media to stretch your mind and make you wise. Seek out wise writers, respected reporters intelligent entertainers—and learn from them.” What? Use the media to “stretch your mind and make you wise”?
The Bible constantly warns us about the “wisdom of the world” (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:20ff.). And this new Bible tells you to get your wisdom from a secular media. Oh, and don’t forget the “intelligent entertainers.” It gets worse. When you study Romans 13:8-10, the “Discover” section of the study guide declares, “Paul was a great traveler. It is estimated that he traveled more than 10,000 miles during his ministry. I wonder, if he were alive today, would he be zooming around Turkey on the Asia Minor equivalent of EasyJet? Would he be insulating his tent and reducing his carbon footprint?” I’m not making this up. Do you remember the last time you closed your Bible and meditated on how much insulation Paul should have put in his tent?
In the next paragraph of this particular study guide we’re told that if we really love people as Paul did we would make sure that we don’t harm the environment. Page after page of “application” condemns chain saws, deforestation, clear cutting and all things not “green.”
Had enough? How about this “Dream” section of the guide for Matt. 5:13-16: “You’re at a job interview for becoming a human. You’re asked how you intend to make a difference to this world. What do you say?” (A job interview for becoming a human? Who wrote this stuff, Jay Leno?)
Wait, there’s more. When you turn in your new PJB to Amos 5:21-24 you will be challenged to a deeper walk with Christ when you read this “Do” portion of the study guide: “Cultivate a relationship with your garden (or window box). Show it you care.” Can somebody tell me how I show my window box I care?
To the committed Christian there is nothing more precious than the Bible because we understand it to be God’s word. When someone prostitutes this precious book for blatant political and ideological purposes everyone loses. Love the Bible, proclaim the Bible, study the Bible, memorize the Bible—but check your theological and political agendas at the door.