A week of reading
Here’s the most comprehensive guide to Bible versions I have seen. The author of the diagram, Wes Huff is the Central Canada Director for Apologetics Canada. Check out your favourite translations and see if you agree where he has placed them.
He says the difference between word-for-word (formal equivalence) and dynamic though-for-thought (dynamic equivalence) translations may not be quite as straightforward as we sometimes think.
“Often the conversation is framed with the terms “dynamic” and “formal” equivalence. However, the concept of “dynamic” and “formal” equivalence regarding English Bible translations is somewhat of an over generalisation. Translations do, in fact, fall on this continuum, yet depending on what Testament, book, chapter, or even verse you happen to be reading, that may shift. Some of the most “word-for-word” translations may, in fact, be quite “thought-for-thought” in particular areas due to the reality of the nature of translation.” From a post here.
Huff has a library of infographics. And while we are on the subject of Christian infographics we need to mention tasmania’s own Andrew Barry.
###
Author Glen Scrivener from the UK does a great gospel summary. A great resource from Premier Christian radio. thanks!
###
We are going to give what the next par describes the name “the Murray Campbell effect.” Because in a piece describing the drag queen story time controversy in Melbourne, this Baptist pastor makes a much wider point, decribing something that entraps some christians as well as progressives.
“The problem today is that just about every issue is hijacked by the loud and mean and crude and the most militant of adherents. This is true for opposing sides in many of these debates. The ability to partner disagreement with love is anathema to many today, although as people we are in desperate need of this combination. A parent who only ever agrees or affirms their children is travelling down a very unsettling and selfish path. How much more should this be said of God, if he only ever affirms every whim and thought and desire we want.”
All true. His full post is here.
###
There’s a wave of “Sensible” evangelicals in the US who while leaning conservative are prepared to distance themselves from Trump. Here’s Russell Moore, editor in Chief of Christianity Today on NBC’s Meet the Press (the US equivelent of Insiders).
Commentator Warren Throckmorton asks if evangelicals will rediscover their soul. “In his interview, Moore said that it appears we may be about to reexperience the madness of 2020 again. Maybe. Is it possible that the evangelical voting bloc will get religion? Can they be saved? Moore said he will never support Trump; will other evangelicals be willing to lose the world in exchange for their soul?”
###
“The Wee Flea” David Robertson, a prolific blogger that The Other Cheek follows assiduosly, gives his verdict on The Archbishop of Canterbury’s part in Charles’ III crowning: “Was the coronation sermon any good?: In the grandeur of the setting and the glory of the occasion, it was easy to think that we were being told something profound, but if you stopped to think about it there was little challenge, little to stimulate and little to point us to Christ, rather than Charles. The message was at best moralistic therapeutic Deism.”
A definition of moral therapeutic Deism might be useful here: Here’s one via Southern Baptist theologian Albert Mohler
1. “A god exists who created and ordered the world and watches over human life on earth.”
2. “God wants people to be good, nice, and fair to each other, as taught in the Bible and by most world religions.”
3. “The central goal of life is to be happy and to feel good about ones self.”
4. “God does not need to be particularly involved in one’s life except when God is needed to resolve a problem.”
5. “Good people go to heaven when they die.”
Or you can take the Other Cheek’s version: the sermon only used the first half of Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many,” (ESV.) Agree? disagree? here’s the actual sermon.
We use an animated version of Glen Scrivener’s Good news in 90 seconds on our church screens which can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ue3rHGDMzjU
We use a tiktok version that was made.