Speaking of Translations

Speaking of Bible translations - As Shane does in Wesley Blog
http://www.wesleyblog.com/2005/12/bloggers_discus.html

This is how I feel...
I’ve been “old school” long before I was old enough to be “old school.” I grew up reading the King James Version until I was a teenager, (60’s) then I switched to The Living Bible and The Good News For Modern Man - for a short while.

It wasn’t long before I went back to the KJV. I tried the Revised Standard Version because that was what the UMC used in all its literature, but I still didn’t feel comfortable with it.

Then I found the New American Standard Bible (NSAB) and I love it. However, to find scriptures that I’ve memorized over the years, I often have to go back to the KJV to find them.

So, I love the KJV and the NSAB. I am comfortable enough with my “womanhood” that reading “man” doesn’t bother me. In fact I detest “inclusive” language. It is so often “over done” that it is ridiculous!

I mean, c’mon, “Because God loved God’s people, God sent God’s Only Son into the world…” how silly does that sound when you read it?

I especially dislike the way our hymns have been changed. When one sings (as I often do) without even looking at the hymnal because the songs are so ingrained in the heart, the “inclusive” language can really trip up the flow of the song.

But, enough of that. I just don’t read those translations.

I’ve studied the Bible long enough that reading the more “modern” translations seems, I dunno, sort of “disrespectful” and “un-studying” to me. I do tell people, however, if you’re new to the Bible, read one of the more “flowing” translations, such as “The New Living Translation” or even “The Message.” I personally don’t like “The Message” but some Bible teachers that I greatly admire use it, so that tells me that it is ok, but I just don’t like it.

I have downloaded e-Sword ( www.e-sword.com ) on my laptop for use in studying. It’s great! (And Free!) I have about a dozen translations at my fingertips as well as major commentaries, dictionaries, and concordances. I can spend hours “chasing rabbits”! (This is what I call it when I start out studying one thing and find myself going a totally different direction because of something else I found…)

The main key isn’t which translation one uses, it’s getting into the Bible on a regular and consistent basis. I’m convinced that the major block to knowing what the Bible is saying is that we just don’t really read what we’re reading.

I’ll talk more about that next time…

Betty

What brought me to searching the internet - part 4

(First of all, let me apologize for the delay in this story/journey - my Dad has been in the hospital [see the Prayerlogue posts] and is now home under Hospice care. As an only child, I am staying at his house caring for him. My husband comes by after work to eat supper with me before going home - it’s almost like dating again! After 30+ years, not living together is the pits!)

Now, on with the story. Where would we turn now…?

Just as Joe and I were struggling with where to turn for “truth” and teaching, many (more) issues were also coming up in the Church (as a whole) that we were dealing with, and questioning.

Through my Prayerlogue blog, I had become aware of a whole “blogosphere” out there, and began following some of the issues, finding that, ‘Hey! We’re not alone in what we believe!”

We’re not the only ones with a disdain for the politics of the Church. We’re not the only ones who long for the Scriptural teachings of Wesley. We’re not the only conservatives left! (Oh, how many times I’ve felt like Elijah - like we were the only ones left…)

We have found many “friends” on the internet and that has helped us in our journey as well as giving us encouragement. I’ve always felt like I was “Between a (Theological) Rock and a Hard Place” because of what I believe. I frequently find myself at odds with the folks around me - “Theology-wise”. I’ve often said, “I’m too liberal for the conservatives, and too conservative for the liberals.” For our regular church members, I’m somewhat of a “fanatic”. They can’t seem to understand why I get so upset over our literature and disturbed with what is being preached from the pulpit (which far too often has been “nothing!”)

[I will say, though, that we have a young man now as our pastor who shows real potential! The “worship” part of his worship services are filling and uplifting. And, his sermons are growing. He is inexperienced, yes, but he shows a real hunger to serve God, and God will use that. Many folks have likened him to Marvin Howard, who is now our Conference Evangelist. Marvin came to our circuit in 1964 as a young, and very new, pastor. We’ve always jokingly said that “we trained him up right!” I joined the church in the fall of 1964 as a 10-year old, after taking confirmation class, and have always had a special place in my heart for Marvin.]

So, back to my reason for this blog.

As I stated in the first installment, I thought it would be apathy that closed our church, and while apathy is a very serious matter, our UMC is facing issues far more serious than apathy.

I have been saying since the late 80’s that I feared that our Church (as a whole) would soon split over the liberal agenda of homosexuality. There are many other issues which tear our church apart, but this one tops the list. Of course, our church members have looked at me in the past like I was crazy, but as time goes on, I think they can’t help but see what I’m talking about.

So, I wanted to be able to write about my “location” (between this rock and this hard place…) without “muddying” up my Prayerlogue. I truly want the Prayerlogue to be a place of prayers, meditations, and devotions that not only reach to the heart of spiritual need, but sings to the heights of heaven in Glory to God.

This blog will be purely my opinion, with prayerfully, direction from God…

Comments are always welcome.

Betty