That Junior’s Bible: … Is it Really God’s Word?
If you have young people you feel you are responsible to God for, you may want to read the following material on Zondervan Teen Study Bible.[sgmb id=”1″]
Excerpts from the report on Zondervan Teen Study Bible:
“Scattered throughout the Teen Study Bible are 20 full-color pages that Zondervan describes as “a Christian perspective on contemporary issues” and giving “biblical answers to the toughest questions asked by today’s teens”. These pages easily stand out from all other pages. They are much thicker and much more graphic and colorful. As I first thumbed through the Teen Bible, my eyes instinctively stopped at these pages. Each page gives a stylish-colorful-wow-teen graphic presentation discussing a specific topic. The topics discussed are sex; money; death; stress; guilt; school; addiction; entertainment; prayer; witnessing; self-image; church; dating; friends; parents; and siblings.
It is some of the information on these pages that is alarming. These pages give the standard dictionary definition for the topic, and then Zondervan provides an “alternative definition” for the topic. The “alternative definition” is obviously aimed directly at the Christian teenager.
For instance, on the color presentation page for “money” the Teen Bible gives the standard dictionary meaning: “mon-ey (mun*ee) n. –the official currency, as coins and paper notes issued by a government”. And the teen “alternative definition” given is a harmless “—what you never have enough of when you go to the mall”. Ok. No problem. Most of the “alternative definitions” are trivial – but some of them are hard to believe. . .
Take the topic of “sex”. The Teen Study Bible gives a standard dictionary definition, but the “alternative definition” is disgusting. Remember this is aimed directly at impressionable Christian teenagers. The “alternate definition” (1993 edition) for “sex” is “—another fun thing mean adults tell teenagers to keep away from.”
Are you listening?
Sex is “Another FUN THING MEAN adults tell teenagers to keep away from”! Does anyone seriously believe that such an “alternative definition” would DISCOURAGE hormone-crazy, Christian teenagers to abstain from sex? Is that not like throwing fuel on the fire? Can you imagine a parent telling their daughter, “Yes. Honey, we don’t want you to have sex because it’s so much fun”.
Compare the Teen Study Bible’s “alternative definition” with God’s “alternative definition” of “sex”:
2 Timothy 2:22
Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.Note: God says, not just “abstain” from “youthful lusts” but “FLEE youthful lusts. In other words. . . RUN from them. As FAST and as FAR as you can! “Youthful lusts” will destroy and defile more innocent teenagers than any other temptation. And they can NEVER, EVER get that purity and innocence back! No amount of tears, praying, repenting or sorrow can restore that beautiful God-given purity! And despite the world’s perverted macho attitude — it is as sinful and as tragic for the teenage boy as the teenage girl.
1 Corinthians 6:18
Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.Galatians 5:19-21
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Ephesians 5:3
But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
1 Thessalonians 4:3-5
3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;
5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:
Suffice to say, the Lord’s “alternative definition” is slightly different from Zondervan’s “another fun thing”.
By the way, God makes a crystal clear distinction, even using a different word, between God-ordained “sex” within the marriage union versus immoral “fornication” and “adultery” outside marriage. Completely contrary to Zondervan’s alternative definition of a “FUN THING” the Lord defines “fornication” as “sin”, (1 Cor. 7:8), “defile” (Matt. 15:20), “evil” (Mark 7:23), “worthy of death” (Romans 1:29-32), “unrighteousness” (Romans 1:29), “wicked person” (1 Cor. 5:13), “which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on” (Colossians 3:6) and “abominations and filthiness” (Rev. 17:4).
God warns several times “BE NOT DECEIVED” — NO “fornicator” will inherit the kingdom of God!.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.Galatians 5:19-21
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Another troubling “alternative definition” is given for “prayer”. The great preacher John Wesley said, “God does nothing but in answer to prayer”. The German reformer Martin Luther said of prayer, “None can believe how powerful prayer is, and what it is able to effect. . ..” Evangelist Dwight L. Moody wrote, “Every great movement of God can be traced to a kneeling figure.” The King James Bible mentions prayer over 540 times!
The Apostle Paul in Philippians 4:6 strongly encourages prayer:
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 commands us to “Pray without ceasing.”
Ready for Zondervan’s Teen Study Bible’s “alternative definition” for prayer? You might want to get your pen ready – you’ll surely want to record this “nugget”. Here it is: “prayer —talking to the ceiling and wondering if anybody’s listening.” Now be honest – doesn’t that make you run to the prayer closet?
Isn’t that pitiful? Could that possibly encourage a teenager to pray? Where is any application of “faith” and “believing” in “talking to the ceiling”?
Again compare Zondervan’s “alternative definition” to the Word of God.
The VERY FIRST requirement to please God is to “believe that he is”! Not simply “talking to the ceiling” and “WONDERING if anybody’s listening”!
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Jesus Christ defines “believing” as the foundation of prayer.
And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
There is no “wondering if anybody’s listening” – God sees and hears it all!
But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
Many more scriptures could be given emphasizing the importance of faith in prayer.
The Teen Study Bible “alternative definition” for “church” is “what you have to get dressed up for so you can be bored for an hour at a morning service”. Now, that is really helpful to get teenagers interested in church. Beware pastors: after that encouraging definition, teenagers everywhere will be breaking down the church doors just to get in. I can testify from first-hand experience, as the father of three teenagers, “bored” is the teenagers “worse nightmare”. Defining “church” as “boring” is the same as screaming to the average teenager — “STAY AWAY!”
Again, the Lord’s definition is different than Zondervan’s: The Lord says the “church of the living God” is the “house of God” and get this – “the pillar and ground of truth”.
But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
The snippets above must be quite revealing on the contents of the ‘holy’ book you are asked to buy for your kids. I hope this will wake someone up on the need to review every book and media of information we bring to our children. The devil likes to have them served to him young. He also prefers the serving is done by the parents and guardians.
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(Culled)
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