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Sexcess
- Thread starter Martin
- Start date
This still seems very similar to this woman's book I have sittin right here. It has the N.T. inside with articles all through it from women about women's issues.
I don't see this Full-Color, Trade Paper claiming to be a study bible either. The format looks like a magazine. So what? I seriously doubt they changed any of the scripture in there. If they did then I would have a major problem.
If people have a problem with it then they shouldn't buy it. This could reach men out there for Christ!
I don't see this Full-Color, Trade Paper claiming to be a study bible either. The format looks like a magazine. So what? I seriously doubt they changed any of the scripture in there. If they did then I would have a major problem.
If people have a problem with it then they shouldn't buy it. This could reach men out there for Christ!
ChristianBigDog
New Member
I don't post often on these subjects because I don’t like to argue and get caught up in "churchianity". But sometimes you just have to say, who do you think you are? These worldly Christians you people speak of, who are they? Are they the ones out there that wear the expensive suit and tie and drive the big and or expensive car? Or the ones that wear a button down shirt no tie and drive an old pick up?
When people talk about not using worldly things to promote the Bible and God, that it is wrong. How about the Internet, its one of, if not the most worldly media around. And who are we to say who and/or what God can or cannot use to reach the lost. Who are we to pick and choose how someone is reached? Who are we to pick and choose who is reached? And if you haven’t read the magazine or “biblezine” as they put it, and that is what it is a magazine, then you should reserve your judgments until you do. What ever happened to not judging a book by its cover? What ever happen to judging all things in the light of scripture? If all you have seen is the cover you need to do more research. I’ll concede the fact that the term “Sexcess” gives me pause, however until I read the article, and I plan to do so, I will give them the benefit of the doubt.
Just like a lot of Christians are against newer translations of the Bible, they are against new music, movies, magazines, and a host of other things. It’s a good thing that Gods plan continues to reach the lost in spite of “our plan”. Its not enough that we want to put God into a little box that fits “our” interpretation “his” word but now we want tie his hands behind his back. His way of reaching the lost may not be our way, at the moment, but it should be. If reading a magazine, or listening to a song, or watching a movie helps someone to be more curious about God, or if it actually pushes them over the edge for Christ, then I say “get-r-done”.
1 Cor 9:22-23
22To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. 23I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.
When people talk about not using worldly things to promote the Bible and God, that it is wrong. How about the Internet, its one of, if not the most worldly media around. And who are we to say who and/or what God can or cannot use to reach the lost. Who are we to pick and choose how someone is reached? Who are we to pick and choose who is reached? And if you haven’t read the magazine or “biblezine” as they put it, and that is what it is a magazine, then you should reserve your judgments until you do. What ever happened to not judging a book by its cover? What ever happen to judging all things in the light of scripture? If all you have seen is the cover you need to do more research. I’ll concede the fact that the term “Sexcess” gives me pause, however until I read the article, and I plan to do so, I will give them the benefit of the doubt.
Just like a lot of Christians are against newer translations of the Bible, they are against new music, movies, magazines, and a host of other things. It’s a good thing that Gods plan continues to reach the lost in spite of “our plan”. Its not enough that we want to put God into a little box that fits “our” interpretation “his” word but now we want tie his hands behind his back. His way of reaching the lost may not be our way, at the moment, but it should be. If reading a magazine, or listening to a song, or watching a movie helps someone to be more curious about God, or if it actually pushes them over the edge for Christ, then I say “get-r-done”.
1 Cor 9:22-23
22To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. 23I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.
==In this context it is those who are attracted to worldly things (1John 2:15-17).
==That is not the issue. We are not talking about mediums (tv, print, radio, internet, etc). What we are talking about is how Thomas Nelson is treating the Word of God. Framing it in the mask of a gossip magazine is not showing the respect we should have for the Word of God. One can use any medium in a respectful, correct way and one can use any medium in a wrong way. This is a perfect example of Thomas Nelson using the print medium in the wrong way.
==Well first the cover here is pretty shocking. If the inside of the magazine, I mean bible, is different from the cover that raises some serious questions like, "Why did they use a worldly cover", "Is that not wrongly representing the product"? Second I am very familiar with the female version of this, this is nothing new. Only this version is new. Also we are basing our statements on it's publishers statements (etc). So unless you are trying to say that the publisher is mis-representing the book then I don't see your point.
As for "picking and chosing" how someone is reached, well that is dangerous. Where do we draw the line? Surely there are lines that we dare not cross. I would have assumed that most Christians would have agreed that turning God's Word into a cheap gossip magazine would be one of those lines (a few years ago anyway). As I said above no publisher would treat the Koran this way! Why do they have more respect for it than the Inspired, eternal Word of the Living God? Interesting question, frightening answer.
==First I am not giving a publishing corporation, who's job it is to make profits, the benefit of the doubt. They are making profits on the Word of God by making it look like some cheap gossip magazine and by framing it in worldly, degrading language. Second do we wish to enter the Scriptures and find out how they treated the Word of God? I think that would be a great idea:
"And all the people gathered as one man at the square which was in front of the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the Law of Moses which the Lord had given Israel. Then Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men, women, and all who could listen with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month....Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up." Nehemiah 8:1-2,5
Notice the level of respect these people gave the Word of God. Look how Jesus treated the Word, Paul, and Peter. I can't see any of these men agreeing to turn the Word into a gossip magazine using worldly language.
==This is not about being against something "new", not at all. I am not against new ideas and approaches. However we must draw the line when people start treating the Word like some sort of joke.
Btw this is about how we treat the Word of God. Therefore I don't think 1 Cor 9:22-23 is really a correct Scripture to use here.
In Christ,
Martin.
==How does using worldly methods reach people for Christ?
Martin. </font>[/QUOTE]The format of the magazine is different. Alot of un-believers won't touch a regular bible that we all use or step foot in church. This magazine has the N.T. inside it with articles about mens issues. If this magazine has men picking it up and reading it and it leads them to Jesus then I am definitely for it!
I will have to wait to get the paper in my hands and look at it to see how they made it. To see if they have treated the Word of God like a joke or not.
I don't know, I thought of this scripture too when reading this thread.
1 Cor 9:22-23
22To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. 23I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.
T
TexasSky
Guest
Are we saying that God's word is not a good enough method and that man can improve on it?
Who is saying that? Not me. I don't see them saying they changed the Word of God in that magazine.
I know God can and does use many methods to bring people to Him. He used a Christian fiction book to draw me to Him in the beginning. I've seen God use Christian rock too. But this is a trade paper or biblezine or magazine for pete sake, not a study bible. It has the N.T. included in it and I think that is great.
guitarpreacher
New Member
Ever hear of The Song of Solomon? Fact is, considering that the divorce rate inside the church is roughly the same as the divorce rate outside the church, we'd do well to spend more time discovering what the Bible has to say about success with the opposite sex.
So is this Bible that is patterned after 17,Cosmo, Men's Health etc... going to have new issues every month? Once I read the articles I want to read in a magazine I toss it and wait for the next issue.
What I'm driving at is this. I think TN is thinking about how to make money more than they are about putting the Word in the hands of more people. The concept of presenting the Bible in magazine form must mean they, T.Nelson plan on printing more issues of like fashion. I believe they have tapped into a way of making more money by marketing the Bible in this fashion. (Like God's Word needs to be marketed).
This Bible isn't going to appeal to non christians. How many non christians frequent christian bookstores where most of these Biblezines will be sold? Very,very, few.
"Its all about the benjamins baby!"
Why is America so ripe for the judgement of God when we have all these different Bibles to choose from that will supposededly connect with people?
Where is the hard evidence that having all these Bibles available to people has made somekind of monumental impact on the christian in the states.
Baptistms are down. Churches are closing. What about the world? Gambling is sweeping the nation. The homosexual agenda is as powerful as ever. Fascination with pornography and the porn industry is trucking right along. Drugs are still a problem,Divorce and broken homes are commonplace, Abortion is still rampant. Must I go on? So much Bible access yet, so little Bible application.
All T. Nelson is doing is trying to make another buck. Making the Bible look like a magazine just gives the idea that the Bible is "common" whether they realize it or not. Why not just put these Biblzines in the supermarket checkout between Oprah's mag. Woman's day? One could gather a little bit from each and learn how to cope.
The bottomline is the fact that American evangelicals are a bunch of spoiled ninnies who have grown fat,sassy and lazy because of all of "christian stuff" they haved gorged themselves with. I dare say that we would already have reached more people with the Gospel around the world if all the money that was made from "evangelicals" buying CD's books etc... was put into missions. We are just spoiled, spoiled spoiled.
What I'm driving at is this. I think TN is thinking about how to make money more than they are about putting the Word in the hands of more people. The concept of presenting the Bible in magazine form must mean they, T.Nelson plan on printing more issues of like fashion. I believe they have tapped into a way of making more money by marketing the Bible in this fashion. (Like God's Word needs to be marketed).
This Bible isn't going to appeal to non christians. How many non christians frequent christian bookstores where most of these Biblezines will be sold? Very,very, few.
"Its all about the benjamins baby!"
Why is America so ripe for the judgement of God when we have all these different Bibles to choose from that will supposededly connect with people?
Where is the hard evidence that having all these Bibles available to people has made somekind of monumental impact on the christian in the states.
Baptistms are down. Churches are closing. What about the world? Gambling is sweeping the nation. The homosexual agenda is as powerful as ever. Fascination with pornography and the porn industry is trucking right along. Drugs are still a problem,Divorce and broken homes are commonplace, Abortion is still rampant. Must I go on? So much Bible access yet, so little Bible application.
All T. Nelson is doing is trying to make another buck. Making the Bible look like a magazine just gives the idea that the Bible is "common" whether they realize it or not. Why not just put these Biblzines in the supermarket checkout between Oprah's mag. Woman's day? One could gather a little bit from each and learn how to cope.
The bottomline is the fact that American evangelicals are a bunch of spoiled ninnies who have grown fat,sassy and lazy because of all of "christian stuff" they haved gorged themselves with. I dare say that we would already have reached more people with the Gospel around the world if all the money that was made from "evangelicals" buying CD's books etc... was put into missions. We are just spoiled, spoiled spoiled.
Gold Dragon
Well-Known Member
This magazine sounds like the current version of the tract like the four spiritual laws that was so successful in previous cultures. Today's culture generally does not like tracts but I can see a magazine like this being effective at reaching some Christian and non-Christian segments of today's culture with God's word. I also see it as being much better than tracts because it presents more than over-simplified formulas to Christianity.
I've seen it as well. I don't accuse them of mismarketing. I do think, though, that you simply don't approve, and hence will condemn.
I think you should subscribe to a bit more objectivity. Who decides "worldly standards"? The commentaries in this edition address issues that Godly men face all the time, whether they're worldly or not. Addressing those topics should not be eschewed just because you have decided they're worldly.
I suggest you actually pick it up and read through it. You'll find nothing inappropriate in its content.
It's clear, then, that you did not read it. I did. As a parent of two teen girls who must work hard to keep them pure, I speak with some authority here. I highly recommend Revolve to anyone with teen girls.
Who says it's not a study bible? You? It is a fact of life that Christian men struggle, sometimes daily, with financial, sexual, and physical issues. Who says that these are not theological and/or life principle issues? You? I'd disagree with you vehemently.
As a Godly husband (so says my wife) who admittedly struggles with all sorts of issues that men face, I am neither outraged nor in agreement with you.
I think the fact that scripture can be so easily applied in daily practical application, while the Koran cannot, is a testament to its worthiness as God's inspired Word.
As someone who purchased not one, but two Revolve editions, I can attest to the fact that none of this is true.
You got me there. That was originally why I wasn't going to purchase them. However, upon further investigating, I realized that this was a subjective judgement on my part, and that making a study bible in a format that makes its content easily accessible to the reader is good.
Who decided what a bible should look like? God certainly does not care about these things. He cares only about the Word living in our hearts.
What's a worldly trick? I have a Bible with a Burgandy leather binding. I like the color burgundy. My wife's Bible is in a hawaiian print bible case with a long strap. Again, who decides what is an appropriate "worldly trick" and what isn't?
I ask again, who decides? I don't worship scripture.
Jesus used "worldly language" all the time. Paul wrote in a very common, basic, and easy to understand "worldly language".
I question your sincerity, since you already implied that those topics are worldly and not worthy of discussion.
Rubbish! My wife and I have a healthy, active, and fun sex life, and aren't afraid to encourage other married people to do the same. Whoever decided that it was a taboo subject is sending people to hell, imo.
It should be used for both. In fact, God's word does indeed encourage us in matters of success with the opposite sex. And that, imo, is indeed Christ centered. Need proof? Try reading Song of Solomon. It's pretty erotic, even going so far as beautifying oral copulation. SoS is one of the most poetically beautiful books of scripture.
When I taught high school I told non-Christians what often Christian kids do not hear but should hear at church.
Sex is incredibly powerful. It has the power to destroy and the power to draw closeness. But it must be done God's way or we lose.
Isn't that part of the content in 1 Cor. Seems like God said a lot about immorality and promiscuity as well as the roles and responsibilities of the husband and wife.
It wasn't too many years ago that I went through 1 Cor and it was often the older people I found who didn't like straight talk about such things found there. But in the congregation were two teenagers visiting who were involved with their boy friends in ways that were not wise nor biblical. They had bought into the ideas of the world. Afterward a mother came to me and thanked me for such straight talk. It gave her daughter the proper perspective that she needed along with her two friends that day. Sometime take a look at the statistics where the highest teen pregnancy rate is in the U.S.
Josh McDowell wrote a book called Right From Wrong. In that book he claims that 25% of the youth in the youth groups in churches are having sex with each other.
Johnv said:
"I question your sincerity, since you already implied that those topics are worldly and not worthy of discussion."
==I am not going to respond point-by-point because it is clear that we are coming from two totally different directions (yet again). I have read through Revolve, btw. Now I never said the topics were off limits or worldly. What I actually have been saying is that the way they are marketing the product (cover, wording, etc) is what is offensive. I have said from the start that a study Bible that seriously, and with proper respect, deals with these issues from a Biblical standard would have my support. Just go back and read each of my posts on this. I have made this point several times. It is the word choices (ie...sexcess, etc) and style that have me floored on this one (not the topics). However I must admit that "45 Tech Savy" ideas does not strike me as a Biblical topic....
Martin.
"I question your sincerity, since you already implied that those topics are worldly and not worthy of discussion."
==I am not going to respond point-by-point because it is clear that we are coming from two totally different directions (yet again). I have read through Revolve, btw. Now I never said the topics were off limits or worldly. What I actually have been saying is that the way they are marketing the product (cover, wording, etc) is what is offensive. I have said from the start that a study Bible that seriously, and with proper respect, deals with these issues from a Biblical standard would have my support. Just go back and read each of my posts on this. I have made this point several times. It is the word choices (ie...sexcess, etc) and style that have me floored on this one (not the topics). However I must admit that "45 Tech Savy" ideas does not strike me as a Biblical topic....
Martin.
I see nothing offensive about the Revolve bible. You presume (and do so incorrectly) that Revolve does not deal seriously with these issues from a biblical standard. If you truly did read through the Revolve NT edition, you'd find that it does in fact do so. If this edition of the OP is similar, I fully expect it will do so likewise.
==Well we differ on that then, don't we? Yes. I see it as more compromise by the "popular" evangelical movement. Less meat, more sweets. Let's not get too theologically deep, let's stick with life principles. Of course what they forget is that life principles apart from deep/sound theology is nothing but feel-goodism. Nothing wrong with life principles as long as it is grounded in solid Biblical Theology. My experience with many in the popular evangelical movement is that they don't have very deep theology.
______________________
==Well I have not "presumed" (correctly or incorrectly) about anything. I have read through that publication and saw the same thing I have seen in other "popular" publications (etc). Alot of life issues and very little serious/deep theology. Worse yet, with Revolve, it was couched in a worldly format. That is the problem with "popular" evangelicalism. It tries so hard, so hard, to look like the world (ie...worldly). Yet God's Word says that we are to be transformed.
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==Well all I can say to that is I truly did and I disagree with you most strongly.
Martin.