Biblica Worldwide, owner of the the New International Version, which is dubbed "the choice of conservative evangelicals and the top selling bible in North America", has decided to revamp their translation to make it more "accurate and accessible" http://www.zondervan.com/Cultures/en-US/NewsRoom/NewsReleases/Biblica+Announces+First+Update+in+Quarter+Century+of+the+World%E2%80%99s+Most+Popular+Bible.htm?QueryStringSite=Zondervan. This revamp, the first in its history will be on the shelves in 2011 according to the AP article appearing in yesterday's New York Times (http://washingtontimes.com/news/2009/sep/02/popular-bible-to-undergo-revision/). So how is it that the inspired word of God needs a revamp to make it more "accurate and assessable"? Well, of course it does not, but it could use an update to jive with the accepted mores of post-modern, gendermishmashamalgamated culture. The "more accurate and accessible" NIV will, among other changes, utilize gender language that is thought more palatable to enlightened man, or should I say people. The "Sons of God" become "people of God" and instead of God creating "man" in His own image, He created "humans". But all this hubbub should make one wonder why all the sensitivity to man's...or please excuse me...humankind's feelings. Instead of pandering to the sensitive psyche of the fallen creature, shouldn't the English translation of the Bible seek to accurately reflect the very words of the Creator, whether they are considered by His sinned cursed creatures and 'proper' or not. Who defines the meaning of 'proper' anyway, the democratic fallible will of the "pot" or the holy, sovereign will of the "potter"? God in His work of Divine inspiration has given His people His infallible, inerrant word in all of its authoritative grandeur and humbling glory. It is meant to be the instrument of the Holy Spirit, who convicts the depraved heart of sin and leads to repentance. Jeremiah calls it a hammer (Jer 23:29) and Paul a two edged sword (Eph 6 & Heb 4), both implements of warfare used to describe the holy word's destruction of the forces of evil, in and out of the human heart. The soon to be released NIV will dull the sword and trade the sledge for a plush toy; and that will be quite refreshing to the conscience of rebellious man (yes I do mean man in the corporate sense) and accommodating to the direction of the culture at large, but unfaithful to the Creator's word to his subjects. If the word is abridged, changed or unfaithfully translated the authoritative force of that word is traded for a impotent counterpart.
I should at this point say that I do not speak as a disgruntled groupie of the NIV, I have not used it for over a decade due to a major difference with its translation philosophy, but as a lover of the Divine word and its author. So I invite you to give the linked AP article a look and ask yourself what a move like this offers the today’s church; a more accurate and accessible" translation or a culture pandering reproduction (and if you need any further proof that the culture is confused to intoxicating levels with gender issues I can refer you you this disgraceful and demented link http://www.ksdk.com/news/world/story.aspx?storyid=184150&catid=28 as exhibit A, but be aware that it is not for the faint hearted or immature, it is gross stuff ). After pondering this for a while, I offer you these links to the writing of Pastor William Einwechter on the topic of gender and the biblical order; part 1 http://www.visionforumministries.org/issues/family/men_and_women_and_the_creation.aspx and part 2 http://www.visionforumministries.org/issues/family/men_and_women_and_the_creation_1.aspx
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