Published by And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.-Romans 12:2
What does Angelina Jolie, Andy Warhol in drag, Hurricane Katrina victims, people set on fire, and Martin Luther King Jr. all have in common? They are all part of a new money making project called the Bible Illuminated: The Book. This book is a version of the New Testament but it is made to look like a Goth magazine. The creators are a Swedish advertising company Illuminated World headed by Dag Soderberg and Jon Carlzon. They boast of how this bible looks nothing like a bible at all and they are marketing towards the youth but it seems to have caught in to all ages. It has become a conversational piece in many social circles but not for its content simply because of the idea. People are rushing to pick up these bibles in all secular circles because of the urban appeal of the bible. The bible was not created for urban appeal, and certainly these pictures aren’t going to get the message of the gospel out. The message of the gospel is Christ crucified and resurrected. This new style of bible takes the focus off of God and makes the bible a new fashion trend. Everyone has one; did you see the picture on page six? The bible doesn’t need to be conformed to the world to reach the world rather the world needs to be transformed into children of God. The sad truth is that many churches and so called Christian leaders will argue daily and fight for this bible to be accepted. The church is always looking for a new way to conform to society in hopes of reaching more membership. At the end of the day people are left confused by the church because they can no longer tell the difference between the church and the world. This is just another device of using the word of God for profit and it is working.
(Image of Mary and Jesus from the Illuminated Bible)
We can not suit up in the strength of the world to go out and reach the world. We need to go in the power of God.For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost.-1 Thessalonians 4:5-6 We need to get back to sound teaching verse by verse of the Holy Scriptures. We have to begin to love one another and learn forgiveness. The church needs more compassion on those that are lost. We need less programs and more plans of action on how to take this gospel out to the world. We need real ministry that says we are not afraid to go out and use the gospel to pull souls from the fire of hell if need be. We need reality questions to people’s answers, comfort to broken hearts, food for those that are hungry, visitors for those in prison. Since when is the power of God so weak that we need to adopt all kind of worldly practices just to get his message across. It’s not a mystery that all power belongeth unto God but we have become a compromising group of believers that put so much emphasis on change that we have neglected the principles of our very belief. It is not appeal, or new age technology that brings one to Christ it is Corinthians 12:3 “Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.” The power of the Holy Ghost I encourage the church to please never neglect the power of the Holy Ghost.
