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“The Poverty and Justice Bible” Reveals God’s Heart Towards Poverty and Injustice

Posted by: Todd
Posted on: Tue, March 04, 2008
Viewed 46
(8) comments so far

The Rt. Rev. Dr. Tom Wright, bishop of Durham and Bible Society’s president, said, “Poverty and injustice are two of the biggest issues of our day, challenging the minds of politicians and social activists around the world.

“The imbalance of global wealth, famine, water shortages, exploitation and corruption are all issues that invoke outrage – and demand attention. But The Poverty and Justice Bible shows that, in speaking out on these issues, God got there first.”

Far from being irrelevant, the Poverty and Injustice Bible demonstrates that God’s Word has “something to say about issues that resonate today”, the bishop added.

“This Bible connects with the very fabric of today’s world, with all its problems and messiness – and has something powerful to say,” he said.

Bible Society was inspired to develop the new Bible after Pastor Rick Warren, author of bestselling The Purpose Driven Life, admitted that had missed more than 2,000 verses that speak of God’s heart for the poor despite studying theology and being a pastor for decades. He claimed that Christians risked losing their credibility if they failed to speak out against poverty and injustice.

Christian leader and commentator Tony Campolo added, “Here’s proof that faith without commitment to justice for the poor is a sham, because it ignores the most explicit of all the social concerns of Scripture.”

Bible Society staff and experts spent months debating and sifting through the Contemporary English Version (CEV) Bible to pull out the verses that say something about God’s attitude to poverty and justice. The result was more than 2,000 sections, with almost every page from Genesis to Revelation emphasizing just and fair behavior.

The organization hopes that the Poverty and Justice Bible will also act as a springboard for Christians to take action on these issues by helping them link social action with Scripture.
More here... and here...

FOR YOUR RESPONSE: So… good or bad idea on the “Poverty and Justice Bible”?

I thought the following title a little unsettling: "New Bible Reveals God's Heart Towards Poverty, Injustice". It's the new Bible out from the Bible Society. I guess the premise is ok: literally highlighting the more than 2,000 passages that reveal God’s sorrow over poverty and injustice, and His command to believers to act to eradicate them. It was probably just the headline that kind of said that we needed a "New Bible" to "Reveal" God's heart to us. Anyway... my knitpicking aside, here's more about this release:

Comments

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Daniel D. Farmer on Tue, March 04, 2008

Why, good idea of course.

But as one who thinks all of the Bible is worth highlighting for one reason or another, the poverty and injustice Bible will have to remain a tool, an aid to preaching and study, rather than an everyday study Bible.

My two cents.

-Daniel-
bishopdave on Tue, March 04, 2008

I guess I feel about it the way I feel about things like “The Spirit-filled Life Study Bible”—isn’t every Bible like that? Study notes, highlights, etc—I would like to know if they really increase knowledge of the word. I worry when I notice my Bible has more pages devoted to “study aids” than scripture text. We splash Christian celebrities’ names or movements (Promise Keeper Bible) or whatever. It’s really too bad that the best selling tome of all time needs all this marketing help.

Thank you for allowing me to rant.

How would Polycarp (whose name btw means “multiple carps”) have grown in his faith without his Scofield?
Brian L. on Tue, March 04, 2008

bishopdave,

First, I’m not sure what Polycarp would think. But you just reminded me of something I heard about politics:

Poli = many; ticks = blood-sucking insects.

Brian L.
Peter Hamm on Tue, March 04, 2008

Was Polycarp a Politician?
Joe Louthan on Tue, March 04, 2008

I read this and I am like, “Uh duh”.

But on the other hand, I have to continuously point out scripture on poverty and injustice.
Stewart on Tue, March 04, 2008

I was once in a friendly argument with one of my parishoners over what Jesus said about our obligation as Christians toward the poor. I quoted from Jesus about the camel and the eye of the needle. He said (he’d been a Christian and regular church goer for 50+ years - and he was serious) “Is that really in the Bible?”

In a “lift yourself up by your bootstraps” culture, our ability to overlook messages that are countercultural is significant. I think the mere existence of this Bible alongside all the others will be good.

I agree with Daniel though. It won’t be my regular study Bible.
Neil on Wed, March 05, 2008

If we are to remain relevant to people who are hurting in our world and to 47 million people without health care, then the answer is that this is a good Bible.

Oh…and if we want to have real faith, we better pay attention it, too!
Paul on Sun, March 09, 2008

I agree, of course it’s good thing! Not everyone will want to buy a copy, but it’s a great resource for those who share God’s heart for the poor and oppressed.

I’ve seen a copy, and it’s a really cool Bible - but it’s still a Bible! CEV, easily-readable, everything from Genesis to Revelation - it’s not a new novel!

Yes, everything in the Bible is important, relevant and God-breathed, but this is a great resource for those who work in this field or who want to take their passion further.

My response? Good idea, unquestionably.