Wikipedia and Ponies

I did it. I gave $ 10 to Wikipedia. I use the service 20-40 times a day, so it’s about time I ponied up.

Click below to join me.

Canon Comparison Chart

Worth referencing (click below):

Maoz Zur

Pick up some free cultural and religious enrichment at Amazon׃ a traditional Hanukah song which is more than reminiscent of the biblical Psalms.

While listening, try to follow along in the Hebrew. (Please try, if only to justify the time I spent typing it out!)

Hebrew:

מָעוֹז צוּרִ יְשׁוּעָתִי לְךָ נָאֶה לְשַׁבֵּחַ

תִּכּוֹן בִֵּית תְּפִלָּתִי וְשָׁם תּוֹדָה נְזַבֵּהַ

לְעֵת תָּכִִין מַטְבֵּהַ מִצָּר הַמְנַבֵּהַ

אָז אֶגְמוֹר בְּשִׁיר מִזְמוֹר הֲנֻכַּת הַמִּזְבֵּהַ

English Translation:
O mighty stronghold of my salvation,
To praise You is a delight.
Restore my House of Prayer
And there we will bring a thanksgiving offering.
When You will have prepared the slaughter
For the blaspheming foe,
Then I shall complete with a song of hymn
The dedication of the Altar.

Transliteration:
Ma-oz Tzur Y’shu-a-ti Le-cha Na-eh L’sha-bei-ach
Ti-kon Beit T’fi-la-ti V’sham To-da N’za-bei-ach
L’eit Ta-chin Mat-bei-ach Mi-tzar Ha-mi-ga-bei-ach
Az Eg-mor B’shir Miz-mor Cha-nu-kat Ha-miz-bei-ach

Literacy Rates and the King James Version

Literacy in the U.S. is embarrassingly low.

Nearly 50% of the adult US population reads at a 7th grade level or lower. Nearly 25% has reading proficiency so low they cannot read instructions on medication bottles, the manual that comes with a piece of machinery, or a newspaper. This means roughly 40 million Americans cannot do something as simple and critical as read the handout a pharmacist gives them that warns them of lethal drug interactions.

[From Blog Action Day 2008: Attack Poverty Through Literacy]

What does this say about the continued use of the King James Version in American churches?

The kids I have tried to evangelize over the past 10 years can’t even read the New American Standard. I’ve explained the theme verse at my one long-time weekly ministry—”Keep sound wisdom and discretion, so they will be life to your soul and adornment to your neck”—to countless low-income junior highers, and I’m not sure any of them ever understood it.

God used the common language of the day in the New Testament, Koine Greek. Koine (Κοινη), in fact, simply means “common.” We should not fear to do the same. The Bible contains some passages and truths that are difficult to understand (2 Pet. 3:16). Some are impossible to grasp without divine enablement (1 Cor. 2:14). But why make understanding impossible by using a language no one in this world speaks?

P.S.

I’ve already posted a list of a few verses in the KJV that are unintelligible. I just found a new one, Joshua 17:18. “It is a wood, and thou shalt cut it down: and the outgoings of it shall be thine.”

Jonathan Edwards Is My Homeboy

One of my favorite teachers here at BJU recently read the book above to get insight into some of his more theologically inclined students. I want insight, too, and I had noticed this book riding some blogosphere buzz, so I picked it up. It was engaging, informative, and a nice quick read perfect for walks between home and work.

It also managed to warm my heart toward the Lord; He brought it to me at a time when I needed some help and some rebuke.

This book was three things for me:

1. A rebuke: Never be arrogant or cliquish about theology but always humble. That reminder came by way of a) stories about prideful theologues and b) the simple point that grace is not something you can work up for yourself.
2. A fascinating narrative: a backstage pass into conservative, gospel-centered American evangelicalism.
3. A reminder: Above all this book reminded me that my theology changes my life. My view of God affects me. Your view affects you. Rather than allow myself to be annoyed and frustrated by those who disagree with me, I want by God’s grace to focus on the positive. I want to give the Bible’s view of a powerful, ruling God free reign to change me into His image from glory to glory.