Yesterday, as I was shamelessly trolling the internet due to an expansive bought of boredom, I came across this breaking news: The Bible has been translated into a screenplay. Yep, it’s true. Just as a few of the brilliant classics are getting a 50 Shades of Grey style overhaul (don’t even get me started on that one), apparently the Bible isn’t off limits to modern reinterpretations either. And not just any kind of reinterpretation. We’re not talking a new idea on how an ancient Hebrew text should be translated into modern English, no, we’re talking “poets, writers and musicians” all collaborating together to twist the Bible into some kind of accessible novel. Frank Couch, vice president of translation development for Thomas Nelson, has worked with a whole team of experts in order to offer this new version of the Bible knows as “The Voice.” Not only is there a modern screenplay format, but the new translation also “reformats the bible and inserts words and phrases into the text to clarify the action or smooth transitions.” So, what happened to reverence towards the living word of God? Since when did pure, unadulterated truth need to be reformatted in order for people to “fall in love with the story of the Bible?” I understand the desire to reach a bigger audience, to share the life-giving words of the Bible and find people not only interested but responsive as well. However, it is fully up to God to open man’s heart, and while He has put us here as a tool for him, no matter how “accessible” or “relatable” we try to make it, God will be the one to save. They say this new format will help others understand the bible and be drawn into the story. But the Bible isn’t just a story. It’s a divinely inspired work of ultimate truth that combines every genre you could ever need. It’s an account of history, a source of ultimate comfort, and an instruction book. It’s the foundation to which we should build our lives from. The Bible is God’s voice, and I’m pretty sure it doesn’t need the help of a few Hollywood screenwriters and poets to give it more impact than it already has.
In addition to being flabbergasted at the amount of tampering being done with the Bible, I also couldn’t help but be reminded, and disappointed, with our culture’s interest in dumbed down versions of literacy. We’ve become more attracted to easily-read and unsubtle messages; why choose the thought-provoking and seemingly more difficult path when the answers can be blatantly fed to us? Why spend hours exercising your brain when instant-gratification-fluff is readily available? As a twenty-something, I’m just as into technology as anyone, but it’s an undeniable truth that kids are no longer being exposed to classic lit, or art, or philosophy, as a regular occurrence. Now, it’s who can get the highest Angry Birds score or kill the most zombies in the tiny, post apocalyptic land filling the screen mere inches from their noses. But I digress, and I’m sure I’m not the first one to lament the lapse in education and social interactions in today’s society. I guess seeing this new “translation” of the Bible just got me thinking, where exactly is our culture headed? Because I can’t see many benefits in offering people the notion that things needs to be easier to read. How about extending the idea there is value in putting forth effort? Especially when it comes to the Bible.
Source: QC Times
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