New Coke/Coke Classic

Most of you probably remember Coca-Cola’s brief foray into changing the formula of the popular soft drink. It was called “New Coke” and it was an attempt by Coca-Cola to gain market share among a key demographic, youth, an age group that was favoring Pepsi. It backfired. Although “New Coke” showed promise in many parts of the country, it was soundly rejected in the South, where Coca-Cola was based (Atlanta). The strong Southern rejection spread. Comedians mocked Coke, fans at a Houston Astros baseball game booed a Coke advertisement. Within three months, Coca-Cola announced the return of the original formula, in a product called “Coke Classic.” Loyal Coke fans rejoiced. On the Senate floor, Arkansas Democrat David Pryor called the decision by Coca-Cola “a meaningful moment in U. S. history.” I’m not sure what that says about our country; perhaps it says more about the gentleman from Arkansas and/or his constituents. Nonetheless, America as a whole must have agreed because the brief “New Coke” fiasco and it’s merciful conclusion thrust the Coca-Cola company into a period of renewed success as king of the soft drink world, a success that has been uninterrupted even to this day.

Biblica and the NIV Translation

Formerly known as the International Bible Society, Biblica is the worldwide publisher and copyright holder of the New International Version of the Bible. A self-governing group of Bible scholars, known as the Committee on Bible Translation (CBT) is responsible for the content of the NIV. Originally published back in 1978, the NIV went through an update in 1984, which was followed by a couple of decades of remarkable popularity among English Bibles, even supplanting the venerable King James Version (KJV) as the best-selling English Bible. In 2009 Biblica announced that they would be releasing an update again in 2011, not coincidentally on the 400th anniversary of the KJV. The “new” NIV was indeed released in March of 2011.

“And what does this have to do with Coke?” Glad you asked.

Parallels Between New Coke and the New NIV

I believe there are intriguing parallels to be considered between “New Coke” and the new 2011 NIV translation. With “New Coke” casual drinkers of colas probably didn’t notice much difference and probably didn’t care. In the same way, casual readers of the Bible probably haven’t even noticed the massive change between the 1984 edition of the NIV and the new 2011 edition. The word massive is not an overstatement. While some Bible translation “updates” are relatively minor, the updates to the 2011 NIV are anything but minor. It is almost like a new translation. According to Robert Slowley’s research, only 61.1% of the verses in the 2011 edition are the same as the 1984 edition. That’s a lot of changes, most notably seen in the embracing of an entirely new approach to translating gender language. Sadly, I’m afraid that the average layperson is not even aware of these changes.

When the “New Coke” hit the shelves a sizable number of die-hard Coke drinkers revolted and, as referenced above, Coca-Cola acquiesced and put the original formula back into production. The “classic” version was a success. For a fairly long period of time “New Coke” and “Coke Classic” were both available on the shelves. Unfortunately, such a massive revolt has not occurred with the “New NIV.” In fact, the NIV continues it’s run of success, in spite of the major change. I say this is unfortunate because I believe the 1984 NIV, with all its faults, is still much to be preferred over the 2011 NIV.  And I am not alone. Even though the success of the NIV continues, there are signs that the NIV’s overwhelming dominance is waning. According to the Christian Booksellers Association, the New Living Translation (NLT) outsold the NIV in total numbers of units sold last month (the NIV has regained the #1 spot this month). A simple google or bing search of “ESV” “NIV” and “switch” will yield plenty of evidence that numerous pastors and churches have switched from the NIV to the ESV, at varying degrees because of frustrations with the 2011 NIV.

But some folks are not eager to make a switch…to the new NIV, the ESV, or any other translation. They have read the 1984 NIV for years. They have taught from the 1984 NIV for years. They have memorized numerous Scriptures from the 1984 NIV. And although there are some 1984 editions still available on bookstore shelves, there is a day coming in which they will be gone. The 1984 NIV is completely out of print. At least these die hard NIV fans could still access the 1984 NIV text via their computer, tablet, and smart phones. Popular websites and applications like Bible Gateway and YouVersion continued to offer both the 1984 edition and the 2011 editions of the NIV. Until now. According to a recent World Magazine editorial, Biblica asked these popular Bible sites to pull the ’84 version from their offerings.

Shutting Down the ’84 NIV

Pardon my descent into the common vernacular, but that ticks me off. There is NO valid reason for Biblica to seek the removal of the digital editions of the 1984 NIV. Thankfully, I did not purchase the latest update for my Logos Bible Software. Had I done so, I would have lost the 1984 NIV, a translation which is always a major part of my weekly research.

Under “Core Ministry Strategies” on their “About Us” page, Biblica states, “Biblica offers programs and resources to churches and ministries to engage people more deeply in Scripture for life application and transformation.” For me, as a pastor, engaging more deeply means access to multiple translations, especially ones which are carried by many of my church members. The second most carried Bible into my church each Sunday is the NIV, specifically the 1984 edition.

Biblica also states, ”We understand, of course, that there are other translations for churches and individuals to choose from, and we welcome them. We live in a generation that is privileged to have access to some very fine and scholarly Bible translations. Our main concern is that people should be reading the Bible, not that they should be reading a particular Bible translation.” Apparently they welcome other translations of the Bible, just not a previous edition of their own translation.

I honestly have no idea why Biblica wants the old NIV to completely disappear. I understand not wanting to devote resources to the continued production and binding of traditional paper, ink, and leather Bibles with the 1984 text. But it is no problem to Biblica for Logos, Bible Gateway, YouVersion and other digitally-based resources to continue to offer the 1984 text. Are they afraid people are going to compare the new to the old and criticize the new? Are they ashamed of the old? What gives?

It’s Time for “NIV Classic”

Coca-Cola did the right thing. They gave people what they wanted. For several years both New Coke and Coke Classic were available on the shelves. Coke Classic eventually outsold New Coke to the point that the continued production of New Coke was impractical. I have never met a single person who is upset over the demise of New Coke. I basically grew up (from 8 yrs. old to 20 yrs. old) on the NIV, the original and then the 1984 edition. In college I heard that the New American Standard Bible (NASB) was more a more literal translation, so I switched. About ten years ago I switched to the English Standard Version (ESV). So there is a sense in which I really don’t have a dog in this fight.

But I sympathize for the many Christians who have used the 1984 NIV for decades now and have no desire to switch. I’m guessing this is a fairly large group.  In a few years, their 1984 edition Bibles are going to be wearing out (especially if they are bound in bonded leather). They are going to go buy and new NIV, and, unaware of the change, they are going to be scratching their heads and wondering why the wording is different. They will be wishing they had kept their old NIV and gotten it rebound.

It’s time for Biblica to reissue the 1984 NIV as “NIV Classic.” I guarantee it would sell well. If they are unwilling to do this, they should be willing to give away or sell the 1984 text to a publisher who would like to put it back into print. The World Council of Churches was generous enough with the RSV to grant or sell the rights to the 1971 update of the RSV to Crossway, resulting in the ESV. At minimum they should return to allowing Bible Gateway, YouVersion, Logos, and others to offer the 1984 version digitally.

The new NIV might taste good to a lot of people. But for the sake of those who love the taste of the 1984 NIV, Biblica needs to bring back the classic NIV.

I’ll be honest. There are four reasons why I wasn’t expecting much out of this book: (1) The title and subtitle. The blank in the title kind of scared me. Does this mean he is going to promote Jesus as whatever you want/need Him to be? And the subtitle? “Find a New Way to Be Human”? I don’t think people need a find a new way to be human; I think people need to be saved! (2) I looked at Judah’s picture on the back and googled his name and saw a couple of other pictures of him and my first impression is that he was one of those “cool” hipster pastors who spent more time contemplating his wardrobe than meditating on God’s truths. (3) Foreword by Bubba Watson, 2012 Masters Champion. I prefer “Foreword by J. I. Packer” if that tells you anything. I tend to roll my eyes at a pro athlete endorsing a book on Christology. (4) Based on the above, and probably throw in a little bit of my impression of the colorful design of the book, and I was fully expecting something shallow and surface-level.

I was wrong. I was completely caught off guard by the power of this book. Sure, there were times when I wished Smith would have provided a little more theological precision and clarity, especially regarding the depravity of man. But that didn’t keep me from drinking in the fresh and clear ways in which Smith communicated the love and grace of God. 1st John 4:16 says, “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.” In this book, Judah Smith has certainly helped train my eye on God’s love for me.

If you are someone who wasn’t ever loved well, or if you were raised in an environment which was legalistic and rigid, filled with rules, or if you simply struggle to believe that God could truly love someone who has sinned so much, I urge you to get this book and soak in it’s refreshing message. Here are some examples of Gospel-centered statements that can help liberate you to enjoy God’s love:

“Even in our darkest moments of sin and self-centeredness, God still loves us.” – p. 46

“Our righteousness doesn’t depend on our present performance but on Jesus’s finished performance.” – p. 68

“God isn’t just willing to forgive sinners – he is passionate about it.” – p. 73

“God is just as pleased with us as he is with his Son.” – p. 76

“If we have faith in Jesus and his work on the cross, then we are as righteous right now as we ever need to be. We can’t add to it, and we can’t take away from it.” – p. 101

These are just a few of the many gems found in “Jesus is ___________.”

BTW, I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

An inspiring story…

And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Portrait of Integrity: The Life of Ray C. Stedman by Mark S. Mitchell - In this short bio, Mark Mitchell covers the basics of Stedman’s background and life of ministry. Verdict: so-so.

Johann Sebastian Bach by Rick Marschall (e-book) -  Rick Marschall presents Bach as a true believer who dedicated his immense musical genius to the glory of God. Caution: A little bit heavy on musical terms; although I’m no longer a musician, I have a background of musical training and still struggled with a lot of the musical jargon. Verdict: pretty good.

Every Bush is Burning by Brandon Clements (e-book) – Interesting novel; Clements breaks the barrier between author and reader with the writer speaking directly to the reader throughout the story…the theology behind this novel is clearly young, restless, and reformed. Verdict: pretty good.

A Habitual Sight of Him: The Christ-Centered Piety of Thomas Goodwin, edited by Joel W. Beeke and Mark Jones) - I’ve been hoping to increase my reading of the Puritans and this short book looked like a good devotional tool as well. There were some great insights, but over all it was surprisingly dull and hum drum. Verdict: disappointing.

Family Worship by Joel R. Beeke - This little volume packs a powerful punch of conviction regarding the neglected practice of family-based worship. I finished it with a new resolve to do better, by God’s grace. Beeke backs up his ideas and assertions with explicit and implicit teaching of Scripture. Verdict: very good.

Developing a Healthy Prayer Life by James W. Beeke and Joel R. Beeke – I used this devotionally after my daily Bible reading. The 31 meditations are about 3 pages each and were warm, instructive, challenging, and comforting. Perhaps the best compliment is that at the close of each chapter I usually went straight to prayer. I hope to read through this little gem again someday in the same fashion. Verdict: great.

Summary of month of January…Maybe this year is the year I finally reach my annual goal of reading 52 books! I’m off to a great start. Part of it is that I’ve read some small books (around 100-150 pages). Three of the books I read this past month were affiliated with Joel R. Beeke (1 he wrote, 1 he he co-wrote, and 1 he co-edited). I had never read anything by him prior. Except for the Goodwin book he co-edited, I am impressed. I look forward to reading more of his work in the future. In fact, I have another of his books waiting in the queue.

What about you? What have you read lately?

]]> http://pastorbrett.wordpress.com/2013/02/01/january-reading-summary/feed/ 2 Brett http://pastorbrett.wordpress.com/2013/01/27/correcting-my-mistake-from-this-morning/ http://pastorbrett.wordpress.com/2013/01/27/correcting-my-mistake-from-this-morning/#comments Sun, 27 Jan 2013 19:18:52 +0000 Brett http://pastorbrett.wordpress.com/?p=2907 ]]> I am very thankful that I serve a forgiving God, who forgives all my sins and provides me with eternal life. I am also very thankful that I serve a forgiving congregation who forgives my many sins and deficiencies and tolerates my many mistakes and shortcomings.

For example, this morning, in the first worship service, I made a mistake. I got confused as to where I was in the Bible and attributed a quote by John the Baptist to the Lord Jesus Christ. Although I realized my error later on and corrected myself in the 2nd worship service, I still owe a significant portion of our congregation a big apology.

Here is the truth… It was John the Baptist, not Jesus Christ, who said to the self-righteous religious leaders of the day… ““You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” (Matthew 3:7)

That said, I still stick by my statement that in a very real sense ALL the words of the Bible are the words of Jesus! So my mistake did not invalidate my main point in that portion of the message: the doctrine of the wrath of God is taught throughout the Bible, Old Testament and New Testament, Gospels and Epistles.

Thanks for letting me set the record straight.

The phrase “Around the Horn” is a baseball term we used when I was growing up to describe the infielders throwing the baseball to each other after the pitcher struck out a batter. I think it portrays the idea I have here of “throwing the ball” to someone else. I’m also sure someone else has probably come up with this idea already to list links to stories and other websites from their blog. But I like it. So until I get a cease and desist letter, here’s my first edition of “Around the Horn.”

“10 Positive Reasons to Train Your Children in Cell Phone Use” by David Murray – I see it all the time… young children with their eyes glued to a cell phone. As one Christian leader recently said, “Our children are going to grow up seeing the back of an iPhone.”

“Do Christians have a moral obligation to boycott companies that support unbiblical causes?” by R. C. Sproul, Jr. – Let’s face it, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to shop anywhere these days if we’re going to boycott everyone that doesn’t meet our approval! The younger Sproul appeals to Romans 14, which I agree is an appropriate application of that text.

“The Main Reason People Leave a Church” by Thom Rainer – Rainer, the President/CEO of LifeWay, points out that the #1 stated reason is not necessarily a good reason. This is a clear example of where the cultural mindset has hit the church in a significant way. It’s hard for us to believe that Jesus said we really only have one need (Luke 10:42, KJV).

www.abort73.com – A website devoted to exposing the truth about abortion. For example, they expose the lie that unborn babies are just “blobs of tissue.”      **Warning: some images in their videos are graphic. The truth can be painful to see.