Oh ye of little faith....
I'm not an expert, just a Mom whose been saved for 8+ years and would have no problem with my young children reading this translation. That's just the point here...this is a translation just like all the rest that we're going to find today. We also have to remember that the original Bible was highly edited, there are Gospels (of Peter and Thomas firmly rejected) letters (of Barnabas) and Acts (of Andrew and John also firmly rejected) for example that have not been accepted. The earlier translations we have do an ok job, but really don't explain what verses mean and leave a lot up to each individual's interpretation and if you don't have someone who has been highly educated that you trust to take you through the Bible, that can be pretty intimidating and a bit scary. Many Pastors today (from what I've been told) have stopped indepth teaching of the Bible, I'm not certain if they offer Bible studies or not, but those who used to learn what the Bible means in Church services are no longer receicving that education on Sunday. Also, don't forget about the young believers, and I'm not just talking about age although that is a huge point as well. Many new believers in Christ will get bogged down in language and it doesn't have to be that hard, The Message Bible is a wonderful learning tool for new believers and young readers. I would rather my children read The Message than watch T.V.. Rick Warren (and my Pastor as well) use this translation as well as several others simply because certain translations say it better than another. It's Ok for you to have a favorite translation of the Bible, that doesn't mean it will be everyone else's. Also, if someone were truly worried about reading The Message without having an older translation, they have this revolutionary thing called a Paralllel Bible - It has The Message on one side and the NIV translation on the other...problem solved. I would highly recommend having more than one translation to refer to anyway, the differences are often interesting. It's all about the language...if you were one of the people who wrote a condemning review on this Bible or are thinking of doing so, ask yourself this question...would Jesus get that uptight about his message of love and how to live a good life for His glory being translated into words a child could identify with? If you still are considering writing a bad review please read Matthew 18:1-9 in any translation that pleases you :-D And remember what dear old Mom likes to say, if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. God Bless, and keep talking to our Lord...He will respond if you only take the time to hear Him!
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback.
Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Overview
Now all 66 books of The Message Bible are conveniently combined into one! From the mysterious Old Testament stories to the straightforward teachings of Jesus to the encouraging early-church letters, reading The Message will jump-start your heart, challenge your mind, and forever change your life.