Posted on 06/26/2009 11:34:00 AM PDT by Alex Murphy
A new technological trend is sweeping across vast sections of our country. In particular, this trend can be found in the emerging/emergent church movement. TBNN has discovered that a growing number of these churches have taken a dogmatic stance on the scriptures. They claim to be ESV-Kindle-Only (EKO).
Christ the Redeemer Community Fellowship is currently the fastest growing church in the greater Phoenix, AZ area. It is also unashamedly ESV-Kindle-Only (EKO). David Hopper, lead pastor at Christ the Redeemer, told us, "When we began our church, our people were using all kinds of bibles. It was crazy. We couldn't even follow along when someone else was reading. That's when we decided to go ESV-only. We strongly believe the ESV is the actual word of God, free from any error. All other versions have problems because they have been corrupted."
Gene Carmer, pastor of small groups at Christ the Redeemer, told us, "We used the regular ESV for a while, but it was just taking too long for our people to find bible passages. It required them to know where the different books of the bible are located, etc. Additionally, regular book bibles are really bulky and a pain to carry around. That's when we decided to give Kindle a try. What happened was amazing! Our people were no longer stressed about how to find their way around the bible. They had full electronic access at their finger tips. This is clearly a far better option that the book version of the ESV. The Kindle is also far lighter, especially when compared to the ESV Study Bible."
While many people are happy with this situation (as shown by Christ the Redeemer's 350% growth rate over the past two years), not everyone is thrilled. Frank Jacobs loves his church, but does not like the Kindle. According to Frank, "I'm just not that technologically oriented. I like to bring my ESV book bible with me to church. Ever since the church went EKO, I have been getting stares and rude comments from people. Some church members who I thought were my friends now walk the other way when they see me. Last week was the worst when one young lady pointed at my (non-Kindle) bible and yelled, 'Why do you carry that counterfeit version? It was made by the Devil and belongs in Hell!' I was shocked and didn't know what to say. Now I'm hearing through the grapevine that the pastors are considering bringing church discipline against me and possibly denying me the Lord's Supper."
When we asked about Mr. Jacobs' situation, Pastor Hopper replied, "We in the emerging/emergent movement have been criticized for not saying what we really believe and for not taking a stand on important issues. Well, this is an important issue to us. We strongly believe that the ancient manuscript evidence shows that not only is the ESV the only valid bible version, but that the ESV-Kindle is what Paul would have wanted us to use. We will accept the persecution that comes with being ESV-Kindle-Only. We will not give in on this issue."
“Why the ESV?”
means: why does it even exist?
It’s unnecessary and wasteful.
The English speaking world DID NOT NEED IT, when Bible translation groups desperately need resources to finish translating God’s word in the thousands of distinct languages.
The existence of the ESV is vain and narcissistic, in my opinion.
I was NASB for nearly 20 years. I switched to the NKJV only because I acquired a Reformation Study Bible about four years ago that was NKJV. At the time, it was going out of print and prices were good. I picked up a new leather-bound with thumb index version for less than $50, and liked it so much I bought a second-hand hardbound version for under $20 (it's only defect were the coffee stains on the page edges) so I wouldn't feel guilty in marking it up.
Just this month, I picked up a pocket-sized ESV (OT and NT)for my briefcase (Family Christian Bookstores, member-only table item for $5), and I have to admit that I really like the translation. I can see why it's popular.
Hehe! Yep!
I think you meant Matt. 4:19.
And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."FWIW the NIV, the NASB, the KJV, the NKJV all use the "fishers of men" language. It's when you get off the beaten path of translations that you start encountering the odd wordings. The "New International Readers Version" says "fishers of people". The "New Century Version" and "Today's New International Version" (as opposed to the NIV) say "fish for people."
-- Matthew 4:19, ESV
satire
I bought Max Mac Lean's reading of the entire Bible on MP3s which I enjoy, and the version I have is ESV. I confess I am liking the ESV more and more, and I seldom use my NASB anymore. I also bought the NIV Spirit of the Reformation Study Bible, even though it is almost identical to the ESV one. But it has the catechisms, Westminster Confession, etc. which are strangely missing from the ESV Reformation study Bible. I believe they were included in that NKJV one you have, but I could never run across one of those.
Sad to say, the catechisms, WCF, etc are not present in the NKJV version of the Reformation Study Bible (maybe they're in the first version when it was called the New Geneva Study Bible?). Their inclusion is one of many good things I've read about the Spirit of the Reformation Study Bible.
I got DH one for Christmas along with the $20 cover. The cover doesn’t double your reading area, but it does close, thus protecting the screen and making it easier to carry around, less “kindle-looking” to thieves. He loves it. I’m not sure if he’s tried downloading WORD documents to it, but it claims to accept those formats. He loves being able to carry his entire library (well, barring the gazillion books we already have) around with him.
For poetry you use the KJV. I only use it now because it’s the only one that seems to be in large print, LOL.
You wrote:
“For me, the one big downside is that the Kindle is designed as a tablet. I would much prefer a folding device that has dual screens. Such a device folded shut would protect the screens when not in use, and when held open would be like reading a real book, i.e. I could see two pages at a time.”
That’s EXACTLY what I have been telling friends! That would be closest to an actual book in terms of feel and usage.
“The tablet design, i.e. a single unprotected screen is the chief turn-off of every e-book device IMO, but I realize it’s a tradeoff to keep costs down. Double the screens = double the price.”
True. I think in a few years the price will really come down. Think of VCRs and DVD players. I remember buying a VCR at Walmart in 1991 for...I think it was $134. Eight years later you could pick them up for less than $80. Now? What? $30? Of course the introduction of DVD players had a lot to do with that!
I’ll have to look into that later this summer. It’s still way too expensive, but when the price drops $100 or $200 I’ll probably be buying.
Thanks Alex. It had me going for a while...
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Kindle Price: | $0.99 & includes wireless delivery via Amazon Whispernet |
I;ve been reading it and wrinkling my brow and thinking — this has to be a joke. Glad someone else recognized it.
Hehe! Yep!
Now from those who think that the only good thing that the ESV for is to kindle a campfire...
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