What a great example of advocacy w/ the collaborative, articulate, & successful petitioning of Zondervan! Let us confess & lament this Lent, Good Friday, & each day (Ps 139.) Let's pray & empower ourselves, pastors, Bible study leaders, teachers, orgs, & small groups to consider & confess our idolatry of nation-worship (ie: "GBtUSA Bible" too). Dr. Tisby's "Parable of the Large White Church" articulates our church struggles w/ our greed. Some U.S. churches outsource to nonprofits for less controversy. Often, it seems that nonprofits are the hands & feet of Jesus plus hold the difficult conversations.
Today we're still bound to greed--not as a nation chosen & blessed by God--but on the lasting impact of our greed w/ chattel slavery & continued marginalization of our people with more melanin who are also made with equal amounts of God's image. The church of Acts addressed when some of their diverse members were passed over. May believers, as the Church, be more like the Church in Acts with diverse leaders too.
Jemar - thank you for this piece. I was curious why the new "Bible" was in the "trusted" KJV and not one of the more contemporary translations. This was helpful.
Send in the comedians!!! Fight misinformation with....humor.
Perhaps it is time to use techniques employed during WWII by British journalist and head of special operations for the Political Warfare Executive, Sefton Delmer, who created radio programs mocking Nazi elites. Per below:
" According to declassified UK government files, researched by historian and archivist Lee Richards, around 40% of German soldiers tuned into Delmer’s stations. An SS Obergruppenführer from Munich complained that Delmer’s stations were among the top three in the city and were causing complete havoc. Goebbels was dismayed by how effective they were."
• Just don’t buy it and get as many people as you can to do the same. If nobody buys them they will stop selling them. I learned this in my second year economics course.
• But wait, according to you, half the country is, as you so broadly define them,. “White Christian Nationalists.” Since they are, as you put it, predisposed to such a Bible, maybe calling attention to it would be free advertising, encouraging more purchases.
• For example, I delete all political emails without reading them, so I knew nothing about this Bible until you brought it to my attention.
• Now I intend to buy one as a replacement for the traditional Family Bible in which we used to record family facts like births, deaths and weddings.
• I especially like the fact that it has copies of our country’s founding documents for easy reference.
Thank you, Dr. Tisby, for bringing this Bible to my attention!
My Black seminary professor first brought you to my attention and that of my Black preacher classmates when he played a video of you speaking. You were discussed quite favorably in our Multicultural Ministry in America course. It was years ago but I have been following you off and on ever since.
Dr. Tisby, I don't need them in my Bible. I just happen to like them in a convenient place for me. It probably goes back to my early childhood when my parents gave me a Scofield Reference Bible that could be zipped closed. I kept some notes in it, even things not related to the text, as a matter of convenience, since they could not fall out as long as it was zipped. I carried that Bible around a lot, not just to church on Sundays and Wednesday nights.
Rod, you reminded me that I left off seminaries; how awesome that your seminary professor featured Jemar Tisby! Personally, I find the King James Bible translation confusing for myself & some folks.
Wednesday, I caught up on news; 2 AP articles caught my attention:
What if seminary professors & students took trips to the Equal Justice Initiative, Whitney Plantation, & discussed Dr. Jemar Tisby's books? Sign me up!
Hope, thank you for your kind comments about my professor. I was working on a D.Min. in Multicultural Ministries when I took that course. It was my favorite and most memorable course of the program, Including all the courses I took for my previous two seminary degrees. The Multicultural Ministries Program was only offered in Houston and when the professor had significant health issues before the next school year, the program was discontinued.
Why not get free copies online? Why give money to someone who wants to undermine each and every document and subvert our very democracy? You intend to buy into this fleecing farce? I don’t understand the logic…just because it was brought to your attention? I am confused by this line of thinking. But if you feel the need to replace a FAMILY Bible with one that financially supports an adulterous, cannot tell the truth, power and money hungry person than do it with eyes and wallet wide open. Thirty pieces of silver might be the perfect price.
Vicki, I can understand your feelings even if they differ from mine. I voted for President Trump twice and will again, God willing, since I consider President Trump the better choice for President.. That being said, I respect President Biden for the office he holds and I pray for both men and their families every day, asking that the Lord Jesus Christ give them wisdom, strength, and protection. Whatever their sins may be, it is not my place to judge them. I have enough sins of my own for which I will need give account before I even think about trying to correct the sins of others.
Your preaching Jesus words here is slightly out of context since he obviously was speaking of children out of utero. I can accept your opinion if you choose a pro-life stance, but using Jesus words as a means to that end is disingenuous. If you’re into using the Old Testament as precedent over Jesus life and words than I simply reiterate that what Jesus taught is enough for me. At least you wisely decided not to put the first (and especially) second amendments into Jesus words as justification for your decision. My methodology remains a following of Jesus without modern day political influence. By all means follow Trump if your world view makes you inclined. My view is more the Lord’s Prayer variety. I will spare you the chapter and verse of that since I am not trying to weaponize it to prove anything to you.
Vicki, I am not trying to weaponize anything or prove anything to you. I am not trying to change your beliefs. They are yours and I accept that.. You basically said I have a political litmus test. I do not. I am simply stating my beliefs and what I base them on. I use the Hebrew Scriptures because that is how I was taught to interpret scripture. I will always go back to God's words in Hebrew Scripture. Jesus' words indicate how both He and the Father feel about children who are obviously already born.. I never said they didn't. David's words of acknowledgement to God simply give further evidence of God's direct involvement with children even in utero. You are certainly free to interpret Scripture however you choose. I was simply trying to show you that I do not have a political litmus test but a logical and theological basis for my own world view. I certainly accept that you do not agree with my world view or my interpretive methodology but at least allow me to hold it.
Rod, I did say that by all means hold your world view and vote how you are inclined, so I am indeed allowing you to use whatever methodology you choose. I came to the conclusion that you use political litmus tests from your own words bringing the first and second amendment into your decision process. They stem from a political document do they not? Just trying to follow your logic. I even said I accept your opinion. I just don’t think the Constitution is part of Scripture,so is therefore political not theological. That’s my logic in saying that you use political litmus tests. Not trying to offend you but just pointing out the way I came to that conclusion.
I am discerning the fruits, and believing people when they show you who they are. I leave the judgement to God. I can also discern evil intentions and pray for those who seek to harm others. But I will not enable people who say they plan to seek retribution yet loyalties for themselves rather than Jesus. We are called to be wise. I pray for both men as well as our country. Peace be with you.
I use a similar methodology. I simply come to a differing conclusion when comparing the two candidates. Being pro-life and pro-constitution, especially its 1st and 2nd amendments, also affects my choice between the two presidential candidates.
I think the difference is that I don’t add my own political litmus tests to what Jesus says. What he teaches is enough. And if those litmus tests are important to you then there’s one candidate who called for the “termination” of the Constitution, then had to backtrack amid the firestorm (so which words were true?) I thank you for being willing to have this conversation.
In the words of Jesus: Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. (Mat 18:10 KJV) Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. (Mat 18:14 KJV) But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven." (Mat 19:14 NKJ) I couple the foregoing with the words of the Hebrew Scriptures regarding God's presence and activity with the pre-born in utero. For example, David acknowledged to God: "Upon you I have leaned from before my birth; you are he who took me from my mother's womb. My praise is continually of you." (Psa 71:6 ESV). and again, "For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb." (Psa 139:13 ESV). The basis for my pro-life stance is Scriptural and not political. But as I said originally, this is part of my world view and will affect all relevant decisions I make, including who I support financially and politically. I also consider David's words similar to my own testimony of my belief in Jesus and my assurance of eternal life with Him.
Jemar Tisby you continue to shine Christ light on our real enemies schemes.🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
Thank you, Don! Your support is crucial to my work.
What a great example of advocacy w/ the collaborative, articulate, & successful petitioning of Zondervan! Let us confess & lament this Lent, Good Friday, & each day (Ps 139.) Let's pray & empower ourselves, pastors, Bible study leaders, teachers, orgs, & small groups to consider & confess our idolatry of nation-worship (ie: "GBtUSA Bible" too). Dr. Tisby's "Parable of the Large White Church" articulates our church struggles w/ our greed. Some U.S. churches outsource to nonprofits for less controversy. Often, it seems that nonprofits are the hands & feet of Jesus plus hold the difficult conversations.
Today we're still bound to greed--not as a nation chosen & blessed by God--but on the lasting impact of our greed w/ chattel slavery & continued marginalization of our people with more melanin who are also made with equal amounts of God's image. The church of Acts addressed when some of their diverse members were passed over. May believers, as the Church, be more like the Church in Acts with diverse leaders too.
I note Faithful America's resources on white Christian Nationalism (wCN) & for pastors & Bible studies too (https://act.faithfulamerica.org/signup/christian-nationalism-resources/)
Sergio Hernandez & Nat Lash, "Fortune 500 Companies Have Given Millions to Election Deniers Since Jan. 6," ProPublica, Updated Dec. 18, 2023. (notation of which company explicitly denounced support) ....but reinvested, https://projects.propublica.org/fortune-500-company-election-deniers-jan-6/
I'll keep asking myself how I can creatively counter wCN like Jesus of Nazareth challenged falsehoods during His life & through His death.
Some helpful resources there. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for your dogged perseverance in this sphere of influence.
I couldn't do it without your support of this Substack and your encouragement!
I affirm your stance here. I feel offended by this mixing of church and state in the form of the Bible.
i feel it is evil thinking and advocacy to make money and political gains.
Ted johnstone
A grift in God's name. Jesus flipped tables over this.
Thank you. Continue to stand up for right and truth!
Your support makes it possible! 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
Revelation 22:18-- if anyone adds anything to the words of prophecy of this book, God will add to him all the plagues...
Jemar - thank you for this piece. I was curious why the new "Bible" was in the "trusted" KJV and not one of the more contemporary translations. This was helpful.
Thanks! I had the same question and then it clicked about the NIV and the licensing through Zondervan, etc., etc.
Send in the comedians!!! Fight misinformation with....humor.
Perhaps it is time to use techniques employed during WWII by British journalist and head of special operations for the Political Warfare Executive, Sefton Delmer, who created radio programs mocking Nazi elites. Per below:
" According to declassified UK government files, researched by historian and archivist Lee Richards, around 40% of German soldiers tuned into Delmer’s stations. An SS Obergruppenführer from Munich complained that Delmer’s stations were among the top three in the city and were causing complete havoc. Goebbels was dismayed by how effective they were."
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/mar/02/the-man-who-tricked-nazi-germany-lessons-from-the-past-on-how-to-beat-disinformation
You might be onto something!
I like the way the "Babylon Bee" uses humor to parody disinformation and its purveyors.
I have been missing Robin Williams so much ever since Trump's first presidency. I think you're right... this is a job for top-notch comedians!
Here is my AMEN to your article:
https://open.substack.com/pub/jonathanbrownson/p/whats-your-purpose?r=gdp9j&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
Thanks for your labors, Jonathan!
How about these suggestions?:
• Just don’t buy it and get as many people as you can to do the same. If nobody buys them they will stop selling them. I learned this in my second year economics course.
• But wait, according to you, half the country is, as you so broadly define them,. “White Christian Nationalists.” Since they are, as you put it, predisposed to such a Bible, maybe calling attention to it would be free advertising, encouraging more purchases.
• For example, I delete all political emails without reading them, so I knew nothing about this Bible until you brought it to my attention.
• Now I intend to buy one as a replacement for the traditional Family Bible in which we used to record family facts like births, deaths and weddings.
• I especially like the fact that it has copies of our country’s founding documents for easy reference.
Thank you, Dr. Tisby, for bringing this Bible to my attention!
My Black seminary professor first brought you to my attention and that of my Black preacher classmates when he played a video of you speaking. You were discussed quite favorably in our Multicultural Ministry in America course. It was years ago but I have been following you off and on ever since.
Rod, why do you need the country's founding documents in your Bible?
Dr. Tisby, I don't need them in my Bible. I just happen to like them in a convenient place for me. It probably goes back to my early childhood when my parents gave me a Scofield Reference Bible that could be zipped closed. I kept some notes in it, even things not related to the text, as a matter of convenience, since they could not fall out as long as it was zipped. I carried that Bible around a lot, not just to church on Sundays and Wednesday nights.
Rod, you reminded me that I left off seminaries; how awesome that your seminary professor featured Jemar Tisby! Personally, I find the King James Bible translation confusing for myself & some folks.
Wednesday, I caught up on news; 2 AP articles caught my attention:
https://apnews.com/article/trump-god-bless-usa-bible-greenwood-2713fda3efdfa297d0f024efb1ca3003
https://apnews.com/article/equal-justice-initiative-9f03c7d7bd366b57d602d8b452b12050
What if seminary professors & students took trips to the Equal Justice Initiative, Whitney Plantation, & discussed Dr. Jemar Tisby's books? Sign me up!
Hope, thank you for your kind comments about my professor. I was working on a D.Min. in Multicultural Ministries when I took that course. It was my favorite and most memorable course of the program, Including all the courses I took for my previous two seminary degrees. The Multicultural Ministries Program was only offered in Houston and when the professor had significant health issues before the next school year, the program was discontinued.
Why not get free copies online? Why give money to someone who wants to undermine each and every document and subvert our very democracy? You intend to buy into this fleecing farce? I don’t understand the logic…just because it was brought to your attention? I am confused by this line of thinking. But if you feel the need to replace a FAMILY Bible with one that financially supports an adulterous, cannot tell the truth, power and money hungry person than do it with eyes and wallet wide open. Thirty pieces of silver might be the perfect price.
Vicki, I can understand your feelings even if they differ from mine. I voted for President Trump twice and will again, God willing, since I consider President Trump the better choice for President.. That being said, I respect President Biden for the office he holds and I pray for both men and their families every day, asking that the Lord Jesus Christ give them wisdom, strength, and protection. Whatever their sins may be, it is not my place to judge them. I have enough sins of my own for which I will need give account before I even think about trying to correct the sins of others.
Your preaching Jesus words here is slightly out of context since he obviously was speaking of children out of utero. I can accept your opinion if you choose a pro-life stance, but using Jesus words as a means to that end is disingenuous. If you’re into using the Old Testament as precedent over Jesus life and words than I simply reiterate that what Jesus taught is enough for me. At least you wisely decided not to put the first (and especially) second amendments into Jesus words as justification for your decision. My methodology remains a following of Jesus without modern day political influence. By all means follow Trump if your world view makes you inclined. My view is more the Lord’s Prayer variety. I will spare you the chapter and verse of that since I am not trying to weaponize it to prove anything to you.
Vicki, I am not trying to weaponize anything or prove anything to you. I am not trying to change your beliefs. They are yours and I accept that.. You basically said I have a political litmus test. I do not. I am simply stating my beliefs and what I base them on. I use the Hebrew Scriptures because that is how I was taught to interpret scripture. I will always go back to God's words in Hebrew Scripture. Jesus' words indicate how both He and the Father feel about children who are obviously already born.. I never said they didn't. David's words of acknowledgement to God simply give further evidence of God's direct involvement with children even in utero. You are certainly free to interpret Scripture however you choose. I was simply trying to show you that I do not have a political litmus test but a logical and theological basis for my own world view. I certainly accept that you do not agree with my world view or my interpretive methodology but at least allow me to hold it.
Rod, I did say that by all means hold your world view and vote how you are inclined, so I am indeed allowing you to use whatever methodology you choose. I came to the conclusion that you use political litmus tests from your own words bringing the first and second amendment into your decision process. They stem from a political document do they not? Just trying to follow your logic. I even said I accept your opinion. I just don’t think the Constitution is part of Scripture,so is therefore political not theological. That’s my logic in saying that you use political litmus tests. Not trying to offend you but just pointing out the way I came to that conclusion.
Vicki, thank you.
Happy Resurrection Day! He is Risen!
I am discerning the fruits, and believing people when they show you who they are. I leave the judgement to God. I can also discern evil intentions and pray for those who seek to harm others. But I will not enable people who say they plan to seek retribution yet loyalties for themselves rather than Jesus. We are called to be wise. I pray for both men as well as our country. Peace be with you.
I use a similar methodology. I simply come to a differing conclusion when comparing the two candidates. Being pro-life and pro-constitution, especially its 1st and 2nd amendments, also affects my choice between the two presidential candidates.
I think the difference is that I don’t add my own political litmus tests to what Jesus says. What he teaches is enough. And if those litmus tests are important to you then there’s one candidate who called for the “termination” of the Constitution, then had to backtrack amid the firestorm (so which words were true?) I thank you for being willing to have this conversation.
In the words of Jesus: Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. (Mat 18:10 KJV) Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. (Mat 18:14 KJV) But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven." (Mat 19:14 NKJ) I couple the foregoing with the words of the Hebrew Scriptures regarding God's presence and activity with the pre-born in utero. For example, David acknowledged to God: "Upon you I have leaned from before my birth; you are he who took me from my mother's womb. My praise is continually of you." (Psa 71:6 ESV). and again, "For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb." (Psa 139:13 ESV). The basis for my pro-life stance is Scriptural and not political. But as I said originally, this is part of my world view and will affect all relevant decisions I make, including who I support financially and politically. I also consider David's words similar to my own testimony of my belief in Jesus and my assurance of eternal life with Him.