The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language
by Eugene H. Peterson
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Book Summary Information
Author: Eugene H. PetersonEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2002-07
ISBN: 1576832899
Number of pages: 2265
Publisher: Navpress Publishing Group
Book Reviews of The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language
Book Review: Nothing but NEW AGE heresey edorsed by false teachers like Rick Warren
Summary: 1 Stars
RICK WARREN, BILLY GRAHAM, BILL HYBELS AND THE LIKE SHAME ON YOU!!! YOU ARE PURPOSELY PROMOTING A BLASTPHEMOUS, EVIL SATANIC PERVERSION OF THE BIBLE!!!!!! READERS, BE WARNED--YOU HAVE BEEN LIED TO!!!!!! THE GREAT APOSTACY AND FALLING AWAY THE GOD HAS WARNED ABOUT IN THE BIBLE IS HERE!
This article will barely scratch the surface of the mystic New Age religion filling The Message. And this article only examines the New Age mysticism in The Message, we do not examine the treason against the Deity of Jesus Christ, salvation and scores of other fundamental doctrines. Note: We'll refer to the King James Bible as KJB, the New Age Movement as NAM, and The Message Bible as The Mess
THE MESSAGE USES THE LORDS NAME IN VAIN
Nothing seems sacred to the Mess, even descending to using the "G.D." word.
Here is GOD's Message to the prophets, the preachers who lie to my people: "For as long as they're well paid and well fed, the prophets preach, 'Isn't life wonderful! Peace to all!' But if you don't pay up and jump on their bandwagon, their 'God bless you' turns into 'God damn you.'
Micah 3:5
Notice how different the words of God's tender compassion found in the King James Bible in Micah 3:5:
Thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him. Micah 3:5, KJB
THE NEW AGE MASTER JESUS
The Mess calls Jesus "Master" over 400 times and the unique New Age phrase "Master Jesus" appears 76 times! The only other Bible I found "Master Jesus" in was the New Age Bible titled The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus Christ!
The following examples (among many) of the "Master Jesus" in The Mess loudly echo the Judas-inspired, New Age doctrine of the "Master Jesus."
As the rocks rained down, Stephen prayed, "Master Jesus, take my life."
Acts 7:59
Then some of the men from Cyprus and Cyrene who had come to Antioch started talking to Greeks, giving them the Message of the Master Jesus.
Acts 11:20
And what we believe is that the One who raised up the Master Jesus will just as certainly raise us up with you, alive.
2 Corinthians 4:14
He who testifies to all these things says it again: "I'm on my way! I'll be there soon!" Yes! Come, Master Jesus! The grace of the Master Jesus be with all of you. Oh, Yes!
Revelation 22:20-21
The Bible in 1 Corinthians 12:3 warns against spiritual counterfeits such as The Mess that deny Jesus is the "Lord." Notice how the Mess attempts to cover its tracks by perverting the same verse.
Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. 1 Cor. 12:3, KJB
For instance, by using your heads, you know perfectly well that the Spirit of God would never prompt anyone to say "Jesus be damned!" Nor would anyone be inclined to say "Jesus is Master!" without the insight of the Holy Spirit. 1Cor. 12:3, The Mess
The first blast from The Mess attacks the "Lord."
The "Lord" occurs a whopping 7970 times in the KJB -- more than any other noun. Of the 8,000-plus different words used in the KJB, the "Lord" ranks 14th among the most occurrences (number 13 is the single letter "a"). Only helper words such as "the"; "of"; "in"; "to"; et. al. occur more often.
The Mess contains the "Lord" only 71 times! The "Lord" ranks 1087th among words in The Mess. It appears the same number of times as words like "question" or "reputation."
In the New Testament, (ironically, the Testament of the "Lord" Jesus Christ) the "Lord" appears a skimpy 23 times in The Mess. The Mess NEVER directly honors Jesus Christ as Lord. The "Lord Jesus" occurs 118 times in the King James Bible. The "Lord Jesus Christ" occurs 84 times in the King James Bible. The phrase "Lord Jesus Christ" or "Lord Jesus" is not in The Mess! The outright denial of the "Lord" Jesus has never occurred in ANY translation.
Let us clarify something . . . the total amputation of the "Lord Jesus" is no accident. It is not an issue of translation or Greek manuscripts. It is not a matter of updating archaic words or making it easier to understand. It was a deliberate and intentional doctrinal decision to remove the "Lord Jesus."
And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord. . .
John 20:13
It is interesting that Judas Iscariot never calls Jesus "Lord."
The Bible states 13 times Judas "betrayed" the Lord Jesus; Judas was possessed of Satan (Luke 22:3); Jesus Christ calls Judas "a devil" (John 6:70); Jesus calls Judas the "son of perdition" (John 17:12 - which is also the title of the antichrist in 2 Thess. 2:3). The Bible describes hell as Judas' "own place" (Acts 1:25).
Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I?. . .
Matthew 26:25, KJB
Judas always addressed Jesus as "Master" -- never "Lord." Following the footsteps of Judas the "betrayer," the Mess also "betrays" the Lord, always calling Jesus "Master" - never "Lord"!
Another partner in the "Master Jesus" plan is the New Age religion. The root of the New Age Movement (NAM) teaches during various "ages," teachers or guides arise called "Masters." Helena Blavatsky, the guru of the modern-day New Age Movement, wrote extensively of these enlightened "masters." In the 1980's, the book Hidden Dangers of the Rainbow by Constance Cumbey, exposed the New Age Movement. Mrs. Cumbey defines the mystic new age as:
A vast organizational network today, the New Age Movement received its modern start in 1875 with the founding of the Theosophical Society by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky. . . Strongly propounding the theory of evolution, they also believed in the existence of `masters' who were either spirit beings or fortunate men more highly `evolved' than the common herd. (Cumbey, Constance, Hidden Dangers of the Rainbow, p. 44)
In his best selling book, A Crash Course on the New Age Movement, author Elliot Miller describes the new age Jesus as:
The New Age Jesus became `the Christ' only after purifying himself of `bad karma' through many incarnations, and even now (as many New Agers believe) he is only one of several `masters'. . . (Miller, Elliot. A Crash Course on the New Age Movement, p. 30)
Second only to Blavatasky in the New Age hierarchy, is Alice Bailey. Author Constance Cumbey says Bailey, ". . . did more than anyone, except perhaps H. P. Blavatsky, to build the foundations for the `New Age'." (Cumbey, Constance, Hidden Dangers of the Rainbow, p. 49) In 1922 Alice Bailey formed Lucifer Trust Publishing, which was later renamed to the subtle Lucis Trust Publishing. Bailey wrote extensively on the "Master Jesus." The following quote are but one of the hundreds of references to the New Age "Master Jesus":
"There is a growing and developing belief that Christ is in us, as He was in the Master Jesus. . ."
(Bailey, Alice, The Externalization of the Hierarchy, p. 592)
New age researchers quickly discover the Jesus of the New Age is not the "Lord" Jesus but "Master" Jesus:
Jesus to the New Age is a man who ascended to be a Master. . .
(Understanding the New Age, Watchman Fellowship Inc.)
A basic tenet of the New Age thinking is that of the Master Jesus. . .
(Yungen, Ray. A Time of Departing, p. 112)
AS ABOVE, SO BELOW
A popular New Age, Oneness-Pantheistic, teaching says, "as above, so below." New Age Journal published a book titled As Above, So Below. The Introduction says, "'As above, so below' means that the two worlds are instantaneously seen to be one when we realize our essential unity with God. . . . The One and the many, time and eternity are all One." (New Age Journal, So Above, So Below, p. xi)
The Mess quietly transforms the hallowed "Lord's Prayer" into a New Age "as above, so below" invocation.
In Matthew 6:10, The King James begins with the familiar, "Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven."
The mystic Mess reads, "Our Father in heaven, Reveal who you are. Set the world right; Do what's best-- as above, so below."
SEX, SEX AND MORE SEX
Note. The following verses from The Message include vulgar and offensive language. I recognize the sensitivity of my readers, but The Message is heavily marketed towards the youth by scores of Contemporary Christian Musicians, including CDs of verses from The Message. The only accurate way to expose this filth is to show the verses. Remember this is a "Bible" recommended by tons of prominent Christian leaders!
When the King James Bible describes intimate relationships and immoral behavior there remains a careful wholesome tone in its wording. It doesn't sugar-coat the sin, but it doesn't smell with the stench of the world. Contrary to the pure Words of God - the Mess wallows in the sewers of smut. The Mess smells of "sex, sex, and more sex."
. . . Sniffing the wind for the slightest scent of sex. Who could possibly corral her! On the hunt for sex, sex, and more sex-- insatiable, indiscriminate, promiscuous.
Jeremiah 2:24
The word "sex" appears 199 times, (remember the "lord" appears only 71 times). The Mess contains enough "sex" to satisfy even Hugh Hefner. There is sexual intercourse (Jdg 21:11); sex goddess (2Ki 21:7); sexual predators (Job 24:15); sexual excesses (Job 36:14); sex shrines (Jer 5:7); sluttish sex (Eze 16:24); sex orgies (Eze 16:26); sexual prowess (Eze 23:21); obsessive sex (Eze 23:49); filthy sex (Eze 24:13); loose sex (Hos 4:2); drunk on sex (Hos 4:12); sex-worship (Hos 4:19); popular sex gods (Hos 11:2); lewd sex-worship (Hos 13:1); sacred sex-and-power centers (Mic 5:14); sexual orgies (Hab 2:15); sexually confused (Rom 1:27); sexual transmission (Rom 9:8); scandalous sex (1Co 5:1); sexually promiscuous (1Co 5:9); sexual sins (1Co 6:18); sexual relations (1Co 7:1); sexual drives (1Co 7:2); sexually tortured life (1Co 7:9); sexual disorder (2Co 12:21); cheap sex (Gal 5:19); sexual obsession (Eph 4:19); casual and illicit sex (Heb 13:4); sexual filth (2Pe 2:7); sexual rack and ruin (Jud 1:7); dirty sex (Jud 1:8); and sex peddlers (Rev 21:8). Note: most of the above phrases occur several times.
The Mess routinely uses crude words such as "genitals," "semen", "slut," and "streetwalking whore."
Saul exploded in anger at Jonathan: "You son of a slut!. . .
1 Samuel 20:30
I'll expose her genitals to the public. . .
Hosea 2:10
. . . Drunk on sex, they can't find their way home. They've replaced their God with their genitals.
Hosea 4:12
"Look around at the hills. Where have you not had sex? You've camped out like hunters stalking deer. You've solicited many lover-gods, Like a streetwalking whore chasing after other gods.
Jeremiah 3:2
. . .. After all, they're involved in this as well as you; if you don't come to terms, they'll be eating their own turds and drinking their own pee right along with you."
2 Kings 18:27
Jeremiah 8:13 even quotes a Holy God calling Israel "a slut." Notice the wording of the King James Bible.
GOD's Message: "Ask around. Survey the godless nations. Has anyone heard the likes of this? Virgin Israel has become a slut!Jeremiah 18:13
Therefore thus saith the LORD; Ask ye now among the heathen, who hath heard such things: the virgin of Israel hath done a very horrible thing.
Jeremiah 18:13 King James Bible
In Ezekiel 16:24, The Mess spews the most vulgar and crude language ever recorded in a mainstream Bible:
At every major intersection you built your bold brothels and exposed your sluttish sex, spreading your legs for everyone who passed by.
Ezekiel 16:24
While "sex, sex, and more sex" floods the Mess, the sodomites disappear. The "men" of Sodom in Genesis 13:13 are now "people of Sodom." The Mess completely pardons the "sodomites," replacing them with the inoffensive and meaningless "sacred prostitutes."
[...]
Summary of The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language
Heart-Racing. Thought-Provoking. Life-Changing.If you find reading the Bible uneventful, "old hat," or downright confusing, then it's time for The Message. Join the millions of readers who have been drawn to God through Eugene Peterson's best-selling Bible paraphrase.
Translated directly from the ancient Hebrew and Greek texts into today's American idiom, The Message is designed as a reading Bible. With no distracting verse numbers or stiff, formal language, the sixty-six books of Scripture unfold like a gripping novel. Passages you've read many times before will come alive, revealing the vibrant energy and passion of God's Word.
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.
Readers who have either found the Bible to be an intimidating proposition or who are so familiar with it that the words have lost their meaning will discover that Eugene Peterson's The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language is a welcome way to read and reread one of the best-loved books of all time. It's directly translated from the Greek and Hebrew texts and is intentionally designed to be a reading Bible rather than a study Bible. Each of the 66 books has an introduction by Peterson, and there are no verse numbers to interrupt the flow of the passages.
The vibrant flavor of the text is evident from the opening verses of the book of Genesis: "First this: God created the Heavens and Earth--all you see; all you don't see. Earth was a soup of nothingness, a bottomless emptiness, an inky blackness."
There's renewed vigor in some of Jesus' most well-known words of the New Testament in John 3: "This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again."
Whether it's the poetry of the Psalms, the thundering tirades of the Old Testament prophets, or the ageless words of Jesus, Peterson breaths new life into timeless passages in this fresh-voiced paraphrase. --Cindy Crosby
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