Faith and Politics Re-Mixed: The Patriot's Bible

Tuesday June 2, 2009

I'm irritated with Thomas Nelson because they:

(1) Chose to publish The Patriot's Bible, a Bible that draws the Bible's message and American nationalism as close as possible, and
(2) Chose as the General Editor Richard Lee, a Southern Baptist pastor (nothing against him or pastors per se), instead of a specialist in Church-State relations who knows Bible, theology, and Church history -- not to say the history of political theory.

The use of the Bible for political relations in our modern world -- free enterprise liberal democracies with all kinds of histories and issues of pluralism and the like -- summons us to exceedingly important nuance and careful definitions.

Anyway, Greg Boyd (one and two parts) and Richard Lee have already gone at it at Out of Ur blog. And John D'Elia weighs in on this one too.

Comments (48)

Filed Under: Faith and Politics

posted by Scot McKnight @ 2:22pm Permalink email icon

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John W Frye

June 3, 2009 9:47 PM

http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com

Bill S (#43),
What would you think are the motives for publishing a product called THE AMERICAN PATRIOTS BIBLE? To spread the Word of God? Couldn't that be done without American nationalism notes? A publisher publishes to make money. You concede that the motives of Thomas Nelson et al are well-intentioned. Well-intentioned to do what?

MatthewS

June 3, 2009 11:00 PM

http://bobbyorr.wordpress.com

You haven't either, this country hasn't been in any real danger since at least WWII, all of the "wars" since then have been mere adventurism. Not one of them has come close to meeting the classical criteria for a just war.

If we were all sitting at coffee and someone said this to a Vet returned from war, it would tend to be a conversation-stopper for me. One may not agree with the wars in progress but there are many soldiers who are fighting for freedom in good faith. Some of them lose limbs. Many (all?) of them lose friends. Some of them lose their own life. Many suffer from PTSD and struggle to make a new life upon returning home. They put their lives on the line and they deserve respect for it. Perhaps Larry is just trying to provoke a response. Either way, I would not idly let this comment go in conversation.

Nevertheless, I don't like the Patriot's Bible nor the group-think by which people will accept or reject others as persons deserving of respect based on the litmus test of their response to this Bible.

BTW, I thought it was a fair question to ask if this Bible is substantially worse than the Green Bible, clearly another politically involved "product." Surely the endorsement by the Sierra Club won't hurt its sales. I found that Scot linked here http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2009/february/19.28.html earlier this year, to a negative review of said product.

Bill S.

June 3, 2009 11:40 PM

Hi John (#44),

I think it's very possible that Rev. Lee and Thomas Nelson are motivated by spreading the Word of God. I am further inclined to believe that they care about their country and think that this is a tool that will help bring our nation closer to God.

To be clear, I'm definitely leaning towards the camp that has big problems with their approach (the only reason I say "leaning" is because I haven't reviewed this Bible firsthand). But I'm not questioning the "purity" of their intentions. For all I know their intentions might be less than 100% "pure", but I would need to hear much more than just the existence of a profit motive before I'm willing to go down that path.

As I said in my previous post, I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt right now (as I would hope someone would do for me if I was in such a situation). Maybe others have a much more solid case against them, but I haven't yet heard anything to thoroughly convince me that they are just out for themselves.

God bless,
Bill

Mike M

June 4, 2009 2:38 AM

Jim (#30): Yes, I have served as a Vietnam Era Vet. We were well on our way to Korea during the "Apple Tree" incident when it was called off. Peace to you, Brother. If the large corporations have convinced you that sacrifice for their profits is justifiable, more power to them. I can't justify that, though. No more than I can justify the money changers in Jesus' day.

Dave

June 17, 2009 3:32 PM

Perhaps we should adopt Greg Boyd as our new savior, after all it would seem most people prefer he speaks for them. I love the cut and paste crowd who simple link their blogs to Greg's commentary, as though our guru of sane Christianity is wrapped up in his personna. All hail lord Greg.

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Scot McKnight is a widely-recognized authority on the New Testament, early Christianity, and the historical Jesus. He is the Karl A. Olsson Professor in Religious Studies at North Park University (Chicago, Illinois). A popular and witty speaker, Dr. McKnight has given interviews on radios across the nation, has appeared on television, and is regularly asked to speak in local churches and educational events. Dr. McKnight obtained his Ph.D. at the University of Nottingham (1986). Click to continue reading Scot McKnight's Bio...

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