About specialty Bibles

Recently I read an advertisement for a new Bible. It is published by Thomas Nelson, Inc., the same people who publish the Orthodox Study Bible. But, this one caught my attention. It is The American Patriot’s Bible. The blurb for it reads:

THE ONE BIBLE THAT SHOWS HOW ‘A LIGHT FROM ABOVE’ SHAPED OUR NATION. Never has a version of the Bible targeted the spiritual needs of those who love our country more than The American Patriot’s Bible. This extremely unique Bible shows how the history of the United States connects the people and events of the Bible to our lives in a modern world. The story of the United States is wonderfully woven into the teachings of the Bible and includes a beautiful full-color family record section, memorable images from our nation’s history and hundreds of enlightening articles which complement the New King James Version Bible text.

Now, I must admit to very mixed feelings about this Bible. I may buy it simply to research what is published in its pages. I am very troubled in that we are in a time in our country when we are debating what the direction of our country should be in several areas. And so I ask, is this Bible implying that anyone who does not agree with its marginal notes is not truly a patriot? You can understand why I am concerned. We already have too many people who argue that if one does not agree with their view of national security or border security or healthcare financing or cash for clunkers or a laissez faire capitalism, then one is not a patriot. The recent town hall meetings in which a segment of the population refused to let congressmen speak or anyone other than themselves ask questions (unless they wished to be shouted down) shows how close we are to a situation not all that dissimilar from 1861.

You see, there is a difference between arguing that someone is wrong and arguing that someone is not even on the same page. For many decades, “research” bibles and “commentary” bibles have existed. They generally espouse a particular point of view, either dispensationalist (Darby Bible) or colloquial (Cottonpatch Bible) or limited vocabulary (Good News for Modern Man) or Calvinism (ESV), or conservative evangelicalism (NIV), or Orthodoxy (Orthodox Study Bible). This is not a bad thing. It can be quite helpful in helping people learn more about the theology backing up their particular set of beliefs. But, generally these Bibles stay away from any pronouncements that appear to say that one who does not agree with the commentary is not a Christian.

And, this is where this Bible is different. Calling it The American Patriot’s Bible is clearly implying that those who do not agree with its marginal notes are not American Patriots. When one reads the Orthodox Study Bible, one can understand that if one does not agree with the theology, one may not be meant to be Orthodox, but it does not mean that one is not a Christian! And, that is the danger in the title of this Bible. What happens if one does not agree with the marginal notes? You see, one may be a libertarian or a vegetarian (yes, there is a vegetarian party) or an atheistic Republican or Democrat and still be a strong American Patriot willing to serve one’s country in time of need. But, the You Tube video and some of the other available materials appear to imply that one is not a patriot if one does not agree with its particular Biblical interpretation. That would be like my saying that if one does not agree with the Orthodox Study Bible then one is not a Christian. That is a false statement. Equally false would be the statement that if one does not agree with the American Patriot’s Bible then one is not a Patriot.

But worse, this Bible implies that it has solved the dilemma of the relationship of Christendom to the State. That is a subject that has centuries of debate behind it without a clear unequivocal resolution. God bless Thomas Nelson if it has managed to decipher that dilemma! However, I fear that what is happening is a particular view of the relationship between Christianity and the State, a viewpoint that would not be shared by the Mennonites, the Brethren Church, the Grace Brethren Church, the Amish, the Moravians, and, yes even the Orthodox and many Roman Catholics. All the groups I have just cited are quite aware of what it can mean when the State begins to decide what is true Christianity, or when the Church allies with the State to define Christianity, and it is not pleasant. I fear that this Bible will simply hasten the polarization of this country into something that we may not wish to see.