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Dog Deux
The below linked post and ensuing comments reminded me of this story I posted once before on my previous LR blog...It seems that with every 'new and wonderful' translation, we are losing little by little the pure Word of God...like yeast working through the whole batch and spoiling it...
Intrepid Lutherans: The LORD (no longer) Our Righteousness in NIV 2011
Here is a reprise:
Dad's Brownies
A father of some teenage children had the family rule that they could not attend PG-13 or R rated movies. His three teens wanted to see a particular popular movie that was playing at local theaters. It was rated PG-13.
The teens interviewed friends and even some members of their family's church to find out what was offensive in the movie. The teens made a list of pros and cons about the movie to use to convince their dad that they should be allowed to see it. The con's were that it contained ONLY 3 swear words, the ONLY violence was a building exploding (and you see that on TV all the time they said), and you actually did not "see" the couple in the movie having sex - it was just implied sex, off camera. The pros were that it was a popular movie - a block buster. Everyone was seeing it. If the teens saw the movie then they would not feel left out when their friends discussed it. The movie contained a good story and plot. It had some great adventure and suspense in it. There were some fantastic special effects in this movie. The movie's stars were some of the most talented actors in Hollywood. It probably would be nominated for several awards. Many of the members of their Christian church had even seen the movie and said it wasn't "very bad". Therefore, since there were more pros than cons the teens said they were asking their father to reconsider his position on just this ONE movie and let them have permission to go see it.
The father looked at the list and thought for a few minutes. He said he could tell his children had spent some time and thought on this request. He asked if he could have a day to think about it before making his decision. The teens were thrilled thinking; "Now we've got him! Our argument is too good! Dad can't turn us down!" So, they happily agreed to let him have a day to think about their request.
The next evening the father called in his three teenagers, who were smiling smugly, into the living room. There on the coffee table he had a plate of brownies. The teens were puzzled. The father told his children he had thought about their request and had decided that if they would eat a brownie then he would let them go to the movie. But just like the movie, the brownies had pros and cons.
The pros were that they were made with the finest chocolate and other good ingredients. They had the added special effect of yummy walnuts in them. The brownies were moist and fresh with wonderful chocolate frosting on top. He had made these fantastic brownies using an award-winning recipe. And best of all, the brownies had been made lovingly by the hand of their own father.
The brownies only had one con. The father had included a little bit of a special ingredient. The brownies also contained just a little bit of dog poop. But he had mixed the dough well - they probably would not even be able to taste the dog poop and he had baked it at 350 degrees so any bacteria or germs from the dog poop had probably been destroyed.
Therefore, if any of his children could stand to eat the brownies which included just a "little bit of crap" and not be effected by it, then he knew they would also be able to see the movie with "just a little bit of smut" and not be effected.
Of course, none of the teens would eat the brownies and the smug smiles had left their faces. Only Dad was smiling smugly as they left the room.
Now when his teenagers ask permission to do something he is opposed to the father just asks, "Would you like me to whip up a batch of my special brownies?"
Author Unknown
4 comments:
Of course you can apply this analogy to every other translation, because every translation has at least a little bit of "doggy doo." This is why we don't use analogy's to prove anything in doctrine and practice.
OK, I'll bite, Joel. I'll give you the opportunity here to point out all these glaring inaccuracies that you mention. Start wherever you like: KJV, NASB, NKJV, ESV. Show us where these versions make up stuff that isn't in the original, or change the original text beyond recognition like NIV 2011 does.
It gets old when people bring in this red herring argument about all translations being equally bad, so it doesn't matter which one you use. So let's compare!
I'm a layperson, albeit a DMLC grad. I have always been happy in the knowledge that my pastors have the knowledge to read God's Word in Hebrew and Greek, and base their sermons on the original texts than the translated. But, I read only English... I need a Bible which is as accurate a translation as is possible, and I worry about my grandchildren's future in a church where God's Word becomes cloudy. To say I'm concerned about this new translation would be an understatement. Already our schools are teaching "Christ - Light", or, perhaps even more accurately, "Christ - Lite". Where will this end?
I certainly am following the discussion closely and would like to see more participation from across the WELS laity and pastorate. Like David, as laity, it is good to have my pastor solidly basing sermons on the Greek and Hebrew texts. I also very much appreciate that my pastor uses multiple translations to bring out the meaning in a sermon text. A pastor who will use the KJV to bring a point to bear because it did a better job in communicating what was meant is wise.
I sincerely pray that we do not lose this in our seminary, and better yet, I hope and pray our seminary professors would press the students to read and use the older translations to bring and preach God's Word. Teaching and preaching the truth of God's Word is important to me as laity. Watering it down to the LCD (lowest common denominator) is NOT the right way to go.
God bless all those who undertake the serious business of teaching and preaching God's Word.
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