World Views Increasingly Separate

I have seen a couple of things this past week which point out how increasingly separated the Christian worldview is from the cultural worldview in which we live. First was the reaction to the case of a wrestler in Iowa who refused to wrestle a girl because of standards gained from his Christian worldview. The reaction from those who do not hold to Christian faith is pretty much expected, "Let the wrestling begin!" When I noticed a comment from a Christian who essentially (with pretty much lousy biblical support) argued: If Christ were that boy, he would have wrestled the girl. When Christians begin arguing this way, let it be known that we are in a world of hurt.

Second, I just watched a sad, stupid movie about relationships between guys and girls. I found myself watching it thinking, "Why would anyone want to be involved in this view of the world? Women spent the whole two hours desperately seeking men. Indeed, giving up their deepest heart needs in the process (presumably because a lousy man is better than no man at all). This works for you, ladies? You are good with it? Amazing.

This is what the modern world has wrought. It is a sad, disconnected, soul-crushing world. I am thankful for hope in Jesus Christ, otherwise I would live with despair.

The Call Arrives at Midnight

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The call arrives at midnight

Don't they always come?

In dank and dreary darkness

No matter who they're from

Still alive at breakfast

Tousled half awake

Shaking out the cobwebs

Another night mistake

"He's dead," he says—then nothing

What else is there to say?

So clear, so frank, so certain

Sure as the break of day

What does one say at midnight?

Or breakfast or at noon

Alleviate the darkness

For one more afternoon

Hug the phone in silence

Can any words express?

Helpless, hopeless, heartfelt

Nothing I possess

KJV: 400 Year Anniversary

2011 marks the 400th year since the KJV was published. I am celebrating its publication in a number of ways. I'm using the KJV in my Bible reading plan this year (McCheyne's Bible Reading plan). I will read through the OT in the KJV once, and the NT in the KJV twice this year. I'm really enjoying doing this. The KJV was my first Bible, my first memory verses were memorized in the KJV so it's bringing back a lot of good memories.

I'm also reading a book about the KJV written by Leland Ryken, professor of English at Wheaton. This has really opened up my eyes to the value of the KJV, both in accuracy and in literary magnificence. No other versions come close to comparing with it when you use these two criteria. Some newer versions are more accurate, but none can approach it for sheer literary brilliance AND accuracy. This is the judgment of many men of literary genius, both those who are believers and those who are not.

While I'm reading the KJV, I'm tagging the word meanings of proper names in the KJV so that I will come back to the version again and again in my study. I think this will be a good thing. Just today, reading in Job, the KJV translates Job 19.2 with much more color and brilliance than the ESV: "How long will ye vex my soul?" asks Job (Job 19.2, KJV). The ESV can only manage: "How long will you torment me?" One can see how the KJV translation adds so much more depth and poignancy, and the ESV is a pretty good translation overall.