“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 NIV
A new children’s story Bible was released in September of this year by children’s book publisher, Beaming Books. Titled ‘The Just Love Story Bible’ it is a collection of 52 stories, 26 from the Old Testament and 26 from the New Testament. The idea is one story for each week of the year for children to read. The authors are Rev. Jacqui Lewis, a New York City pastor, and the Rev. Shannon Daley-Harris. Their goal is to reach children ‘with a colorful Bible focused on justice and love.’ (1)
The headline announcing the release of the book from the Religious News Service is, “’New children’s Bible aims to capture diverse, nonpatriarchal, ‘theology of love and justice.’” Sadly, the authors are moving away from the inerrancy and infallibility of Scripture to promote a progressive and contemporary agenda. The book is geared toward the 4–10-year-old age group. Rev. Daley-Harris states, “It’s OK to actually tell kids from the get-go: Some of these stories are about true people and things that really happen, and some of them are made-up stories, but they’re in there because they can still teach us true things about God.” (1)
Rev. Lewis says, “Our agenda is teach young people a theology of love and justice that we don’t have to unlearn because they understand from the beginning what this faith is really about.” I find it hard to comprehend Rev. Lewis’ explanation of teaching a theology of love and justice so we don’t have to unlearn it when her very teaching does just that, teaching what will need to be unlearned. On the resurrection of Jesus, Rev. Lewis says, “And when we got to resurrection, I went all the way philosophical, ‘some people like Plato think…’ and ‘some people like Aristotle think… ,’ to just introduce our faith also includes doubt and the possibility of having a hermeneutic of suspicion. Did that happen? For me, it matters more that children know that love never dies, so that’s where I landed.” (1)
In questioning the resurrection of Jesus, their premise that ‘love never dies’ is flawed. If Jesus did not rise from the dead then His entire purpose for coming into this world to die for our sins defeating death by His resurrection because of His love for us is not complete. We have no assurance of eternal life; our hope is still in the grave with a love that has not been resurrected. That’s where I land.
The good news is Jesus did rise from the dead completing all that is necessary for our salvation as we put our trust in Him. It did happen. It is dangerous to prevaricate certain portions the Bible especially to children. Jesus said, “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.” (Mt.18:6 niv)
Where ‘The Just Love Story Bible’ and its authors get it wrong is at the very beginning with the title of the book. They failed to acknowledge the greatest love story ever written is the Bible, even for children. It is all about Jesus. It is all about God’s plan of salvation for each one of us, and it is all about love. It is the original just love story Bible. No need to unlearn it, but a great need to learn from it.
Word for the Soul 