June 5, 1997 (David W. Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061, fbns@wayoflife.org) - The following is from O Timothy magazine, Volume 12, Issue 4, 1995 --

A "dynamic equivalency" Bible version called The Message was published by NavPress in 1993. The editor is Eugene Peterson of Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia. Though claiming (as they all do) to be faithful to the original text, this loose paraphrase is more like a commentary than a translation. In fact, it is not a good commentary. It takes even greater liberties with the Bible text than the Living Bible and the Good News for Modern Man. Consider an excerpt which illustrates the whole:

"But Jesus didn't swerve. 'Peter, get out of my way. Satan, get lost. You have no idea how God works.' Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. 'Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat; I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for? Don't be in such a hurry to go into business for yourself. Before you know it the Son of Man will arrive with all the splendor of the Father, accompanied by an army of angels. You'll get everything you have coming to you, a personal gift. This isn't pie in the sky by and by. Some of you standing here are going to see it take place, see the Son of Man in kingdom glory" (Matthew 16:23-28).

The liberties taken by this Bible "translator" are simply incredible. What presumption, what arrogance, to think that man has the authority to change God's eternal Word in such a fashion! I wouldn't want Mr. Peterson translating my writings. He subtracts from, adds to, rephrases, and changes a text in countless details, yet he claims to be a translator. He is not a translator; he is a perverter.

Who recommends this new perversion of the Bible? It is published by the Navigator Press. Many Fundamental Baptist churches use materials by this New Evangelical press. Beware. The Message has been commended by J.I. Packer and Warren Wiersbe. Packer says, "Eugene Peterson's blend of accurate scholarship and vivid idiom make this rendering both distinctive and distinguished." Wiersbe goes even further: "The Message is the boldest and most provocative rendering of the New Testament I've ever read."

Years ago I wrote to Warren Wiersbe and asked him why he supported New Evangelicalism, why he did not lift a voice against Romanism and Modernism. He wrote back and said he did not know what New Evangelicalism is and that we should take off our gloves. The man is blind. If ever there were an hour when God's men need to put on the gloves and take on the devil and his apostate works and doctrines, it is today. Instead, though, we have watchmen who refuse to sound an alarm, guard dogs who cannot bark.

Today's Evangelical leaders cannot be trusted on any issue.