Some people just don't get it.

But then again, maybe they do.

Maybe that's why a homosexual man, Bradley Fowler, from Michigan is suing two publishers of the Bible.  He claims that the versions of the Bible that Zondervan and Thomas Nelson publish refer to homosexuality as a sin and because of this, his constitutional rights have been violated.  Also, he claims that this has caused him emotional pain and mental instability.

He also alleges that Zondervan's Bible translations referring to homosexuality as a sin have made him an outcast from his family and contributed to physical discomfort and periods of "demoralization, chaos and bewilderment".

His suit centers on one passage in scripture --  I Corinthians 6:9 -- and how it reads in Bibles published by Zondervan.  Among those who will not inherit the kingdom of God, Zonderan specifically uses the term "homosexuals" in this verse instead of "abusers of themselves with mankind".  Fowler claims that the publisher is misinterpreting the Bible by doing this.  He admits that every Bible printed is a translation, interpreted in some way, but he says specifically using that word is not a translation but a change.

Personally, I prefer the King James Version of the Bible.  But even this earlier translation is very clear in pointing out that homosexuality is a sin and that those who practice such will be judged by God to be worthy of death.  In Romans 1:27, it is obvious that the homosexual is being referred to when it says, "And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet."

So, again I say, maybe this man really does get it.  Maybe this man thinks that the only way to clear his conscience and the heavy burden of his sin is to erase the reference to homosexuality from God's Holy Word.  After all, there is power in God's Word.  It reaches down to the very core of mankind and causes us to see our sin for what it really is. 

But, what this man doesn't seem to realize is that this conviction of our sins is designed to bring us discomfort.  This is how God brings about our salvation so that we won't lose out on our inheritance.  It's for our own good.  God does it out of love... not to be mean and not out of hatred to those living in sin.

I don't know how far these lawsuits will go.  A spokeswoman from Zondervan says that the company doesn't translate the Bible or own the copyright for any of the translations.  Instead, the company relies on the "scholarly judgment of credible translation committees".  Thus the company says that Fowler sued the wrong group.

Of course, I hope that these lawsuits will be dropped.  But, I also pray that this man will see his sin for what it is and follow God’s plan for his salvation.  Even if some publishers succumb to such minority groups and change the wording in the Bible to ease their consciences, that doesn't change the fact that we will ALL stand before God on the day of Judgment.  It will be then that we will give account of ourselves to God and we will be judged by God's Word... NOT by any watered-down version of the Bible, but by the original Word that Jesus has spoken.

"He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day."  (John 12:48)

Other sources:

http://www.mlive.com/grandrapids/stories/index.ssf?/base/news-42/121560935360960.xml&coll=6

http://www.woodtv.com/global/story.asp?s=8644595

~Connie~