5:38 – Different Arrangement, Same Message

#faithbites #faithjourney arrangement

Intro

I love music. Some songs really hit home and others don’t. Lately, I’ve been listening to a cover of Snoop Dogg’s Gin and Juice by the Gourds. The original is a 90s rap song and the new is more of a country / folk version. The lyrics are the same but the feeling and how it hits home is completely different. (Warning both versions have explicit lyrics).

Why do I bring this up? The Bible has many many translations and there are many many churches and denominations. As God’s house has many rooms, some feel different than others. A specific translation (arrangement) may appeal to you more than another. A church may have a better arrangement of how it shares the Gospel or how its workshop service is done. This doesn’t mean one church or denomination is better or one translation or another is better. You need to pick the arrangement that works best for you as long as they are still preaching the true Word of God. The message must stay the same but the messenger or the arrangement can be different.

Questions

• What is your favorite Bible translation? Why do you like that one?
• When you look for a church, what are you looking for?
• Do you attend a church of the denomination you always knew because that’s what familiar?

Scripture

• James 1:17 – Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
• Isaiah 40:8 – The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.
• Psalm 102:25-27 – Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, but you are the same, and your years have no end.
• Deuteronomy 4:2 – ² Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you.
• Revelation 22:18-19 –¹⁸ I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. ¹⁹ And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.

Reflection

Some say the most accurate translation of the Bible is the New American Standard Bible (NASB). Others swear by the King James Version or New King James. Most Luthers use ESV or NLT. Others choose NIV. Why we chose it may be what our church uses or what we are used to. Sometimes reading a new arrangement or listening to a new pastor in a new church can help you see the message differently. We aren’t changing God’s word. The goal is to find a room in his house with a version that speaks to you and helps you live by the Word. This isn’t easy, but with the help of God, you can do it.

Remember, we are commanded not to add or take away from the Bible, God’s teaching. When finding a different arrangement, we must make sure that it is still God’s word. We pray that he helps us always understand his True meaning.

As we close, try to change it up a bit. What about visiting a new church to see how they do things. What about googling your favorite verse in a different translation. How does it feel to you? Is the message string something else inside of you? As long as they are Biblically sound, there is no problem with finding the arrangement that works for you.

Prayer

Lord God, help us to always turn to you. You have given us a living, exciting Word to read and live by. You have put men and women in leadership positions in your church to preach your word and build community. We pray that you help us find the arrangement and place that speaks to us. Help us to ensure that what we are hearing is your true message while we find what feels right to us. We love you and pray all this in your name, Amen.