God wants Bible Poverty to End Now
…and it starts with each one of us.
God’s vision for our generation
Something is happening in our generation that has never before happened in the history of the world: The word of God WILL be made available to everyone in their heart language.
God’s Vision: A Bible in every home in the heart language of the people and the appropriate format for their culture.
This is possible, but it doesn’t mean that it’s going to happen all on its own. God wills it to happen and He invites us to join in with His vision. What a privilege to be a part of this move of God to see his kingdom come in all the earth as it is in heaven!
So, what do we need to do?
I, Rob, have learned over the last 5 years that we aren’t all called to do everything, but we are all called to do SOMETHING in the kingdom of our God. When I think about this vision of God and the tasks that need to be completed to see it fulfilled, there is much to be done:
- Translation of the Bible:
The word of God needs to be put into the heart language of the people.
How much of the Bible is enough? Is it enough to just translate a gospel? The New Testament? What portion of Scripture does God want translated? My guess is that Jesus expects nothing less than the ENTIRE word of God translated into EVERY heart language.
- Production of the Scriptures:
The heart language is not just a language, but it’s the format that people communicate. Some people prefer to communicate in oral ways (there are over 1 billion illiterate people on earth today). Others need to do visual communication (consider the deaf in the world). Others need to feel communication (deaf and blind). Others want to experience the story of Scripture in community rather than by themselves (most oral-learning cultures). What kind of Bibles are we producing for people to receive God’sword? Is our product appropriate for the people?
- Distribution of the Word of God:
Since the beginning of time God’s word has been shared without cost from one person to another, starting with the oral tradition (family story times around a fire) then to writing (Did you know that God commanded His word to be written? Exodus 34:7, Jeremiah 36:2, etc.) then copying it out by hand (see Deuteronomy 17:18. Aren’t we thankful that scribes did this for future generations?) then putting it into print (Thank you, Johannes Gutenberg 1456) then into audio bibles (1950’s on long-play records) then into movies (Jesus Film came out in 1979) then into computer software (1980’s) and finally on smart phones (on which you might be reading this right now).
Sharing the word of God has been the Lord’s plan since the beginning and getting a Bible into every home will require a lot of sharing in a lot of ways!
One thing I have learned is that it’s not enough to just put a Bible in every home, we need to make sure we’re sharing God’s word in the right language, the right format and the right presentation because otherwise His word cannot be received. That responsibility falls on the one who shares, not on the one who receives!
- Education of the people:
Many times giving a Bible to someone isn’t enough. Those same people need to experience the word becoming flesh and dwelling among them. Discipleship is a key component of ending Bible poverty. The word of God is written by people who lived many years ago, communicated in different ways than we do today and used cultural images that we don’t fully understand (or completely misunderstand) in our cultures. Having people and tools to educate those who receive Bibles is key to providing them with the opportunity to experience the God of the Bible.
- Motivation for everyone:
It’s isn’t enough that the Bible is made available to someone in their own language, in an appropriate format, with tools that educate them. They need motivation to engage with God’s word regularly. Much of my culture growing up has been the opposite of Bible poverty. It’s been Bible gluttony in terms of availability and education. However, that doesn’t mean that I was actually engaging with the Bible personally or experiencing its transformational power through God’s Spirit. There are ways for every human to experience motivation to engage with God’s word, I just have to seek and knock until I can find those motivational helps.
That’s a lot to do. There are so many translations yet to be done. The production of tools is going to come at great cost (both in resources and personal service). The distribution of God’s word is a giant task as we consider the 8 billion people who live among all the corners of the earth. Disciplers and tools are really needed, especially outside the main languages of the world. And how do we motivate 8 billion people to engage with God’s word?
God, what is my role in all of this? As I look over this list of tasks to be done, I can see that without focusing on the list itself, but rather just listening to God’s voice and following him, our family has participated in God’s vision in each of the last 4 points: Production (Thai SourceView Bible), Distribution (Share Bibles), Education (Teaching ministry) and Motivation (preaching and Bible study development). Lord, thank you for choosing us to serve in your global purposes.
Our commission from the Lord is to continue to walk in this movement of God, seeking to End Bible Poverty in our generation. Thanks for journeying with us.
This is a short meditation that Cy and I regularly consider in this new season in Kona, Hawaii. What a privilege we have to serve God and see His dreams come true through us! We invite you also to consider how you can be a part of Ending Bible Poverty Now.
The word of God
In every home
In every heart language
In the appropriate format
With tools to facilitate Bible engagement
God, may your will be done in our generation! Lead us by your Spirit!