Hebrews 1:1-3 & PPB

I receive my last issue of Relevant today.  I won’t be renewing because:  

1. I enjoy Tabletalk more.  I would rather have theology than culture.  I need to study both, but culture bores me.

2.  I would rather read an outdated book than a fresh magazine.  I really don’t care to be hip anymore.

So here is my last issue and it tempted me to renew; there was a great article on the 10 weirdest things within the Christian subculture.  Of course Bibleman was there along with Testamints.  But the topper for me was the PPB, Personal Promise Bible, a bible you can customize perfectly for you.  Now if by customizing you are thinking cool colors and designs you will be let down.  You can get a few colors in bonded leather, gender and age sensitive versions in paperback, but this is no big deal, Zondervan has been doing this for years and from what I can tell does it better from a aesthetic and marketing standpoint.  No with PPB you actually customize the Bible, not the cover, not study notes… the Bible!  For example if your name is John, Ephesians 2:5-6 will read:

Even when John was dead in trespasses, God made John alive together with Christ (by grace John has been saved), and raised John up with Him and made John to sit with Him in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

There is a free samples tab where you can enter your name and catch a preview. 

Some things should not be customized:

1)      Dogs.  Foolish haircuts and doggy clothes should be banished.  They will be banished to hell and thus the curse dogs suffer for man’s sin will be no more.

2)      Old trucks.  Restore them.

3)      Your body.  Plastic surgery has its place; does our society keep it there?

On the PPB website I found a series of verses telling me I am valuable, loved victorious, complete, chosen, and forgiven.  Why don’t they offer the flip side?  What about Josh outside of Christ?  I couldn’t find  Deuteronomy 28:15 on the website; would it read, “But if Josh will not obey the voice of the Lord his God or be careful to do all his commandments and his statutes that I command Josh today, then all these curses shall come upon Josh and overtake Josh”?  I’m just betting the personalizations are all blessing and no curse or chastisement.

If the penalty to customize, twist, and contort God’s word is so harsh, what of those who customize His ultimate, supreme, final and perfect Word, the name above all names, Jesus Christ?