As a web designer I have to make decisions that effect many people. One for example: What screen resolution do I want a page to look good in? Since around 1995 I have always used a screen resolution of 1024×768 or higher.
When I would build a web page I made it look good in that resolution. I assumed that since I used it everyone else surely must also. I later came to realize then even as modern as we are around 45% of internet users at the time used 800×600. When I reduced my screen to 800×600 my web pages looked horrible.
I know several God fearing Christians that think reading a NKJV or NIV bible or going to a contemporary church is a sin straight from Satan. I have been told that Christian Contemporary Music is a sin and God hates it. These and other translations do not change any rule of faith or doctrinal issues. Truly the only difference is textual. The message is the same. I wish instead of giving a one word defense from one translation to another that they would read the whole verse.
My pastor pointed out a very pertinent verse relating to this:
Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
1 Corinthians 9: 19-23
Paul sure sounds like he goes to a contemporary church to me. If you ask me; all this: my bible is right or my church is right and yours is wrong only serves one purpose: division among Christians which results in the non-Christians seeing us as not knowing what to believe so why should they believe. Truly, where is the sin now and who looses?
Wisely I conformed and made my web pages change with each user’s screen thus reaching out to meet people on their ground which resulted in an increase in the sites popularity.
It is my prayer that we all see the unified goal, be a little more like Paul and win as many souls to the Lord as we can no matter how you translate it.