So I got the new Relevant magazine in the mail today and I was flipping through it and something really upset me in it (I guess most of my posts start by me being upset). So it's an advertisement (pg 041) selling the Message Remix. It has a picture of Third Day sitting together and Mac and one of the guitarists are holding bibles and they are "discussing" the bible with the other band-mates. It is very obviously a staged picture. You can tell they aren't actually discussing the bible. It's just a photoshoot right. Then below that it says "read.think.pray.live" I assume that's the name of the company or just a slogan (you can also check out readthinkpraylive.com). Beside that is a picture of the afforementioned bible. Then below the slogan it says "The Bible isn't like ordinary books. It isn't a book you read once, put on a shelf, and never look at again. There's so much more to it. Hang on to these words for dear life. think about them, talk about them with your friends. Renew you sense of "wow." below that is says "Think Psalm 119:49, the message (full Bible).

So I was ok with that all so far I guess. I mean it's all so incredibly fake with the staged picture and all but still, they need to sell bibles right, that's how they make money. However, below that is printed "Look for Third Day's new studio release in stores May 4th."

I couldn't believe that! Here's what Im getting at:

John 2:13When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!"

It is my opinion that we have faith too easy. I think faith should be something we have to search for, work for, meditate on to discover, walk through to gain understanding from. So, if a bible needs to be marketed to you, I would seriously doubt your desire for the truth you could attain from it. Now, I realize that the company needs to sell books but still, this just seems rediculous. Inside the newest Newsboys album it has a little card advertising the message as the official bible of the Newsboys! That's rediculous. No one can make a teenager want God. I don't think it's our call to make people want God. How about love them until they realize that they already do and have always wanted God. Then they'll look for a bible cause they'll want it. So maybe the advertisement is for people who are already christians. I still think the same thing applies. Advertise your bible, sure. But if your bible really has a cool new take on the truth, those who are in tune with the truth will search it out. It's jsut our stupid commerciallism. It ticks me off. ok.

Let me know what you guys think. Should bibles be marketed to people? Is this too far?