No, not my confidant, advisor and camping buddy, I spoke with her just yesterday about getting together on the weekend. I am talking about pronouns, the big H, as in He, His, Him. Actually, He is my confidant, advisor and friend as well and did go camping with us. There's a whole book of His wisdom thankfully available at my fingertips that mostly goes where I go even if I never crack the cover. It's there with me, a tangible representation of God on earth.
Like any good friend, He's always willing to listen, teach and lovingly encourage cutting the bad junk out of my life. He never condemns, just convicts me to change: to let go and let in. He does this with the utmost respect for my free will and ability to choose.
What I want to know is when did the Lord's pronouns lose the capitals? Was it a movement to make God into someone our size, a seemingly more approachable deity? Or was it a push to save ink at the printing companies. A capital H uses more ink than a little h therefore cuts in to the bottom line. It may be only pennies but they add up because of all the big H's in one New King James Bible.
Either way, or maybe because I am a bit old fashioned it bothers me a lot. To read modern, updated English translations of the scriptures without that capital feels disrespectful to me.
Perhaps it may be because of my childhood High Anglican training where we never walked in front of the cross without turning and acknowledging its presence. It's only late in life that I realize what the significance of that small gesture was. It's about honouring and respecting what was done there.
For us.
Now bear with me for a moment as I think this through. I think I'm sitting on a very high horse.
I am sure someone years ago wrote a letter of complaint about the fact that women stopped wearing white gloves and hats to church or weren't wearing pantyhose. Oh, my, scandalous! What IS this world coming to!
But then, I am gently reminded, the Lord meets us where we are. Some of us connect to the infant Jesus, or the Son. Others relate to the Man. He is all things to all people. Me, I go to Daddy... Abba... my heavenly Father when in need. If someone relates to Jesus as Big J, who am I to judge or condemn such an intimate, playful nickname.
Got it!
It IS about choice. I don't have to read a modern translation of the Bible if it doesn't suit my philosophy or personal faith. I can ink in capitals in a newer publication if that's what I feel I need to do. As for everyone else, if it takes a little h to open a huge window to something wonderful, all I can say is "God's will be done."
"When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, "Hear and understand: not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man." Mt 15:10-11
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The Robes
"Coming up behind Jesus, she (the woman who had bled for 12 years) touched the fringe of His robe." Luke 9:44 And she was heal...
I'm so with you on this. People do make personal choices around versions, but I think it does show a lack of respect. None of us would dare run up to Her Majesty the Queen and yell "yo Liz". Why do we feel it is alright to address the King of Kings as if He was a pocket pal. He is Holy. He is Lord of all. If it wasn't for the blood of Jesus, we couldn't approach the Father at all. Yes, Jesus is the friend of sinners, but He also has the Name above all Names - and at His Name, every knee will bow. Surely that deserves a respectful capital letter in mind and print.
ReplyDeleteAmen!
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