The Message = Psycho Babble Heresy Version

[No Nicolaitans]

Although I've never seen "The Message" version of the Bible, nor have I any desire to, I know that it's popular with many today.

Anyway, here's just a small comparison of the King James compared to "The Message"...prepare to be blessed...


Matthew 9:34
KJV - “But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.”

THE MESSAGE - “The Pharisees were left sputtering, ‘Hocus Pocus. It’s nothing but Hocus Pocus.’”

Hocus Pocus! Are you serious? HOCUS POCUS!

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Matt. 11:28-30
KJV - “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

THE MESSAGE - “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me -- watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.”

What!?!? Learn the "unforced rhythms of grace". Hey, at least this "Cool Jesus" won't lay anything heavy on us!

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John 1:18
KJV - “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.”

THE MESSAGE - “No one has ever seen God, not so much of a glimpse. This one-of-a-kind God-expression, who exists at the very heart of the Father, has made him plain as day.”

WOW! So Jesus, the only begotten Son has now become..."this one-of-a-kind God-expression"!

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John 3:5
KJV - “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”

THE MESSAGE - “Jesus said, You’re not listening. Let me say it again. Unless a person submits to this original creation--the ‘wind hovering over the water’ creation, the invisible moving the visible, a baptism into a new life--it’s not possible to enter God’s kingdom.”

All I can say here is...

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Acts 8:20
KJV - “But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee...”

THE MESSAGE - “Peter said, ‘To (deleted by No Nicolaitans!) with your money!’”

Gee, I guess Peter never was able to repent of his cursing!

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1 Corinthians 13:12-13
KJV - “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”

THE MESSAGE - “We don’t yet see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won’t be long before the weather clears, and the sun shines bright! ... Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.”

How does seeing through a glass translate over into "squinting in a fog and peering through a mist? And we are to love extravagantly? I'm sure the Prosperity preachers love that!

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Philippians 2:12
KJV - “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”

THE MESSAGE - “Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God’s energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure.”

Psycho-babble "energy" talk!

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Colossians 2:10
KJV - “And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:”

THE MESSAGE - “You don’t need a telescope, a microscope, or a horoscope to realize the fullness of Christ, and the emptiness of the universe without him...”

Telescope, microscope, or HOROSCOPE!?!? I'm sure that was taken directly from the Greek! Give me a break!!!
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Matthew 5:3
KJV - “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

THE MESSAGE - “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.”

What? The end of my rope!?!
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Matthew 5:8
KJV - “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.”

THE MESSAGE - “You’re blessed when you get your inside world, your mind and heart, put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.”

What? My "inside world"...what's that supposed to mean?!?
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Matthew 5:14
KJV - “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.”

THE MESSAGE - “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world.”

What? What are "God-colors"!?!
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This sounds like psycho-babble to me! Psycho-babble is rampant in churches today. You hear plenty of sermons about...

• How to reach your full potential
• How to have a happy life
  

But you never hear the psycho-babble preachers even touch on sin, hell, or judgment...probably because they don't believe in hell.
It's no wonder they like "The Message"...it promotes the same psycho-babble that they preach and teach!

[John81]

The Message is a very dangerous "Bible". It's a shame that even some pastors who should know better sometimes quote from this book.

Sadly, there are many out there today who have this as their only Bible.