contents Features
12-13 The King’s English
How the KJB shaped our language
14-15 Biblefresh year
A look back at the year that was
september/october 2011
17-18 Unity movements
Editorial
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to revive our love of scripture. Through various projects and activities over the past 12 months it has brought to life the Word and reminded us that it is a lamp unto our feet. This edition of idea takes an in-depth look at the Biblefresh year. Chair Krish Kandiah shares how we can hear God’s voice through the Bible (p5), while Glen Scrivener of The King’s English tells us how the KJB has shaped our language (p12) and Nick Spencer of Theos writes about the Bible’s influence on politics (p8). This edition also has a four-page pull-out of our Advent Prayer (p19-22). We hope you enjoy this edition. Look out for some changes to the magazine in the not-so-distant future…
19-22 Advent Prayer
Your pull-out and keep guide
Regulars 16 Politics
The Bible and social renewal
28-30 Nations
News from Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales
34 Talking points
A closer look at Sherlock Holmes starring Robert Downey Jr
38 Last Word
General Director Steve Clifford on the shaking of our institutions
Chine Mbubaegbu Editor
26-27
How churches embraced Biblefresh
14
Bound and Gagged Comedy
There are a staggering 6,912 languages spoken in our world. An astonishing 820 of these are found in Papua New Guinea alone. Even in England, where we supposedly share the same national tongue, we often find it difficult understanding the dialects spoken by people from different regions. In the same city, we can find variations in slang and wording depending on our backgrounds. Add to this text-speak, acronyms, business-speak and other types of jargon, and what we have is a Tower of Babel of confusion. It’s clear that language can cause barriers, but the right language can also unite people. Language and the words we choose have the power to evoke emotion, to inspire and to engage. This year, the Alliance has been thinking about the language we use. We’ve been trying to make sure the words we use in our written and spoken communications are accessible and unifying, speaking the truth with confidence and grace. Throughout 2011, the world has been celebrating the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible. Royalty, comedians, historians, actors and poets – Christian and non-Christian - have been extolling the translation as a masterpiece of English language and literature. There is something otherworldly about its cadences and its phraseology, its power to tell God’s story in a unique way. But that’s not to say that modern translations such as The Message do God’s story a disservice. They too bring the story to a different audience and tell God’s truths in new and innovative ways. Whether it’s the KJB or The Message you read, Biblefresh has this year been encouraging us all
God is doing something
A look back at the year that was
32
Cris Rogers, What the Bible means to me
37
Tim Vine, Keeping his feet on the ground
Evangelical Alliance leadership team Steve Clifford, Helen Calder, Fred Drummond, Elfed Godding, Krish Kandiah, Dave Landrum, Peter Lynas
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idea nov/dec 2011 • 3