Are we focusing on what is essential—the gospel of Christ crucified—and its vital role in the growth of our own faith and that of the brothers and sisters?

I'm a little disappointed in what I hear and read in the debate over translations. It's not just our own debate, but the debate among almost all those in the Protestant camp. What I hear reveals more about suspicion and personalities than about the Scriptures or a desire to proclaim Christ crucified.

In some ways, it's not so much what is being said but what is not being said. I have read discussions about the merits and faults of various translations. Everyone seems to have their favorite translation and will boldly proclaim its virtues. Some are well informed, but more than a few are profoundly misinformed. Others are guilty of nothing but exaggerated hyperbole. Still others speak from an emotional bias that is tied to a favorite translation, which has brought them great comfort and encouragement. Those voices should not be dismissed; we should have a concern for the faith of such believers, encouraging their faith rather than looking down long intellectual noses with superiority.

But what I sense is missing is what all this discussion says about our message as Christians to the world in which we live. Which of the studies asks if one translation better proclaims Christ crucified? If I put the best construction on the debate, I could conclude that all the translations proclaim Christ crucified equally, but, at least from my reading, no one asks the question.

A related question should also be asked: "Which of the translations allows us to do what the early church did, namely, devote ourselves to the apostles' teaching?" Unfortunately the discussion has turned laserlike attention on one of those teachings, perhaps two—gender issues and prophecy. Those are important teachings, but have we asked how the translations support the historic apostolic teachings? We are creatures of habit, pattern, and comfort—quick to criticize what we think is wrong rather than to focus on what is good. I suppose that shouldn't surprise me. We criticize first and think later. I'm guilty too.

I sense that most of the discussion is more like a discussion of how many angels can dance on the head of a pin than on how will a particular translation build the body of Christ. Are we focusing on what is essential—the gospel of Christ crucified—and its vital role in the growth of our own faith and that of the brothers and sisters?