Questioning Lifeway

Churches beware. I received a courtesy call from LifeWay to make me aware of changes to be made in the literature. One change causes me great concern.

Beginning fall of 2003, the NIV will be replaced with the new Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) in all of LifeWay’s literature. The NIV will no longer be available. This concerns me. First, it is too soon to be practical because the completed HCSB will not be ready until the  summer of 2004. Second, the tactic smacks of the old “bait and switch” of unethical business practice. It seems LifeWay desires to develop a ready market for its new HCSB by incorporating it into the literature. They feel they can force us to accept their new translation by holding our churches “hostage” to their literature. A representative of LifeWay assured me they were not holding us “hostage,” and they understand we can buy our literature from any source we choose. This may be true in fact but not in reality. A move to lead a church away from Southern Baptist literature could spell the end for a pastor or at least cause conflict in the church.

I personally have no problem with the HCSB, yet I urge LifeWay to wait until it is released fully and the new translation gains acceptability in our churches before replacing the NIV.

Chester Carlisle
Ethel, Miss.