Conservative advocacy group One Million Mom has launched a campaign opposing Zondervan’s newly released NIV Upside-Down Kingdom Bible:
Think Deeply/Love Widely, claiming the study Bible promotes “woke theology” and undermines traditional biblical interpretations.
The organization has urged Christians to avoid the publication and to sign a pledge boycotting Zondervan’s product.
“Zondervan’s newest NIV study Bible is unlike other Bibles in that it includes elements of theological and gender diversity.
As such, Christians should be aware this could be called a DEI Bible. (DEI is an acronym for diversity, equity and inclusion.),” the group noted in a January post.
“One of Zondervan’s newest publications is the Upside-Down Kingdom Bible: Think Deeply/Love Widely.
But it can be more accurately described as upside-down theology because it includes interpretations of scriptures from a woke mindset, with opinions based on a magnitude of cultural and sexual perspectives.”
The Upside-Down Kingdom Bible, described as addressing topics such as race, ethnicity, creation care, abortion, gender and sexuality, features study notes, essays and book introductions contributed by various scholars and leaders,
including Preston Sprinkle, general editor and president of The Center for Faith, Sexuality & Gender (CFSG), a Christian organization focused on issues of “faith and LGBT+ inclusivity.”
On its website, CFSG describes its team as a “growing collaboration of Christian leaders, pastors, scholars, and LGBT+ persons” serving as advisors and contributors.
Sprinkle, also the host of the “Theology in the Raw” podcast, has been vocal about the importance of fostering dialogue on theological and cultural issues, often engaging with individuals of differing perspectives.
In its statement opposing the Bible, 1MM warned the Zondervan Bible’s content deviates from traditional Christian beliefs, stressing that “Scripture is extremely clear in Ezekiel 13:10-12 and Matthew 18:6 about the consequences of leading others astray.”
The campaign further alleged that Zondervan’s decision to release the Bible was a deliberate move to align with contemporary cultural trends, and accused the publisher of “selling wokeness” under the guise of inclusivity and equity.
In a statement to The Christian Post addressing the controversy, Zondervan defended the purpose and scholarly rigor of the Upside-Down Kingdom Bible, emphasizing its commitment to Evangelical Christian beliefs. READ MORE
