odds & ends item from WINTER 2005 ISSUE
A Growing Demand for Teen Bibles
With titles such as “Are You Dating a Godly Guy?”, “How to Get Along With Your Mom,” “Beauty Secrets You've Never Heard Before,” “Radical Faith: What Scripture Really Means” and “Guys Speak Out on Tons of Important Issues” parading on its front cover, one would naturally think that Revolve was another teen magazine.
But, in actuality, Revolve is a complete “New Testament” marketed for teens (primarily 13- to 16-year old girls). This worldly publication includes countless pictures of smiling, trendy teens, as well as articles on kissing, dating and makeup.
Revolve is hoping to remove the stigma that the Bible is not “teen-friendly,” and to demystify the Bible, which, as a poll conducted by Extreme for Jesus showed, is seen by teens as “too big,” “intimidating” and “freaky looking.” Since its release in July 2003, 150,000 copies have been sold, making Revolve the most popular “Bible” sold in Christian bookstores.
As stated by the head of the teen division of Thomas Nelson (a publishing house in Nashville, Tennessee), “The Christian-book industry needs this segment; otherwise, in a few short years they won't have anyone shopping in their stores.” Incredible!
This increasing demand for trendy teen Bibles (such as Revolve, Revolution: The Bible for Teen Guys, True Images: The Bible for Teen Girls, The Message: Remix, and others) is opening the floodgates for publishers, who understand that teens are guaranteed, long-time, repeat customers of such Bibles-regardless of the implications.
These publications could never represent-and have nothing to do with-the true God of the Bible.