The reason I own a copy of The Manga Bible is not because it’s a invaluable resource for any of my exegetical and hermeneutical study, nor does it add that particular punch for any of my Spirit-led homiletical productions.
But indirectly it does.
The reason I own a copy is because it illustrates well (literally) the art of story.
You see, one of the reasons I love the Word of God (in addition to its obvious power to bring about the salvation of men) is that it’s got some of the most amazing stories ever told. I love stories. The imagery produced is incredible. It takes you places.
When I was younger I read a lot of Jack London’s books, like White Fang and The Call of the Wild. You see, these two books in particular required the reader’s utmost imagination and a concious cessation of one’s logic and reason because the main protagonists in the books were dogs.
And I thoroughly enjoyed them. I read them 5 or 6 times each, at least.
Now, I don’t suggest suspending logic, reason while reading the Scriptures; I think those are valuable faculties which we need to employ throughout our study and enjoyment. It’s the imagination part that I’m talking about, the imagining, the imaging of what we read through our mind’s eye, and the pleasure we have lost of becoming completely enraptured by the people we read and their experiences.
That’s why the Manga Bible is so helpful to me. After hours of biblical study, diving deep into critical analysis of one particular word in one particular passage and verse in one particular chapter… all I want to do is step back and read for enjoyment. I spent nearly 7 hours (more if you count roenne-interruptions) yesterday going through the entire book of Genesis via notes, lectures, etc for class. All 50 chapters. And then I had a personal QT.
The Manga Bible gets the imagination pumping. It’s not about imagining what’s not there, mind you. It’s taking what is and making it real. Images can thoroughly help us. And the Manga Bible does just that.
Maybe it’s because I have a history with comic books. Maybe it’s because I’ve been studying the bible as academia for so long (eh, not that long…). But maybe, just maybe, it’s because at times I just want to read it as story, as an amazing historical account of things that actually occured, and be swept away by the glorious-ness of it all.
What an amazing God we serve. Why would His Word as written be seen any differently?
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