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*****Warning if you have not seen “Book of Eli” this post contains spoilers.*****

Two weeks ago I posted a status update stating that the “Book of Eli” was a must see movie with a great message.  I expected the standard feedback to this kind of post (i.e. nothing). Yesterday, to my surprise I received this response: “Great message? You mean relativism? The final scene said it all….in the end Christianity is just one way among many….another book on a shelf full of religious options.”

Now I am not one to advocate relativism at the cost of uncovering absolute truth. In “Book of Eli” if relativism is the message, it serves to protect and preserve truth. For all its faults, relativism does seem to protect all expressions “truth” if for no other reason than “fairness”. [Read this for more thoughts on postmodernism and truth.] In the case of “Book of Eli” relativism (by some) helps preserve and protect what Christians proclaim to be THE Truth.

But relativism was at best only a secondary vehicle in the preservation of Scripture. Ultimately it was preserved in the faith of one man who meditated on the Word of God and sought to keep it safe from those looking to twist it.

The message of the “Book of Eli” is that Truth is worth protecting and passing on at all costs. Some will seek to twist Truth to suit their own interests. The only safeguard against the abuse of Truth is ensuring all people have access to it.

This is what the ministry I am involved in at Pioneer Bible Translators is all about. We translate God’s Word into the heart languages of people groups around the world so that they can have enduring access to it. When people have access to Truth transformation happens. The more people who have access to Truth the harder it is for that Truth to be abused and twisted. History is a witness to what happens when only a small number of people have access to Scripture and how it is communicated to the masses.

2252 people groups representing 353 million people have no access to God’s Word in their language [1]. These people groups are eagerly waiting an “Eli” to bring them God’s Word. I pray that these people are reached even if God needs to use the relativism of others to open doors so translators can get into these areas

[1] Wycliffe International Sept 2009