A new children’s Bible that reimagines Scripture through a “justice-oriented” lens is drawing criticism from Christian leaders who say it distorts the truth of God’s Word and misleads young readers about the Bible’s authority.

The Just Love Story Bible, written by Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis and Rev. Dr. Shannon Daley-Harris, features 52 retellings of stories from both the Old and New Testaments. The authors, affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA), claim the stories are designed to reflect “God’s expansive love” while integrating gender ideology, LGBT themes, and social justice messaging.

But one passage in particular has caught the attention of Evangelical leaders. In the book’s introduction to Genesis, the authors write: “Some of the stories had made-up characters and events. Others were about real people and things that really happened.”

That line, according to Focus on the Family’s Paul Batura, is deeply troubling. “They want to sow seeds of doubt in children’s minds that the events depicted in the Bible are literally true, including the Resurrection,” said Batura, vice president of communications for the ministry. “Questioning the accuracy and authority of the Bible is hardly a new exercise, but so blatantly and openly selling such a heretical interpretation of God’s Word to children undermines God’s sacred Word in a particularly dangerous and destructive way.”

A “Justice-Oriented” Reimagining

The Just Love Story Bible—illustrated by Cheryl “Ras” Thuesday and published by Beaming Books—aims to portray biblical figures in “rich shades of brown,” according to a foreword by Lewis. The authors say the art reflects “the truth about the people in the stories” and helps children “imagine something new about God’s love.”

Lewis and Daley-Harris say they sought to offer a more inclusive and culturally sensitive version of scripture. “It was really hard to find a children’s Bible that didn’t make me change some of the words,” Daley-Harris said during a book Q&A. “Many talk about God like God was a boy, or only use male language for God, or the pictures wouldn’t look like all of God’s people.”

The book also reinterprets the biblical plagues in Exodus, suggesting they were not God’s punishment for Pharaoh’s refusal to free the Israelites. “They didn’t know that when bad things happen like swarms of bugs, floods, earthquakes or tornadoes, it’s not God’s punishment,” Daley-Harris read from the book.

Concerns From Faith Leaders

Batura warned that the book’s intent goes beyond diversity or artistic reinterpretation. “The motives of the authors appear broader and far more dangerous than merely trumpeting diversity,” he said in an op-ed for The Daily Citizen. He accused the authors of trying to recast the Bible as “a collection of stories that promote their theologically radical and heretical views.”

Other Christian commentators have raised similar concerns, arguing that the book’s approach undermines biblical truth at a foundational level—especially for children still learning to trust Scripture. Many also point to the publisher’s track record: Beaming Books has previously released titles promoting gender fluidity and LGBT activism, such as A Costume for Charly and Rainbow Boy and the Pride Parade.

Publisher’s Defense

Beaming Books Senior Acquisition Editor Naomi Krueger told Publishers Weekly that the Just Love Story Bible was commissioned as “an antidote to Christian white supremacy.” Lewis, in earlier promotional material, described the book as a children’s Bible with “no white Jesus, no antisemitic illustrations, no glorification of suffering.”

On her church’s website, Lewis describes her congregation as “a Christian universalist, multicultural, multiethnic rainbow coalition” advocating for social and economic justice, marriage equality, and religious freedom.

A Call for Discernment

Christian parents are being urged to use discernment when selecting faith-based materials for their children. Focus on the Family continues to promote its Bring Your Bible to School Day and other initiatives to encourage biblical literacy among young believers.

“The Bible isn’t just another storybook,” Batura wrote. “It is the inspired, inerrant Word of God—and teaching children anything less robs them of the truth that transforms lives.”