KJV or Not KJV Let me say this about that

We received a letter last week from a pastor in Montana telling us, in part, that since we have used a Bible translation other than the authorized KJV in our Newsletter, he wanted no further part of us and told us to delete his name from our newsletter. We gladly took that action for him.

Since we have long determined that this raging debate was not going to distract us from the specific calling to which God has appointed us, we have had that kind of letter come with some regularity. It appears that it has actually become a test of fellowship among some quarters. I am continually being challenged by other Christians to take a stand against "the devil's bibles," or in some cases, be consumed by the fires of hell that await those who use them.

Let me say this about that issue. I grew up with the KJV Bible, I used it as a Mormon and I use it with regularity today. But I enjoy using the New King James Version and will quote from it from time to time.

About a month ago, someone in another ministry to the Mormons called me to rebuke me for allowing Michelle to use a different Bible version in the Newsletter. He said that a person could not be reading God's word unless it is in the KJV, that all the other versions are New Age versions created by the devil. I asked him several questions in that regard to be certain he believed and taught that only the KJV was the word of God and only through that version could one find truth and salvation. He confirmed this.

I told him just how sorry I felt for all those lost Christians going to hell in South America. He responded, "What on earth are you talking about, Ed?"

I said, "(his name), don't you realize that there is no such thing as a King James Version of the Bible in Spanish. They must all be lost and going to hell. In fact, there is no such thing as a Chinese version of the King James Bible. All those missionaries and all the work of Christian translators like Wycliff are futile because there is no way to translate the 17th Century King James into the modern languages of literally hundreds of countries."

Aren't we English speaking people so very fortunate that God chose us to speak His only true language, have His only true Bible and be saved by the KJV? What elitism! Almost sounds like Aryan Israelism repackaged for the church!

Even the Mormons climb on that bandwagon. Sorry, friends, but whether it's their Spanish LDS Bible or their Spanish Book of Mormon. ...they don't translate that way either.

I know that there are strong arguments about original texts and translators. I am sure that much of that is true. I have over 20 books and many dozens of articles in my files on every aspect of the arguments. Please, don't send me any more. God did not call me to deal with this issue and I will not "come down from the wall" to debate it with those that insist that I do. I think that God's Holy Spirit, my teacher of truth can help me through the rough spots, don't you?

I am satisfied that I am reading the true word of God every time I open my Bible, whatever version it is. I just read through the preface on my NKJV about the scholarship that went into that version and I feel like God probably had some part of keeping His Word intact. I don't know a single doctrine of the faith that is compromised in it and the beauty of His Word, which is my fortress, pours out from it very day of my life.

I asked another Sanballat in my life, "If you were an unsaved man, on a deserted island with only the Living Bible ( a paraphrase) to read, could you be saved and go to heaven with a knowledge of the Kingdom of God to sustain you?"

I sighed and read the first chapter of the Book of John to him. "What great revelation of God in the KJV is missing here? He couldn't give me an answer.

I strongly believe that God will value how we use His Word in our lives far more than if we have the only true translation. Let me give you an example of one of God's living Bibles:

" His name was Bill. He had wild hair, wore a T-shirt with holes in it, jeans and no shoes. This was literally his wardrobe for his entire four years of college. He was brilliant. Kind of esoteric and very, very bright. He became a Christian while attending college.

Across the street from the campus was a well-dressed, very conservative church. They wanted to develop a ministry to the students, but were not sure how to go about it. One day Bill decided to go there. He walked in with no shoes, jeans, his T-shirt, and wild hair.

The service had already started so Bill started down the aisle looking for a seat. The church was completely packed and he couldn't find a seat. By now people were really looking a bit uncomfortable, but no one said anything. Bill got closer and closer and closer to the pulpit and, when he realized there were no seats, he just squatted down right on the carpet. (Although perfectly acceptable behavior at a college get-together, trust me, this had never happened in this church before!)

By now the people were really uptight, and the tension in the air was thick. About this time, the minister realized that from the back of the church, a deacon was slowly making his way toward Bill. Now the deacon was in his eighties, had silver-gray hair, and a three-piece suit. A godly man, very elegant, very dignified, very courtly. He walked with a cane and, as he started walking toward this boy, everyone was saying to themselves that you can't blame him for what he's going to do. How can you expect a man of his age and of his background to understand some college kid sitting on the floor?

It took a long time for the man to reach the boy. The church was utterly silent except for the clicking of the man's cane. All eyes were focused on him. You couldn't even hear anyone breathing. The minister couldn't even preach the sermon until the deacon did what he had to do. And now they saw this elderly man drop his cane on the floor. With great difficulty he lowered himself and sat down next to Bill and worshiped with him so he wouldn't be alone.

Everyone choked up with emotion. When the minister gained control, he said, "What I'm about to preach, you will never remember. What you have just seen, you will never forget. Be careful how you live. You may be the only Bible some people will ever read. This is the example Jesus sets for us and it is the sermon we should always preach. Love one another as I have loved you".