Something is really bothering me. I notice that many of our Independent Baptist pastors claim to be King James Bible only preachers, and then they agree to have someone from Gideons International come into their church, give a presentation and then receive an offering for the Gideons.
In case you pastors haven't noticed, the Gideons are not King James Bible only, and they will read and quote from translations other than the King James Bible during their presentation.
The last time I listened to a Gideon about a year and a half ago, he pulled that stunt standing behind my pastor's pulpit, but you guessed it, my pastor and the dear old trustees just sat there and let it happen. Not one word was said.
The Gideons distribute authorized King James Bibles and New King James Bibles in our nation. They also distribute New International Version Bibles in England. So when you pastors say that you are King James Bible only preachers, and then have the Gideons in your church, you really don't mean what you say, you're just talking.
The Gideons are also extremely ecumenical. You might find them at an Independent Baptist church one week and at a liberal protestant church the next, so much for ecclesiastical separation, which we claim to believe.
Hey Pastors, try BEAMS, they are Independent Baptists, and they distribute Authorized King James Bible only.
Well, someone from Gideon's International is scheduled to be at our church in the near future, but that's one service that I will miss. Since our shepherd won't guard the sheep, this sheep will just have to guard himself.
At this time I refuse to give the name of my church in order to protect the guilty.
David Knight
Chattanooga
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Gideon International is a highly respected organization that gives out Bibles to the young, the old, soldiers, hotels, nursing homes and the man on the street. They work tirelessly to get the Word of God into the hands of the people. It doesn't matter what translation of the Bible they are giving because shock, shock you can get saved from reading another version of the Bible besides King James!
I love to read the King James. It's poetic in nature and flows so well and I find it easier to memorize. But for many it's hard to understand and the NIV, New King James or Living Bible make God's message easier to comprehend. Wouldn't you rather know that someone was in heaven because they were able to grasp the concept of God's amazing gift to us?
The King James Version is just that. King James wanted to please the masses so he had his own version of the Bible printed in 1611 to make everyone like him. Paul and Peter did not use it, Jesus never said you can't get saved if you don't use the King James version. To say that the King James is the only real version is to say that none of the disciples/apostles, Martin Luther, John Huss, and the Christian fathers will not be in heaven because they didn't have the King James version.
God doesn't care how we get to heaven and learn from his Word. He only cares that we do.
Kathy McManus
Hixson
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Something is really bothering me as well. For my entire 29 years, I've observed people elevating the KJV as God's only preferred translation. I have yet to hear a good reason as to why they do so. It sincerely bothers me that an individual would choose to dispense the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16 – 20) because said Great Commission is translated from the original text into something other than King James’ English.
There are of course the tired and obvious arguments against such foolishness. Jesus didn’t speak using King James’ English, the original 1611 KJV Bible is full of errors, etc, but we’ve all been there and done that and most of us have yet to see someone relent because they lost an argument.
So again I ask, why KJV only? What if Jesus Himself spoke at your church, and He spoke in Hebrew, as He likely did when He walked this Earth, instead of the King James English you so dearly cling to?
Certainly I wouldn’t begrudge anyone who preferred this translation. If this is your translation of choice, I can assure you I’m not intending to talk you out of it and into another. But why choose to skip the Sunday when representatives from Gideons International come before your church body and ask for your help in carrying out the Great Commission?
Nathan Daugherty
daugherty.nathan@gmail.com
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If the Bibles are translated properly into English then that's fine. But if the translation is spun in a certain way, and not into the intended message by the author (GOD) then thats no good. I do know this if Jesus showed up at your church this Sunday, he would be considered just another drunk homeless nut. He might even be asked to leave.
Johnny Hurst
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I am not a biblical scholar, but I thought Jesus generally spoke Aramaic. I am sure he knew Hebrew as well.
Brian Folely
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Mr. Knight,
One reason I have always preferred translations other than the King James translation is that since 1611, many more manuscripts of the Bible have been discovered. In fact, it is believed that some of the manuscripts that were found more recently are actually much older than ones used in 1611, and therefore, are closer to the original manuscripts of the Bible--which don't exist today. These manuscripts inform translators better, and these translators write new versions of the Bible that ironically, are therefore probably closer to the original than the King James Version. Personally, I prefer the New American Standard Bible.
Besides, all those thees, thous, thines and begats may sound hallowed and somehow more authentic to some, but remember, no one spoke English in ancient Palestine. To me, all that Middle English is simply annoying and irrelevant, since it's not how Jesus spoke, and it's certainly not how you and I speak. Why not humble yourself a bit, go to the service in question and ask God if he has something to teach you? Situations like this remind me of something one of my favorite Bible college professors once said: "I have a feeling that when we all get to heaven, we'll all realize that none of us were 100% correct all the time about everything."
John Stegall
Chattanooga
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Don't worry David, I have it on good authority that when you get to Heaven, Jesus will put you and yours behind a big wall so you can pretend for all eternity that your the only ones up there!
Chris Glascock
Chattanooga, Tn.
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Christian churches no longer exist. There are only buildings. Some are ornate and gaudy while others are more modest and simple. But, they are only buildings. The Romans must have wiped out all Christians within a few decades of His time on earth. Obviously, the survivors of those days of persecution forgot what the word Christian meant as they became wrapped up in egos, dogmas, translations and politics. Along came the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church, then the Protestants and all their denominations. These Christians took money from the people and constructed cathedrals and church "buildings"! These Christians demanded that the people submit to the dogma of the church or suffer eternal damnation.
The reality is, all we have is a memory of what it must've been like to be Christian. How much love had to exist. How much fear to overcome. There were no bibles. There were no church buildings. No manuscripts. Just groups of men, women and children meeting in homes and other places. They shared with one another, comforted one another. They passed on what they had learned from men like Paul and Timothy and John. They passed on by word of mouth and letter that there was a man, who was God. He had walked among men. He had died for us and he waits for us to believe in him and live forever. King James of England had nothing to do with that! He came along about 1000 years later.
The opinions I've read in this column reveal some of the best reasons to become an atheist. Contemporary Christians are their own worst enemy. Mr. Foley is correct. Jesus would've spoken Aramaic and Hebrew. But since Jesus is God, he can speak to us without saying a word. If we want to see what it's like to be Christian, let us turn our church buildings into homes for the homeless, schools for the uneducated and free clinics for the poor. Let's hold our worship services in tents and parks and open areas. Ask our pastors, ministers and preachers to lose some weight and to stay out of politics since it has nothing to do with being like Christ. And that's all I have to say about that.
Kelley G. Miller
a Very Un-Orthodox Christian
milkel4@hotmail.com
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In response to David Knight's posting regarding the Gideons and King James Bible reminds me of a joke told during our homily at St. Peter's Church in Rome, Georgia this past Sunday.
A man arrives at the gates of heaven. St. Peter asks, "Religion?" The man says, "Methodist." St. Peter looks down his list, and says, "Go to room 24, but be very quiet as you pass room 8." Another man arrives at the gates of heaven. "Religion?" "Episcopalian" "Go to room 18, but be very quiet as you pass room 8." A third man arrives at the gates. "Religion?" "Jewish." "Go to room 11, but be very quiet as you pass room 8." The man says, "I can understand there being different rooms for different religions, but why must I be quiet when I pass room 8?" St. Peter tells him, "Well the Southern Baptists are in room 8, and they think they're the only ones here."
Please do not think that I am being mean-sprinted; I could have changed Southern Baptist to Catholic, Muslim, Hindu. As other people have stated in response, there are many translation of scriptures/manuscripts. The Oxford Bible contains chapters that you don't find the King James version.
I am proud to be a member of the Episcopal Church that welcomes people of all faiths, races, and backgrounds to our service. We encourage our young people to learn about and experience different religions so that we can find common ground and dialogue.
The church encourages us to ask questions and discussions about the Word of God.
Vickie Gilliam
Rome, Ga.
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As a Roman Catholic,I choose to read the New American Bible,it is easy to read and understand,I have heard many baptists and other Protestants (fundamentalists) say that The New American is not the True Word of God. This is so ridiculous! Who are you to say what is right or wrong in a Bible?
Darlene Rochelle
North Chattanooga
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Well I can only say, I wish my life was so simple, all I had to complain about was which version of the Bible someone read. I'm just glad people are reading the Bible. There needs to be more. And if some of the downtown families read it more often with their children, there wouldn't be three shootings in one day. Goodness gracious.
I was reared Pentecostal, Presbyterian, and Baptist, and 24 years ago I converted to Catholicism. Not until I became Roman Catholic had anyone ever told me about the Apocrypha, the excluded, REAL, and COMPLETE books of the Bible, that were eliminated from the Bible because they were repetitious, when it became the 1611 King James version this guy speaks of.
The Bible also says to not add to or take away from HIS word. So, did Independent Baptists get divine authority to leave those out? This is one of the most ridiculous and petty things I have ever read on here. Stay home from church my man, then ask God to forgive you for not being in His house.
I still attend Protestant churches on occasion, and have been fortunate to hear many Gideons. Some of the finest men I have ever known are Gideons, and thank God for all these good men who do these works, and at their own expense.
To name a few, Hamilton County Commissioner Bill Hullander, and former Signal Mountain Police Chief Eddings. These dedicated men place New Testaments in the hands of school children, inmates, and Bibles in every hotel room you have ever been in, if you get out of your cave long enough to visit one.
Seems I remember a verse that says, "Judge not, lest ye be judged." You need to look into the mirror, and stop blasting people for reading the Bible for whatever the reason. I guess if you are going to take it so literate, do you drink strychnine, handle snakes, and refuse medical treatment for your children because of your faith. That, my friend is in your King James version of the Bible, if you take time to read it while your missing your Church service. Does your wife cut her hair, your female children wear pants, wife wear makeup, and how about jewelry? All in there Ace.
Get your faith and facts right before you demean these good men. May God Bless them all.
Arlos Dempsey
Signal Mountain
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I thank God for the Gideons ministry. Many years ago, (before I met him) my husband accepted the Lord as his Savior while reading his Gideon's
Bible while on guard duty in a forest in Germany. (Yes, I know he was not supposed to be reading.)
He read the verse in 2nd Corinthians 4:3 about "if the Gospel is hidden, it is hidden to those who are lost," and other passages and knew that he needed a Savior.
I met him several years later at a Christian college in the South; we married and he finished his schooling at TTU. He is a wonderful husband, father and grandfather. There are many young people in this area who love him and appreciate his quiet Godly wisdom.
Wayne Warren is an incredible testimony to the value of the Gideon Bibles that are given to our servicemen.
Ruth Warren
Chattanooga
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You know, I thought the Bible says there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of us all. I'm pretty sure Jesus said "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no man comes to the Father but by Me." I'm absolutely positive Jesus said, "You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is these that bear witness of Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me, that you may have life." (John 5:39,40). Finally, I'm also certain that Jesus' prayer, just before He laid down His life for all who would believe, was, "That they may all be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me." John 17:21 KJV.
"To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Isaiah 8:20 KJV
Jamie Rohrbaugh
Chattanooga