If there is a book that has had more impact on civilization in the last 400 years than the King James Version of the Bible, I would like to know what it is.
But that being said, the English language has moved on. And just as the KJV was the “new translation” of its day, each generation needs a “new translation” in its day too.
I know brethren whose personal preference is the KJV, and I know others who proudly wear the label “KJV Only.” The one thing I share with both my ‘KJV inclusive’ brethren and my ‘KJV exclusive’ brethren, is a good many hour spent reading the KJV text.
But, as I suggested above, the KJV Bible was written in a dialect that is not spoken today; we must move on. Thus, I expect strong disagreement with my opinion.
At this point, you are going to have to forgive me, because I am only singling out the KJV to illustrate my point. That point being:
“How we handle disagreements says everything about how we view our fellow man!”
If the world is looking in on us as we express our disagreements with one another and see anything other than love, we have failed the “Discipleship Love Test!” Jesus said:
“By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).
The world does not expect us to agree on everything, but they do expect us to love one another. One of the reasons that they do not come to church is because they refuse to be told that they have to love everyone unconditionally. They understand that love equals forgiving and tolerating those that they disagree with – Something they will not do.
As Christians, our starting point for all disagreements was established at baptism:
“Bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you” (Colossians 3:13).
I have come to the conclusion, that most church issues are just disagreements with emotions thrown in.
John Staiger
0 Comments