Lost In Translation

Day 280 in my "Year In My Life Through Pictures" blog series

Seems that I have finally figured out what the unpardonable sin is. It's not homosexuality as many would have it these days, murder or being a thief - it is not using the King James Version of the Bible or better said, using a translation of the Bible other than the KJV.

Today I was not only "unfriended" on Facebook for making a remark on a KJV onlyist's wall posting but he blocked me as well. He had stated something about the differences in the KJV and the ASV, I simply stated that I had a love for the KJV, but also believe that other translations also hold the fullness of God's Word. I wasn't snarky and I wasn't rude and BAM! less than a minute later I was blocked. I can't say that I am not bothered by it. Well, actually being blocked doesn't bother me, but folks that say others will go to Hell for using the ESV translation will really does bother me.

As I said, I love the KJV translation, I was brought up with it and only found out there were other versions later in life. That's all that anyone used or even mentioned at my church during my youth. When God actually saved me I really wanted to understand His Word so I started discovering other translations and actually did research to find one that is accurate as possible. I still have an affinity for the KJV, but do not ascribe to it as the "only" translation acceptable by God. I happen to have more KJV in my home than any others combined, so I am far from a KJV exclusionist (if there is such a thing). I do not hold disdain for anyone that chooses to use the KJV exclusively either. What I do find offense to is when someone says that it is the ONLY translation that can be used and all others are trash.

The mindset of the actual KJV onlyists is very law focused. You "must' use this version or you are damned. That is a added doctrine by these folks. This in effect changes the Gospel into another gospel that we are warned about in Galatians 1:8-9. Adding any conditions to salvation makes it us who are the reason for salvation. "I said the prayer", I walked the aisle", "I read and study the King James translation and will go to hell if I don't" are all adding to the Grace of God bestowed through the work of Christ and His Gospel. We cannot do anything to gain salvation, especially ascribing to "musts" in translations.

I will agree that there are some "translations" that are heretical, to say the least. The first that comes to mind is "The Message" and all of its incarnations. This "version" is nothing more than someone's rendition in "modern" words that really twists the meanings of the True Word of God. Others that are not good are the RSV, NRSV, New Jerusalem Bible, NWT and the latest version of the NIV and the TNIV.

On the other side are the actually good translations, which include the KJV, NKJV, NASB, ESv and the "Way of the Master's" Evidence Bible, which is actually the KJV with newer words replacing all of the thee, thou, thine and so on. Any of these I recommend. Some of them use earlier texts than the KJV did for translating.

Let's look at a single verse in different translations. The verse is 2 Corinthians 5:21, which I like to call the Gospel in a single verse. God could use this one short verse to bring about repentance in a person, it is His Word that has the power to save. So let's look and see what different translations have this verse to say and see if any of them are heresy:

2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (KJV)

2 Corinthians 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.(NKJV)

2 Corinthians 5:21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (ESV)

2 Corinthians 5:21 He made Him who knew no sin to be (B)sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (NASB)

2 Corinthians 5:21 He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (HCSB)

So, within those versions was the Gospel compromised? Were they all true to the Word? Did they all convey the Gospel, simply and truthfully? A yes to all of those questions.

So, if you are a KJV onlyist, please reconsider your unbiblical stance on saying people will go to Hell because they use a different translation. Keep using the KJV by all means, it is great, but do not condemn others because they want a Bible translation that they can actually understand. Also, one more question - where is the Spanish speaking KJV bible? Are all of those that use a different translation in Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, German or Swahili going to hell because they don't read the only "Authorized" version of the KJV? Please take this false doctrine out of your vocabulary.

P.S.
I am very open to comments and will approve any except those with cursing or those that are blasphemous. I welcome the views of those that have a different take on things than I do. I am not too proud to say I am wrong on any topic and feel that dialog is beneficial to all of God's children. I believe that the children of God bare witness to one another through the Spirit and therefore will come to a agreement at some point, especially on the essential doctrines of scripture. The non-essentials is usually where the arguments get started and folks get mad, because they defend their customs and practices instead of weighing everything against scripture. May God help us all to seek the Truth of His Word together and in love for each other and especially for our Lord.

Day 135: Genesis 9 Rainbows And The Promises Of God

God painted a beautiful picture in the sky today. It was a full rainbow just shortly before dusk. Actually, after transferring the picture to my computer and viewing to scale it down I saw a second, dimmer rainbow. I totally missed it with my naked eye. If you look close at the picture you will be able to see it, if not leave a message and I will post the full size photo somewhere and link to it.

Do you know what the rainbow is? Well, besides the refraction of light in a prismatic effect through moisture droplets. The rainbow is a reminder to us of God's covenant that He will not destroy the Earth with a flood again. You can read about this in Genesis 9 and is summed up by verses 13-17:
I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud; and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. The rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” And God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth.”

Did you catch that this is a covenant that God made? That means it is eternal and He will not break it. It is also one of the many covenants or promises that God makes throughout His Word. Sometimes these promises (covenants) are missed, just like the second rainbow in my picture was by my bare eyes. Most of the time we just gloss right over what God has said He will do and does do for us.

Here are some other promises that God has made to us:
John 5:24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.

John 10:28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.

1 John 1:7-9 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

John 15:7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will[a] ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

Matthew 11:28-29 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Philippians 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Do you notice anything about these other promises that I referenced? They all require action on our part. If we do this, then God will do that. But look again for the dimmer rainbow, our actions are that of just trusting in God and believing that He will do what is best for us. They only require us to rest in Him and in His Words to remember His promises, His covenants, that He has made with us.

We know that God can't break His promises, it would be a contradiction to who He is. So, we need to merely believe. This sounds a lot like salvation and conversion as well. So much of the "modern message" and the call to sinners is one of works and centered on what a man can do to be saved, instead of a call to just believe what God has already said He will do - He will save us, He will put a new heart in us, He will cause us to walk in His statutes - because, face it, we can't do any of those things. We are born in sin and sin runs our life, we are dead in our trespasses against God and only His call to "Come forth!" can bring life to us, not anything we do. From this trust and belief in God's promises flows repentance, a turning from our sins and to Him, believing His Word and resting in His promises.

Day 119: Challenge(r)

The new Challengers are some really cool cars. Matter of fact, if I was going to buy a new car one of these just might be the choice. I've always had an affinity for muscle cars and seeing how the Big 3 all have some retro/ muscle car looking offerings I am liking at least 2/3 of the choices. I really, really like the Challenger, then the Camaro and still kind of "iffy" on the Mustang. I do like how the Mustang takes its cues from the late 60's instead of the mid 70's, seeing how I once owned a 1969 Mustang Grande' that looks very similar looking straight at each one.

I guess reminiscing about the past can be a good thing. But it can also be a bad thing too. For example, music that once was listened to by me 10 years ago is not something that I even desire any more. I will from time to time at work make small talk about the bands I saw in concert, but it is in hopes to open doors to show the redemptive work that God has done to me.

Actually, looking back to some of the things I did once upon a time seem like dreams, like I would never even be capable of doing those things. That is because I am a new creation in Christ. I can't even imagine smoking like I did for 24 +/- years of my life or drinking alcohol. Just some of the things I can honestly say that God has gloriously taken away from me to further conform me to the image of Christ. I am still a work in progress, but oh so different than before He saved me. I still may appear to look the same way or have some of the similar characteristics, but like the new Challenger vs. the old Challengers the insides are all totally different, new and better than ever. Also like the Challenger - I did not do it myself. I am not, nor ever was, capable of making myself anew. Only God can change someone, give them new desires, new internal workings and make them a new creation.

Day 88: A Time For Change

Fall is upon us here in my neck of the woods. Our summer was more intense than normal with high heat and very little moisture. It looks like the fall is going to be a little more extreme than normal as well. We are only a few days into the season and the temperatures are below normal.

Changing of seasons always reminds me of 2 Timothy 4:2 where Timothy is exhorted to be ready in season and out of season when preaching the Word. That pretty much describes at all times. That can seem like a daunting task, but if you are in fellowship with the Lord it should come fairly natural to someone. It will not require any "gear shifting" to take your mind out of "worldly" and into biblical, because it will already be there.

So changing seasons mark a drastic change in weather, which is also a time of renewal. Summer makes way for autumn, autumn for winter, winter for spring and spring for summer. Although some of the seasons may seem to get out of whack, nature usually corrects itself. What an amazing design, how God made four different, but needed times of death, renewal, growth and harvest. All four seasons are needed or the other three following will not be what they should be, until winter resets the changing of season. I am speaking for my climate, my hometown area. I know other countries and parts of the U.S. also have different seasons, but since I have only seen the change of seasons here, that is all I know.

Today I also cut our grass, for maybe the last time of the year.... maybe. A secular song started running through my head for some reason - "Turn, Turn, Turn". Actually it is a secular song with lyrics straight from the bible - Ecclesiastes 3, to be exact. Only a few words were added by the song's writer, but the words penned by King Solomon ring true still.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

There is no telling how many millions of people have heard this song and do not know where the words come from. There are probably atheists singing this song right now that do not know they are reciting the Word of God. Just one more proof that the Word does not go out void and that God still does speak through donkeys sometimes.

Revive Us O'Lord

When most people hear the word revival they think of a move of God across the land and people getting saved. There are, most of the time, revival meetings planned months in advance, tents are rented or a brush arbor may even be erected. A designated time when a weeks worth of sermons will be delivered, often from a traveling evangelist. Church members will come and they will also bring friends, neighbors and relatives. There may even be potluck dinners each night to sweeten the call to come. Sadly to say, these meetings are getting fewer and farther between. Attendance has waned as the preaching of the True Gospel of Christ has been diminished across the globe. Man has tried to substitute so many man-centered things into God’s message, that the Power of God is not present at theses meetings, no matter what you call them.

But are these actually “revival” meetings? Do these fit what being revived actually means? Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary defines revive as : 1 : to restore to consciousness or life 2 : to restore from a depressed, inactive, or unused state : bring back 3 : to renew in the mind or memory. So the way the word revival is used in “revival meeting” is not accurate. It is being used to mean, instead, an awakening. This is typical of what present day “revival meetings” are meant to be. A call to sinners to repent (hopefully and not the heretical Americanized “gospel” ever present from most pulpits) is not revival.

Biblical revival is a return to a normal state of Christianity. Where believers should be, they have to be revived, renewed or brought back to a former state of being, in essence – a return to where one should be anyway. Then what most people call “revival” happens, an awakening begins as Christians cry out in repentance, others notice. The power of God is seen in believers lives as they become much closer to God, they become more aware of their sins against a Holy God and they become more embolden to speak about the things of God to others. The Lord uses this to draw whom He wills to Himself and thereby an awakening begins. Upon true revival society is changed, God’s wrath is averted and people come to know Him. All things my country desperately need right now.

Lamentations 5:21 Turn us back to You, O LORD, and we will be restored; Renew our days as of old,

Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Peter speaks of “days of refreshing or revival - Acts 3:19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord

Psalm 85:4-7 Restore us, O God of our salvation, and cause Your anger toward us to cease. Will You be angry with us forever? Will You prolong Your anger to all generations? Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You? Show us Your mercy, LORD, and grant us Your salvation.

Habakkuk prays for revival - Habakkuk 3:2 O LORD, I have heard Your speech and was afraid; O LORD, revive Your work in the midst of the years! In the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy.

The sad thing is, as humans we soon forget the power of God working in us. We return to our comfortable lives, our 9-5 grind and to our daily household chores. We then need revival again. What I pray for is a revival, a return to where I was when God first saved me. I want to be as close to Him as I was that day and I don’t want to move back away from Him again. I want to move closer and closer to Him daily. I need personal revival first, then I need sustained fellowship and God in turn will use that to His glory. I pray for this in each of my local church body family and the corporate body of Christ.

Oak Grove Baptist Church, my church family, is in prayer for just such a revival. I ask you take this to your congregation as well. Pray for revival first in yourself, then your family, then your church body and then a move of God. There is no formula for revival, but most have begun with the honest and repentant turning to God from our sinfulness. A true broken and contrite spirit of how we have sinned against our Father. Upon a broken nature before our Lord, we ask Him to pour out on us His grace and mercy to be in fellowship with Him. We plead for souls to be added to His Kingdom. If God is gracious and hears our cries, He will move across the land and He will be glorified. We simply want and need to be His vessels; in whatever way He sees fit to use us. “Nominal” Christianity is not acceptable to our Lord and we must seek Him to correct that. At least any true believer should desire that. If not, then you have a much larger problem before you, your souls danger of eternal damnation. True children of God should desire this and need this closeness with our Father.

Cry out to Him to expose the darkest recesses of your heart so you may cry out in repentance to Him. Get on your knees, dear Christian, and plea for revival in your own heart. Get on your face, brother and sister, and shed tears for your lost family members. Just cry out to God and know that He will hear His children.

Modern Expressions Taken From The Bible

We’ve all heard about “The writing on the wall” when you do something you know what the turnout will be, “Burning the midnight oil” while studying for a test or getting a project finished, which could also be done “By the skin of your teeth”. We all know we have to have “The patience of Job” when being “Your brothers keeper”.

We have all heard these expressions many times, but did you realize that they are from the Bible? Just another testament that Gods Word does not go out void and that it is engrained in the hearts and minds of men. Even the hard-core sinner knows “the love of money is the root of all evil” and how to “Raise Cain”.

Here is a small list of common expressions that are rooted in Gods Word. This is by no means an exhaustive list. Please feel free to leave a comment with any other ones that you know.

Writing on the wall Dan 5:5

Scapegoat Lev 16:10

Reap what you sow Gal 6:7

Turn the other cheek Matt 5:39

In the lions den or thrown to the lions Dan 6:16

Brother’s keeper Gen 4

Sign of the times Matt 16:3

Patience of Job James 5

Fall flat on your face Num 22:31

Pour out your heart Psalm 62:8

Sour Grapes Ezekiel 18:2

Skin of teeth Job 19:20

Stand in awe Psalm 4:4

To put words in his mouth Exodus 4:15

Like a lamb to the slaughter Isaiah 53:7

Rise and shine Isaiah 60:1

Salt of the earth Matt 5:13

A thorn in the flesh 2 Cor 12:7

Powers that be Rom 13:1

From dust to dust Gen 3:19

To wash one’s hands of something Matt 27:24

The spirit is willing, but the body is weak Matt 26:41

Shirt off your back Matt 5:40

Go the extra mile Matt 5:41

Blind leading the blind Matt 15:14

Wolf in sheep’s clothing Matt 7:15

The eleventh hour Matt 20:6

The right hand doesn’t know what the left hand is doing” Matt 6:3

Apple of your eye Deut 32:10

Good Samaritan Luke 10:30-33

Straight and narrow Matt 7:14

Old as the hills Job 15:7

Wits end Psalm 107:27

Leopard cant change its spots Jer 13:23

Don’t cast your pearls before swine Matt 7:6

Drop in the bucket" Isaiah 40:15

Eat, drink, and be merry Eccl 8:15

Eye for an eye Exodus 21:24, Lev 24:20, Deut 19:21 Matt 5:38

Labor of love 1 Thess 1:3

Letter of the law 2 Cor 3:6

More blessed to give than to receive Acts 20:35

No peace (rest) for the wicked Isaiah 48:22, Isaiah 57:21

Put your house in order 2 Kings 20:1, Isaiah 38:1

Sweat of your brow Gen 3:19

The love of money is the root of all evil 1 Tim 6:10

There's nothing new under the sun Eccl 1:9

Raising Cain Gen 4:8

Missed by a hair Judges 20:16

Burning the midnight oil Matt 25:6-9

You can't take it with you when you die 1 Tim 6:7