Can We Trust Our Bible...

There was quite an article in the local newspaper about a new book that "makes a good case for using the King James Version above all other translations."  The author of the book, Rick Shoemaker, who pastors a small independent Baptist church in the area (which BTW, provides directions to the church before directions on how to be saved...) says those who use modern versions of the Bible are "simply deceived."

Apparently the people that translated the KJV were "inspired by God to do so, and ...other translations were inspired by man to be translated, and they were subject to man's interpretation."  He goes on to compare word use, omissions and additions between the KJV and any newer version.

But what about the KJV and its origins?  When King James became king in 1603, England was deep in theological controversy, primarily between the Anglicans (Church of England) and the Puritans.  King James appointed himself "mediator" between the two groups  and appointed a group of translators to look at the original languages and write a new translation.  However, he wound up siding with the Anglican church, which interestingly, was the position that posed the smallest political threat to his power.  He was personally involved in some of the translation choices, choosing translations that conveniently reinforced the power of the ruling elite and discouraged equality.  (You can read for yourself in God's Secretaries: the Making of the King James Bible.) 


So given KJ's self-interest and the limits of the "original manuscripts" available in the 1600's, you'll never convince me that the KJB is the "inspired" word.  The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, which added older versions of many of the biblical texts to our resources, showed that many "additions" had been made over the years.  So you can't really argue as Shoemaker does that the New International Version subtracts "but by every word of God" from the verse in Luke 4:4 that starts, "That man shall not live by bread alone."  You have to argue that a creative scribe added the second part to the original manuscript.

So take heart if you are one of the deceived using a newer translation of the Bible.  There's really no sinister plot out there to undermine the church with the New International Version or the New Revised Standard Version.  In fact, they may be closer to what actually got read in the early church...and take the arguments on, because really, every reading/translation of the Bible, ancient text or modern, is human interpretation.  Language is never a scientific exercise and you can't make it one, even if it is your "favorite" language.

Wonder if they would quote me if I wrote a book...

Approval Rating...

So according to a Newsweek/Daily Beast poll, Americans are angry people...duh.  Apparently two-thirds of Americans polled are angry with God.  The conclusion drawn is that God has a 33% approval rating from Americans (who, I remind us, are purported to be a Christian nation).

That leads me to one question.

As a Christian nation, what kind of approval rating do we have from God?

A Long, Long, Journey...

It's been a really hard week...really hard.  It's been of those weeks that makes you wonder about the state of the world...is there, in fact, any hope?  And of course you assure yourself and others that hope is still present and dependable...but you feel more than a bit hopeless in your grief and you find yourself looking hard for those tiny signs of life that you know have to be there.

In worship Sunday, we were called together by God.  We listened to words of scripture that have been read aloud for thousands of years.  We sang the Doxology...I can't even begin to guess how many millions of voices have lifted those words to the heavens.  We prayed. 

The Kingdom of God, thankfully, wasn't up to me...isn't up to me.  It's not even up to us in the here and now.  We can help or we can hurt the progress.  But God's purposes have been at work long before we have been part of the work, and they will be at work long after we are gone. 

And that, my friends, is faith.  That, my friends, is the hope in which I live and move and have my being.

The grief is not gone.  The work still cries out to be done.  And so I go to work, crying out "will these bones live" and resting in the knowledge...."God, you know."

I Understand...

I went to a meeting on Saturday.  First, it was Saturday.  Meeting...Saturday.  And it was morning.  Not in the heat of the day, but in the beautiful part of the morning.  Saturday meetings.  Bleh.

Everyone else seemed to be in the same mind-set.  The energy level in the room defined negative number.  The news was not good.  Everyone was in the same boat...the sinking one.  Sighs abounded.  People gave it a try, but it just didn't seem to be getting anyone anywhere.

But there was a child.  The attendees were invited to stand and introduce themselves and tell what church they were from.  They did.  80% of the way through, the child stands up.  She raises her hand.  She states her name and church.  We laugh...amazed at her bravery, her energy, her sense of self.  Introductions are finished.  An older man is asked to pray to open the meeting.  He does.

Meeting business is accomplished.  Our human efforts seem to fall flat.  There is always a bigger problem than any proposed solution.  The invoking of the Spirit at the beginning does not seem to have worked.  We are glad the meeting is over.  We will take our weary selves and spirits home and attempt to distract ourselves from the hole we are in.

The moderator asks for someone to close in prayer.  Eyes hit the floor.  He asks again.  And there was a child.  Her feet hit the floor and her hand shot into the air again.  He called her by name, asked if she wanted to pray with the tonality that allowed her to back out if she wanted.

No.

This child stand in front of 30 tired adults, folds her hands in front of her face, and prays us out.  I have no idea what words she used, but she spoke with passion and confidence.

I understand.  That's why I will do whatever it takes to tithe--because there is a child.  That's why I will teach Sunday school and attend worship and pray for all I am worth--because there is a child.  That is why I will attend meetings on Saturdays and why I will tell the world what gives my life meaning and purpose, what keeps me focused on others and not myself.  There is a child.

This precious child...she was five...she exhibited the faith we all should have.  She gifted us with a fearless, feckless faith that embedded itself so deeply in my soul that all I can say is...I understand.

I would have given my life on Saturday, I would give it today, for the child who knew what  loving God was all about.  I understand.  This life of faith is about saying our names, praying our prayers, greeting our neighbors, living for our God.

With God's help, I will give my life for the child...for all the children, those who know God and those who need to know God...and for all those children, young and old, that God puts in my path.

I understood.  I understand.

Do you?