Hello,
I guess my 2 cents is as valuable as anyone's on this. I grew up as a Christian on the King James, I grew to love it, memorize, study it and use it. I had a pastor who believed that it was the Word of God, and that was simply the end of the discussion. Not in a "bad way" like he wouldn't discuss the issue. For him it just wasn't an issue. He believed the King James was the Bible, and he was determined to use the Bible, rather than argue about it.
Since then, I have for myself tried to study the issues underlying the whole debate, and for a while due to influences in school my confidence in the ability for anyone to say we have the Word of God in our hand was shaken.
Since leaving school, I've done some more reading and studying. I guess I fall into the King James camp of the DBS & men like David Sorenson in MN.
I try not to let this be an issue in my church. The King James is the standard of our church ~ and it is my standard ~ and so that is what we use, teach from, preach from, and all we knowingly allow those teaching etc. to use (I say "knowingly" because there have been a few times when I've bought some material thinking it was one thing & finding out it was something else.
I try to be careful since that is what I believe I should do. I also try to be studied up enough on the issue to accurately reflect the debate if / when I need to discuss it with those who attend. I do not run people off if they come through the door with another English translation. We simply use what we believe is the Bible God has chosen to preserve in the English tongue. When / where this engenders questions, I answer them as accurately as I believe I can.
If someone in my church really wants to explore the issue, I point them to the writings of others I believe I can trust, usually men I respect for being more skilled in presenting the arguments, and doing it well. So I usually recommend something by Dr. Waite or Dr. Sorenson (I am leaning more & more to Dr. S's work, "Touch Not the Unclean Thing" ~ I admit for a long time I let the cover fool me, and then actually read the book and found out it was really well-balanced, fair, accurate and all around well-written.
I am personally persuaded in large measure by the arguments concerning the underlying texts. Therefore I rest on the King James as being God's Word kept intact for the English speaking world. If another person has a different opinion on the Greek or believes a different English translation is best, then I commend them to the Lord they serve who will ultimately judge them. (Rom. 14.) I don't believe I should label them an heretic unless I find some heresy in their teaching. Coming to a different conclusion and conviction than I have about the Bible is not heresy, even though I may sincerely believe them to be wrong and wasting time. That's probably close to what they think of me, too. Amen? Amen.
I frankly think we waste too much time arguing over this question, but I respect those who believe we need to argue it. In part, that's why I like having a ready arsenal of just enough information to satisfy those who ask. But for my own self, I would rather USE the Bible than argue ABOUT it.
Ok, there's my 2 cents. Have a nice day. (And I'm not sure I'll see any responses to this; no offense, I just don't log on that often.)
[ October 03, 2002, 02:16 AM: Message edited by: Pastor Shumer ]