Fire On Your Head

Why I am a “The Message-Only” Advocate

I’ve met a few people in life who are staunch advocates of the KJV and believe that it is the only inspired translation of the Bible, despite the original Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic being the languages the Bible was originally written in. Yet, there are weird arguments out there where people seriously believe that other people are not as close to God as them unless they read the same translation of the Bible – The King James Version.

I have had preferences as to what translation of the Bible I read, but I’ve never become “New International Version only” or “English Standard Version only” or anything like that. So I don’t understand why the KJV gets such a reputation and following of people who will ONLY read it and nothing else.

When I was in Pensacola, I had a girl from Canada message me on ICQ (I used to use it years ago). She saw in my profile that I was from Canada and attending school in the same city in Florida as her, and wanted to know what school it was I was attending. She was going to Pensacola Christian College, which makes no bones whatsoever about how anyone who has different theology than them is a cult (Click here and notice the last few paragraphs of their statements of faith—charismatics not welcome!). Anyway, she asked me questions about the Brownsville Revival and if I’d ever been slain in the Spirit, to which I replied no and told her my experiences up to that point. The fruit in my life of being free from the bondage of pornography and lust didn’t matter—I was clearly damned to hell because I didn’t read the KJV. Anyway, she later tells me on New Year’s Eve a week later or so that she was back in Niagara Falls, Canada, about to go out drinking, partying and clubbing. Man, I wish I could have attained such a salvation where if only I read the KJV, I would be able to go to heaven as well, and engage in all the sin I wanted to and not worry about living a holy life! Maybe I was starting to understand this salvation by King James instead of King Jesus.

Where did this KJV-only club start? I don’t know. But after the last 4 years or so since first encountering these individuals in the streets witnessing wearing suits in the 90F humid Pensacola sun, and screaming and damning everyone from their street corners letting them know they are going to hell if they don’t listen—all this has really made me question why I believe what I believe, and if I’m really saved since after all, I do not read the only “authorized English translation” of the Bible.

So what is it that I should feel like my salvation is lacking if I don’t read the KJV? Is it true that King James was gay himself? Is it true that the original 1611 version is nothing like the version we have today? Don’t get me wrong, I have a copy of this translation in my collection, but I really feel all translations are of the devil and not inspired by God at all.

Except of course, The Message, by Eugene Peterson.

Clearly Eugene Peterson is a man sent from heaven, on a divine and prophetic mission from God to give His people the true translation of the Bible that they’ve always been lacking. The Lord had always been intending for English speakers to have the true translation of His Word, and clearly everyone else will have to learn English in order to benefit from it. In fact, until we change our collective English slang yet again and other words disappear from the English language over time again, we will have the most pure form of the Bible in our language.

At least until another translation comes along.

Just look & compare the following of Psalm 1:

KJV:
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

How well God must like you– you don’t hang out at Sin Saloon, you don’t slink along Dead-End Road, you don’t go to Smart-Mouth College.
Instead you thrill to GOD’s Word, you chew on Scripture day and night.
You’re a tree replanted in Eden, bearing fresh fruit every month, Never dropping a leaf, always in blossom.
You’re not at all like the wicked, who are mere windblown dust–
Without defense in court, unfit company for innocent people.
GOD charts the road you take. The road they take is Skid Row.

It should be noted, that I only used red font for the Message’s quotation, since it is the only translation that deserves to be put in a different font, unlike the King James perversion.

It should be clear to everyone that God likes those of us who “don’t hang out at Sin Saloon” and don’t go to “Smart-Mouth College.” How on earth could King James, nearly 400 years ago, have any idea that that was the originally intended meaning of those verses, since we didn’t develop those terms and slang until in recent decades of our generation?

Sheesh, it should be clear already by now, guys.

Secondly, why is the English translation of the Bible the only one that translates the book of Jacob as the book of James? Could it be because King James wanted a book named after him in the Bible? I do not see a “book of Eugene” anywhere in The Message.

I rest my case.

KJV-only advocates try stating that their translation soundly condemns homosexuality, while the others (specifically the NIV) beat around the bushes and don’t come right out and say it. But this is clearly false, and the Message does a better job than even the KJV.

Examples:

KJV: 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”

The Message:
“Don’t you realize that this is not the way to live? Unjust people who don’t care about God will not be joining in his kingdom. Those who use and abuse each other, use and abuse sex, use and abuse the earth and everything in it, don’t qualify as citizens in God’s kingdom.”

How can Eugene Peterson make it any clearer than that?

KJV: 1 Timothy 1:10
“For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine”

The Message:
“sex, truth, whatever!”

Clear, straightforward, condemnation of the homosexual lifestyle. I don’t know what KJV-advocates think they have on this pure translation of Peterson’s.

I think those two passages give a good example of why the Message is clearly a superior translation of the Bible, above and beyond the KJV or any other translation, in any other language there is.

So next time you run into some KJV only Bible advocate, standing on a street corner in the sweating hot Pensacola or Charlotte sun, condemning you for not being saved, just tell them you don’t just read any translation of the Bible, but you read The Message.

[For those of you hung up on a particular translation of the Bible to the exclusion of all the others: be ye hung.

Otherwise, if you've read this far, know that the entire entry was a joke--there is no such thing as an inspired translation!]

“Pray then like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.  Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”

(Matthew 6:9-13)

It may be no secret to many reading these entries that I believe what the Bible says. Jesus’ commands are commands, and He means what He says. His promises are promises, and He will keep them—that He means what He says. Jesus’ warnings are real warnings—He really means what He says. Yet many, many believers constantly doubt the Bible and insist God is not willing to heal all—and even worse–some people even teach and believe heresy that says He is not willing to save all! But what does the Bible say?

The Bible and it alone is to be our final authority, not circumstances or scholarly opinions, or a denominational statement of faith.

The whole world could die and go to hell—and it would still be true that God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) It would not be any less true that God is not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9b).

Likewise, every single individual in the face of the earth could (could!) die of horrible cancer, and it would NOT change the promises of the Lord who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. (Psalm 103:3-5). The Word of God STILL says he [Jesus] was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5).

The Gospel message, in any aspect or component of it—salvation (healing someone’s spirit), deliverance (healing someone’s soul) or healing (healing of someone’s body)–is not diminished by what we see in the world around us—for we walk by faith not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). This is evidenced in the Lord’s prayer—which actually is more like our prayer that He gave us to pray. The very fact we are told to pray the way we are shows at least four things:

1) Not everything that happens in this earth is the Lords will—or we wouldn’t be told to pray the Lord’s will to be done.
2) We are a part of the Lord’s will being done, by cooperating with what we know He wants us to pray [and do].
3) It is expected that the things going on in the earth are different than what is going on in heaven, and we are instructed here to pray that what is going on in heaven is ‘going on’ in the earth as well.
4) That we are the ones to pray this down. If we are invited to have this much involvement in the things going on in this earth, then we have a responsibility to pray it down to earth.

1.Not everything that happens in this life—or the earthly realm—happens according to the Lord’s will.

A major research essay will not be written at this point about how or why God is involved in His dealings with the universe the way He is or isn’t—even though popular and traditional Calvinism/predestination teaching is not Biblical, but philosophical and it can be easily dismantled if one just reads the Bible. I merely wish for now to point out the facts taught plainly in the Word of God, which alone is our authority for doctrine—not popular evangelical scholarly opinion.

• It is clearly evident that mankind has free will. I don’t care what theologians say about how God chooses us before we choose Him for one thing because the way the Sovereignty of God is popularly taught contradicts the way God told us to pray! This passage is NOT a repetitious prayer that Jesus taught us so we’d have something to repeat to look spiritual! This is how He taught us to PRAY–which is indicative of action, not contemplation.
  
• So what is it like in heaven?
  a) We know there is no sin there
  b) We know there is no death, sickness, or diseases etc… This would likewise mean there are no things like emotional wounds that need healing.
  
• Therefore, what we know it to be like in heaven, both with regard to physical sickness, and holiness, purity, and relations with God, and purity and freedom from sin—we are told to pray for this in the earthly realm also. If this were not so, then Jesus would not have mentioned it, but He did, so we have to deal with it.
• This author feels praying for, and manifesting and advancing this kingdom of heaven in a practical and tangible way would include advancing the Gospel by evangelism, and demonstrations of the kingdom—in order to bring as many others into this great salvation we have. Healing the body is just as important as healing the soul, since both were paid for in the redemption of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.

2. We are a part of the Lord’s will being done, by cooperating with what we know He wills to do—and what He will us to do.

• Simply put–God told us to pray. He didn’t tell us to just let pieces fall where they may and sit around watching TV, drinking Kool-Aid and eating popcorn waiting for His will to unfold on its own–which is almost what I must assume or conclude from looking at most in the Western Church. There is no “relax and wait for the Rapture” in God’s plan for the Church, but I’m digressing.
• He also did NOT tell us here, a detailed map of His will in all areas and to just wait and let it unfold. How can we know His will then? Easy–reading the Bible (a testament literally is a “will”) and acting on it, mixed with prayer for specifics. What I mean is the Bible doesn’t have an answer for what job you should get or where to spend your vacation in accordance with how you are to fulfill the Great Commission with your life, and plan every detail around it—these details are not in Scripture. But if something IS written in the Scriptures, we are to do it—and NOT come up with doctrines that explain why we aren’t to do it. To fail to do what Scripture teaches is plain disobedience to it. Period!
• We can know what God’s will is by reading His will—the Bible. Which is why I’m puzzled so many come up with doctrines like there are in the Church: “He doesn’t will for all to be healed” or “God picks some not to be saved.” Balderdash. People who don’t spend time intimately with Jesus and have no concept of His grace—or even read the Bible—teach and believe stuff like that.

What is the Lord’s will?
1) He is not

willing that any should perish (Matt 18:14, 2 Peter 3:9, John 3:16, 2 Timothy 2:4)

2) It is His will to heal any and all who are sick. (Matt 4:23-24, Matt 8:2-3, Matt 17:14-18) Click here for more teaching on the will of God concerning healing, and if you’ve already read it, refresh your memory anyway and look up all the passages cited.

3) It is His will that his followers do the same things as He did and commanded. (Matt 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-20, John 14:12)

3. It is expected that the things going on in the earth are different than what is going on in heaven, and we are instructed here to pray that what is going on in heaven is ‘going on’ in the earth.

• This shouldn’t be too profound to catch: We already know beforehand, from this Scripture, that there will be a difference between the Lord’s will enacted on earth like it is carried out in heaven. Notice God didn’t tell us to let things in the earth remain the way they are, but to pray for His kingdom come, His will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. This is where the voluntary free will of man (specifically the believer) comes in to play. If we don’t do what He told us to do, then what He tells us results from us doing it won’t happen either–it doesn’t matter how the Sovereignty of God is taught and preached.
  
• The fact we are told to do this, indicates a tension, fight, or persistence required on our part, because this world is nothing like heaven (duh!). The doubtful man or skeptic (or idiot, depending on what they’re waiting for) will be content to just wait for all things to be brought about at the kingdom yet to be fully manifested at the Lord’s coming. But the man who knows how to pray down heaven, will see signs and wonders and the miraculous on the earth in his life. “Uneducated” men like Smith Wigglesworth knew this, and lived in total contradiction to the popular theology of men. He even said “When I’m not being moved by the Spirit of God, I move the Spirit of God.” People who believe the hyper sovereignty of God teaching have no idea how to handle a statement—or lifestyle like that!

4. That WE are the ones to pray this down. If we are invited to have this much involvement in the things going on in this earth, then we have a responsibility to PRAY it down to earth.

This point here is why I suspect so many people teach and preach God is not willing to heal or save all: because many do not want to take the responsibility God places on us, and blame Him for everything both good and bad that happens. If someone is healed, great—praise God. If someone is not, then instead of looking at ourselves, we say “The Lord works in mysterious ways.” Simple Bible reading and observation of Jesus’ life in the Gospels show this to not be an example of the Lord’s “mysterious ways”.

Remember, Jesus never rebuked a single person for not having enough faith to be healed—yet I’ve heard it said to me time and time again I don’t have the healing in my feet yet because I don’t have faith enough to see it happen. Yet I’ve seen time and time again people I’ve gotten to pray for, upset, dejected and just plain give up on their healing because they’ve had uneducated charismatics (and those of you out there who hate charismatics you’re not off the hook on this one either!) teach them they’d “only have their healing by now if they had enough faith”. Where did the merciful Jesus ever teach someone they weren’t healed because they didn’t have enough faith?!?!?!

But Jesus did rebuke His disciples for not having enough faith to get the epileptic in Matt 17:14-18 healed. The responsibility is NEVER (or at least LESS often) on the person being healed, but the ministers who are supposed to be full of the Holy Spirit and able to impart that life to a sick and dying world around them. And THAT is hard to swallow, so we come up with all sorts of heretical doctrines in order to excuse our failure to produce Biblical results.

As Mr. Gladstone would say, what do you think about that?

Keep checking for updates once I’m back from my trip to Italy this week, as I’ll follow this entry up with something tentatively called “If God is so Sovereign,then how come…” and just list Scriptures. It’s in my draft folder. As well is another one that became an offshoot of this entry, about how Jesus used the disciples despite their obvious flaws–but I won’t be approaching from that predictable “if God could use them, He can use us” approach.

Be blessed. Tot ziens!