King James Bible Articles

IS THE FIGHT FOR THE KJV NECESSARY?

[The following material is published by Way of Life Literature. All rights
are reserved. This material cannot be stored on BBS or Internet sites
without prior permission. The following is available in booklet format from
Way of Life Literature, Bible Baptist Church, 1219 N. Harns Road, Oak
Harbor, Washington 98277.]

The following is by Pastor Gary Freeman: "A writer who was
despairing over the debate concerning Bible versions recently
wrote, `Precious energies and talents must be wasted on petty
quarrels between soldiers who ought to be giving their best
efforts to fight the real enemies of biblical Christianity.'
Is this correct thinking? We believe fellow soldiers ought to
debate an issue when it involves the integrity and
reliability of the most important piece of weaponry with
which we intend to fight the enemy.  How can we say nothing
to our fellow soldiers when someone has tampered with our
artillery. How do we intend to win the battle when we go into
the fight with our main weapon taken away and replaced with a
faulty, unreliable substitute?

"The fight for the KJV is necessary. We who are holding the
line for the KJV only are being called the culprits. One
pastor said, `Certainly the KJV controversy rages on by those
who would make it a test of fellowship.' Another writes, `One
of the heartbreaks faced by any fellowship comes when some
movement comes along and polarizes and then splits the group.
It may be over Bible versions, personal squabbles or wrongs
suffered. The issue is not doctrinal since there is always
essential agreement among fundamental brethren in that
regard.'

"We are amazed how the group who brought in the new modern
versions into our churches and fellowships now want to blame
us who desire to stay with the KJV as being the dividers,
polarizers, splitters and controversial ones. If these
`fellow soldiers' want to bring in `Bibles' that leave out
[or question] Mk. 16:9-20; Jn. 7:53-8:11; Ac. 8:37; Ro. 8:1b;
and that delete `through His blood' in Col. 1:14; `God' in 1
Ti. 3:16; Trinity passage in 1 Jn. 5:7,8; "by Himself purged
our sins' in He. 1:3; `washed us from our sins' in Re. 1:5;
the word `yet' in Jn. 7:8 (this word being dropped from new
versions makes our Saviour a liar); then they should not cry
foul, unfair, unloving, or divisive when we squabble over
which Bible will be the Word of God in the Battlefield.

"The offenders, dividers, squabblers and polarizers are those
who want to bring new versions into fundamentalism. We
believe, contrary to the previous quote, that this is a
doctrinal issue. We believe that God has preserved the word
He inspired. We believe it to be found in the Greek Textus
Receptus and in English in our KJV. We will continue the
fight for the KJV, not to be divisive but so that we as
fellow soldiers can go into battle against our enemies
saying, `Thus saith the Lord,' rather than, `Yea, hath God
said?'"
The charge is often made that the "King James Only" crowd is
divisive and hateful.  In response to this, author David
Cloud writes:

     "We would remind you that the King James Bible is the
     OLD Bible.  Its underlying text is the OLD text.  Those
     who are defending it are simply standing in the old
     paths.  Those who are pushing the new versions upon
     God's people are the ones who are divisive.  As for the
     business of King James defenders being hateful, I have
     two things to say to this: (1) While admitting that some
     probably defend the King James Bible in a fleshy way, I
     would say that hatefulness is not a one sided affair.
     There is no lack of hatefulness on the side of those who
     promote the modern versions.  I have received some VERY
     haughty, spiteful letters from these. Spirituality, or
     lask thereof, is a personal matter, not a group matter.
     (2) Is it not also possible that you are confusing zeal
     for God's truth with hatefulness?  Did the godly
     Psalmist not say, "Therefore I love thy commandments
     above gold; yea, above fine gold.  Therefore I esteem
     all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and
     I HATE EVERY FALSE WAY" (Ps. 119:128)?  "HORROR hath
     taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake
     thy law" (Ps. 119:53)?  Genuine love for God will
     produce a tremendous enthusiasm, both positive and
     negative!  Be careful that you do not confuse this with
     fleshly hate."