A year ago this month I began a series of sermons in Galatians using the Legacy Standard Bible. That might not seem like much to write about to many people, but up to that point I had only preached from the King James Bible. I used to be a “King James Only” preacher and many of my friends are still KJVO.
This move by me has cost me some fellowship, which I figured it would. I was familiar with the conflict, and had seen the casualties of the battles as good brothers were black-balled, shunned, and slandered. This was all familiar territory to me.
I had always seen it from the other side. I am writing to say it does not have to be this way. I have been very transparent in my writing and preaching. Read what I have written here in this blog and on my social media pages. Listen to my sermons. Tell me, where is there any heresy that there should be division? Where is there a drift that there should be a test of fellowship?
Let the reader know the truth, I am not anti KJV.
I am not trying to bind the conscience of anyone else on this subject. My goal is not to take the KJV away from anyone. However, let us be honest in this important discussion. Your 4th grade child does not understand the language of the KJV when he comes across the word besom where it could be translated broom in Isaiah 14:23, nor does he know what it is to lay apart all “….superfluity of naughtiness” in James 1:21. The argument that he can do “just fine with Webster’s 1828 Dictionary” falls apart when trying to discern the meaning of “quit you like men” in 1 Corinthians 16:13. No, your fourth grader does not understand the KJV English and neither does anyone else alive today. Not even the best pastor in the very best Landmark or Fundamental King James Only Church. It’s ok to admit this because it was written in a form of English that is hundreds of years old. Nobody is fluent in the English of 1611/1769.
God has blessed us with an embarrassment of riches in English with many good translations in our language that we can read from, study from, and preach from. We have no need to be tied down to one translation.
I still preach from the KJV quite often, even in the church I pastor – especially when I am visiting a church that is KJVO or KJV preferred. But, again, let us be honest in the conversation, the KJVO position is not a Biblical position nor is it a historic Baptist position. You’ll not find it in the Bible nor is it in the writings of men like John Gill, Charles Spurgeon, John Broadus, TP Simmons, John R. Gilpin…. In fact, the KJVO position among Baptists is MAYBE 50 years old.
Earnestly contending for the faith does not include a 400-year-old English Bible Version. There is no reason to cut fellowship from sound men simply because the cover of their Bible has different letters than yours. There were sound churches before 1611, so why cannot there be sound churches who do not use the KJV now?
Furthermore, are there not churches in this world who do not read, or speak English at all? This whole KJVO argument begins to lose a lot of steam when you begin to think about it. The early churches of the New Testament used a Greek translation of the Old Testament called the Septuagint, a translation that would be frowned upon in many of the KJVO churches today.
Bottom line, if I am wrong somewhere in my preaching or my practice, please let me know. By all means, cut me off as a heretic if I preach or practice heresy. But the only accusation I have heard so far is that I use a different Bible version. I’ll gladly take that accusation and plead guilty as charged. One year later, I am still enjoying preaching from the LSB, most recently I am going through Genesis.
This post isn’t just about me, although I can only really speak for myself. However, I do know of many good and sound brethren and churches who do use other versions of the Bible. Some use NKJV. Others ESV. Some LSB. And yes, like I wrote earlier some use KJV.
There is no reason why there needs to be discord over this subject. There is no need for translation tribalism. And let me just say this in closing, while my favorite translation is the LSB, if you have a different preference, you are welcome in my house and our church as long as I’m the pastor.
“For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a slave of Christ.” (Galatians 1:10, LSB)
Well said!!!