KJV Only. Valid or hoax?

It is Sunday evening July 29 and I am feeling the best I have felt since beginning my chemo treatments. And for that I am very thankful. I am thankful to everyone who has encouraged me in so many ways and for everyone who has held me in their thoughts and prayers.

As I said in the preceding blog I am venturing back into putting out for public scrutiny some of my thoughts and thought processes on issues that I find meaningful to me. I have decided to explore a little while the issue that has been gaining a lot of attention and is known as the “King James Only” movement. I want to look at what has been published and what is being advocated by Christians on both sides of this issue. I have personal relationships with people on both sides of this issue and as I look into the issues and motives I am hoping that some of them will be able to speak with me about their position. I do not want to create conflict or bad feelings so I am hoping those I approach can speak beyond personal feelings and speak logic and reason into their position rather than emotion.

There is a lot of information both pro and con on this issue on the Internet, and as we know one has to be very careful in assigning credence to information found there. I am sure of one thing and that is this will not be an issue I find a resolution for quickly. I have found one book I want to order and read as I research this topic and I know in speaking with some of the people on both sides of the issue there will be some time involved in setting up interviews and then sorting through the information I get in a way that won’t taint or misrepresent their viewpoints. So this may take some time. I am already sure this is a serious topic than needs to be handled carefully and thoughtfully.

First I want to speak into why I believe this is an important topic.

The label Christian is used to describe peoples of many different thought processes and beliefs. I realize that Christian means different things to different people. There are nearly as many different opinions on lifestyles and scriptural interpretation as there are different kinds of places we call our homes. And while most Christians believe they are following standards of behavior and activities that is pleasing unto the Christ they claim as their namesake, to put them side by side one would never guess they have anything in common.

There are the extremist groups when it comes to dress such as the Amish and Hutterites. There are groups that eschew certain things that can be proven to be damaging to the body. There are groups who hold to certain hair styles as being acceptable or not. Some Christian groups forbid modernization or the use of technology. Many Christian groups forbid the use of man mad medicine or heath aids. One group or another has codes or traditions or “beliefs” that cover pretty much everything one could eat, wear, use, attend, speak about or participate in.

So when we examine the source of their rules we most often in the Christian community find ourselves being referred to an interpretation or version of the Bible. So it is with serious intent that we examine what version of the Bible is being referenced so as to understand the temperament and intent of the rules and covenants of different Christian groups. And that is one of the reasons this issue of the King James Only movement has my attention.

If you want to weigh in please do. I am still not completely up to speed on attention and comprehension with the side effects of the treatments I am going through. I am having minor vision problems and I seem to have trouble with making logical thought associations when I read. I am hoping all of this is temporary, but for now I have to take things slow so as not to muddy the waters.