The KJV-Only Movement and Radical Catholic Traditionalism - Coffee & Crucifix

A most interesting read.

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel - When it comes to Christianity, I think I can justly claim that I've "done it all"; I was raised "Baptist", have (at varying times) been a member of the Presbyterian and Episcopal Church, completed the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults with the Roman Catholic Church, joined the Knights of St. Lazarus of Malta, currently attend a Methodist church (because I like the Pastor there) , love Russian Orthodoxy, and admire aspects of "The Church of God", and have studied many versions of the Scriptures...for years; and here's my opinion, if you're interested.

I don't care what "version" of the Bible someone reads, or which denomination they belong to; FEW of us have even the slightest resemblance to the twelve men who followed a Jewish carpenter's son through Roman-occupied Judea some two millennia ago. Much less do most of us resemble the heroes of antiquity such as Moses, David, and Solomon, or the great prophets such as Daniel.

We live in a time when sin has metastasized into perversions and corruptions that would most certainly rattle the foundations of Sodom and Gomorrah. Hatred, envy, greed, and brutality are now hailed as virtues...while our youth struggle to even find the reasons it's worth maturing into adulthood. We're over-everything; over-fed, over-read, over-stimulated, over-informed, over-sensitive...you name it. There is no more purity, no decency, restraint, self-control, self-discipline, or self-denial. We've literally sinned so much, so often, and in so many ways...we're having to create new words to describe it.

I've read the "KJV" and the more recent versions used by the Catholic Church. I've studied the "Apocrypha", and translations of the original Hebrew used in the Old Testament...guess what? None of these "versions" lead me to believe that a man in Rome is the "final word" on interpretation. None of them describe a relationship with God that is defined by how I "feel" about what's right and wrong. None appear to excuse sexual immorality, or praise the accumulation of wealth at the expense of others. I've yet to stumble across the verse or verses that justifies (within the context of the whole) racism, or promotes revenge. If someone picks through it like a buffet-line, it's inevitable that they'll come up with confusion...if they take it as a holistic anthology, there's a clear message for humanity; one that teaches us to divest ourselves of worldly wants and fears, to embrace eternal wisdom, and above all things...love God.

Everything else flows from that.

If one loves God, they won't defend the things that God's word teaches against. If they love God, a person cannot hate his neighbor. Through God's love, we see the model for forgiveness, compassion, and discipline that leads to a rewarding and purposeful life. If we'd love God, we'd love one another as His creations.

It says that the way is narrow, and the gate is straight leading to eternity...and few that enter into paradise. For me, there is no greater concept to understand within Scripture, regardless of which "version" of that warning you choose to heed.