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Print Letters This week is a week to remember—remember those who have given their lives so that we might be free. Ultimately that means Jesus, so don’t forget Him in all your Memorial Day/week festivities in the United States. Please remember when writing a letter, your name (first and last name) and location must accompany the letter (500 word maximum) in order for it to be published, otherwise it will fall into the abyss forever.
Re: “I Took Jesus Out to Lunch” Leave it to Travis Carter to paint a new picture of Jesus in modern America. Very, very cool! I imagine there were a lot of people who passed Jesus on the streets with no clue as to who they had just passed. The waitress is a great symbol, also, of everyday people who have needs that He could meet if only we would let Him use us to reach them. Makes you want to really look at the people around you. Good job, Travis Carter. Thanks for writing! Kris Newman, Wisconsin
Re: “Wondering and Wandering through Wisconsin—Dear Gabby” I grew up in an abusive home, I never told anyone until years after my dad left my mom for another women. Even though he was no longer in the house, the effects were still there. I realized that I needed to be free of the hatred I held towards him, so I found him and forgave him. He is still not a part of my life, because it’s not safe, but I am now free in Christ. God healed me and made me a whole person. Gabby the advice you gave to Wisconsin, was perfect. Before we can be whole, we must forgive first and the let Jesus take the broken vessel and make us a new creature in Him.” Julia Adams, New York
Re: “The Bible Battle: King James Only vs. No Versions Barred” This article was going great until it compared the commentary of David Bernard in a NKJV to the KJV. How do you compare a translation whose purpose was to have the text speak for itself, without commentary, to a translation with the UPCI pope telling you how to read it? The two are antithetical. There are at least three reasons why Oneness people resist leaving the KJV (in no particular order): First, Oneness folks are wrapped in tradition, and any change is seen as negative; Second, there are some really poor excuses for translations; Finally, it is easier to defend some doctrines with the wording of the KJV, so to abandon the KJV would be to abandon those doctrines (e.g. the imaginary difference between forgiveness and remission of sins). Andrew Degraffenreed, Virginia
Re: “King James Only” In my opinion, a very well-written article to address a need within Oneness Pentecostal ranks. I have been a Christian since I asked Jesus Christ into my life on March 28, 1955 at the age of 17. A little over a year later, on Pentecost Sunday, May 20, 1956 I was baptized in the Spirit. I have been reading the Bible for over half a century. The King James Version is my favorite. It is the translation with which I am most familiar. Hundreds of Scripture verses committed to memory over the years are in KJV language. However, for several years now I have read different versions along with the KJV. I compare them with the KJV and use them for better understanding of the Scriptures. Jim Ellis, Ohio
Re: “Last Supper, Renaissance Moron” Excellent observation. I had to laugh. Thanks for opening the door to new insight. Too often the little things, that make all the difference, are overlooked. Travis Carter, New York
Re: “King James Only vs. No Versions Barred” I think to compare the current dilemma between the KJV and other versions with the development of the Protestant Bible (away from the Latin Vulgate, a Catholic translation) is disingenuous at best. The KJV was not written by King James (although the article does not come out and say that, it certainly leaves the impression that King James had undue influence on its translation, which is not an accurate portrayal of the events that transpired in the early 1600s). No one could convincingly argue that the Latin Vulgate was as accurate and true to God’s Word as the KJV, yet the argument here seems to be that it doesn’t matter what version you use, as long as you attach the words “the Bible,” or “God’s Word” to it. Anyone with any knowledge of scripture can see the errors in the Living Bible, The Message, the American Standard, and the list goes on. The author seems to indicate that only the dogmatic, unbending, zealots hold fast to the KJV as the only accurate version of the Bible. The problem is this: It is so easy to dilute truth, to add just a flavor of vanilla to the pure snow, to make it sweet to the taste. The problem with adding the vanilla is your teeth now start to rot, and you are poisoned ever so slightly by that which should have made you whole. The new KJV is another example of man’s failure: The intention was originally to remove “Thee, thou…eth,” and other such archaic words so that anyone could pick it up and read it. But, as with most things done with good intentions, it changes more than that, and thus misdirects, in some cases, truth. The author would have us believe that preserving truth is a waste, that every translation brings with it a value. Taking out phrases such as “Hereby perceive we the love of God…” and replacing them with “by this we know love…” dilutes the effect intended not just by the translator of the KJV, but by the author of the book. (The Greek Word used is “Agape,” it can only refer to God’s love.) Perhaps the least valuable argument against the KJV (the author touched on this, but did not elaborate) is that it is too hard to understand. The KJV is written on grade school level, and I have been able to understand all but a few archaic phrases since I was a young child. If it is difficult for today’s young people to understand, they should be brought up to the language, not the language brought down to them. Randy Carlisle, Virginia
Re: “KJV vs Others” While I agree with you for the most part, I have to wonder if the real problem lies in the dumbing down of American society and the general ignorance created by modern education—not just for the Bible but also other literature. Case in point: my aunt teaches college freshperson’s English. An African-American student recently expressed amazement that Langston Hughes and Alice Walker, among others, were black. He did not know that there were numerous famous black American authors because he had never been introduced to them until college. Somehow, “then Peter said unto them,” has a different resonance than, “Dude, ya’ll got to get horizontal and give it up to the Man.” Maybe we need to learn to use many versions of the Bible for edification and understanding. Maybe instead of patting themselves on the back for being Bible-school graduates and forthwith clumping together in reverent lumps, ministers need to start teaching their congregants how to read the Bible and how to use the necessary helps to understand it—why they could even have Bible study on Wednesday night instead of three songs and a sermon. Lynn Allen, Texas
Re: “Jackson Mass Choir (NMMC Mass Choir)” I’m looking for a Jackson Mass Choir CD that I heard 5 or 6 years ago that has a song on it called “These Are the Places I’ve Been.” I can only find two Jackson Mass CD’s at www.pentecostalpublishing.com and was wondering if anyone knew where I could find some of their older albums. Josiah Wheeler, Texas
Re: “Media is the new bus ministry” “Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?” (James 3:11) Mr. Nichols, I have personally ‘reached for Jesus Christ’ 146 souls in 18 years of active ministry. How many souls have you personally won? A prominent Oneness church in the city of Knoxville, TN has been televising their services for over five years and their evangelism results for their investment.....get ready....0! Not one soul can be traced to their media ministry. What began with (most likely) a sincere seed has now yielded (in just five years) the fruit of carnal performance-based services. In fact, if the music ministry makes any musical ‘bloopers’ during the taping session, the service completely restarts. Platform staff are expected to wear television approved makeup, etc. Is Knoxville the test market exception to the rule? Who can say? Maybe some unsuspecting, try-anything ‘harvester’ will bring their sweet water to the local television polluted fountain and ruin another good church before others realize it does not work. An attempt to speak for the minority—media is not the new bus ministry. A humble herdsman in God’s global flock, S. Andrew Burns, Tennessee
Re: “The Bible Battle: King James Only vs. No Versions Barred” Praise God for Chris Anderson who finds no problem tackling the “holy cow,” better known as the KJV. No problems, that is, until authorities hide in the parking lot of his church and shoot tranquilizer darts in his neck to subdue him. But hopefully he will escape and continue on his soapbox of eliminating altogether the wholesale and retail use of the KJV, when most people (6 billion by the way) have given up the art of reading anyway, and certainly won’t read the archaic KJV. There are way too many readable, holy versions of the Bible to get stuck on this. Chris, carry on with your battle, and hold your head high as you rally not only against an obsolete transcript, but for new and easily readable versions of what we proclaim to be “God’s Word.” I think God will like it if we start reading His word more and understanding it better. S.D. Kent, Georgia
Re: “KJV vs. no version brand” I don’t think it makes a difference. In today’s world more and more people are coming to Jesus and some of them do not understand the KJV. I believe it is the Lord to have different versions of the Bible so people especially teenagers can under stand the Bible. Don’t bash it cause we were brought up KJV. I like the KJV and the NKJV. I don’t necessarily care to use any other version but will buy one so someone will understand and learn more about Jesus. Let the Holy Ghost lead the person to the version He wants them to read. We are not God but His children. Randell Denney, New Mexico
Re: “Replies to article on Foot washing” Well whodya thunk it? That a few comments on foot washing would generate so many replies. The replies proved my fears—that there are people among us who think foot washing is a salvation issue, quoting the Lord’s comment to Peter that He’d have no part with him if he did not wash his feet…one kind brother stated, “I’d be headed for a warm place if I persisted in this.” Look friend, Jesus was speaking to Peter not you and me. One brother even compared foot washing alongside of baptism. Now for you who love foot washing. I hold you no ill will. Please do it regularly, and enjoy it. Savor the moment. In fact follow it biblically, lay aside you clothes and wrap a towel around your waist as Jesus did. No, Jesus didn’t go to a dressing room to do this privately. He just stood up and got naked in front of God and everyone. The widowed women who washed the saint’s feet mentioned in I Timothy 5:10 did this as the custom of the day, not a religious ritual. They washed dirty feet, men’s and women’s. Their was no segregation of the sexes as we do in our churches. So brethren and cistern, if were gonna do this ancient custom because we feel we are commanded by Jesus to do so, let’s start following His example and do it right. Yup, let’s do it folks. Down with logic! We got way too much of it. Jim Reiling, Illinois
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