The Bible’s Impact 3

This is the concluding remarks in Mark Noll’s artilce in the Opinion Journal from the Wall Street Journal editorial page.

“THE AMERICAN BIBLICAL TRADITION The King James Version used to be our common text.”

“Yet if the KJV was sometimes abused, nearly universal use also meant that its spiritual themes of reproof and liberation, its stories of human sin and divine grace, also exerted a great influence for good. In the 1890’s Elizabeth Cady Stanton and other aggrieved feminists published “The Woman’s Bible” in an effort to counter interpretations of Scripture that had done women harm. When they asked others to comment, Frances Willard of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union made a telling response: ‘No such woman, as Mrs Elizabeth Cady Stanton, with her heart aflame against all forms of injustice and of cruelty… has ever been produced in a country where the Bible was not incorporated into the thoughts and affections of the people and had not been so during Many generations.’

It was the KJV that Willard meant as the Bible ‘incorporated’ in American consciousness ‘during many generations.’ Today the legacy of the KJV remains fixed in the common speech, even if awareness of the languages debt to this translation is fading (another KJV word). Whether any modern translation of the Scriptures, or any other moral guide, can anchor the culture as the KJV once did, is a question worth serious consideration in the run-up of 2011 and the 400th anniversary of this unsurpassed cultural force.”

Mr. Noll, professor of history at the University of Notre Dame, recently lectured on “The King James Version in American History” at the Library of Congress.”

The value of the KJV has not been exaggerated in this article by Mr. Noll. The Word of God is important in every age. Versions of Scripture which leave out verses important for teaching the place of faith and baptism will be weak in promoting morality, and holiness before holy God. Though I am not a KJV only man, the KJV is the only version I place the utmost confidence. I will use other versions as commentaries, but the KJV is the one which I have the most peace using in study and preaching.

My hope and prayer is that the Christian of 2019 will; if they are not daily reading and hearing the word; that today they will begin anew to take it up each day, and read it to hear the voice of God, and apply it to their lives.  By the power of the Holy Spirit we would see a mighty move of God into our lands, tribes, nations, homes and churches around the world.

In the Year 2019

I pray all had a great, and thankful Thanksgiving and a very Merry Christmas; and truly a Happy New Year for at least the first two days of it any way.

I perceive myself to be a happy man, a happy married man to my wife of 45 plus years, a happy father of five, and the five of their spouses; also a happy grandfather 0f twelve.  I see that as a very happy man.  What I am is a very blessed man.

The blessings of happiness are from our Creator who has made all things.  By the very word of His mouth He has made all things that are.  The seen and the unseen were made by Him.  Without Him there was nothing made that is made.

To the Creator I give thanks and praise and glory and honor.

I am looking forward to this New Year.  It is a blessing from Him who has given it to us.

I do not believe God is well pleased when people are always in conflict with one another.  Tale telling, backbiting, gossiping, lying about another, being a false witness – what a shame.  According to some wiser men and women than myself we are not supposed make others feel “shamed”.  My thought on that is Shame, Shame, Shame on you.  If there was more shame for our actions, our unwise, even evil words there just might be less of it.

I am a Christian.  Not because I am a good person, but because a Man went to a cross and died for me, was buried carrying my shame and sin away, then arose from that grave to save me from my sin and evil life, and way of life.  He delivered me from condemnation and death.  He changed my life and gave me eternal life through Him.  He is my God and Savior.  He is also the Savior of the world.

Do you want to change the world for the glory of God?  Then go to Jesus the Christ, the Son of God who is God the Son.

Make the year of 2019 the most blessed and happy and prosperous you have ever experienced. In the word “Prosperous” I do not mean materially necessarily.

from the banks of Flat Creek,

`tim