Archive for June, 2009

BIBLEPHOBIA

Thursday, June 18th, 2009

Many of those who are so quick to accuse others of “phobia’s” are overlooking their own obvious “phobia”.  They would like to think that others have unwarranted phobia’s but that they themselves are free of any irrational fears.  A good example would be those who point a finger at Christian’s whose comprehension of what the Bible says about gays causes them to yell, “homophobia”!  They know that the Bible says, “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind:  it is abomination.” (Leviticus 18:22)  And, “…the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly…” (Romans 1:27) which God calls “vile affections” (verse 26).  There is no doubt as to what the Bible has to say about homosexuality.  This causes the performers and promoters of this “lifestyle” to show their disdain for the Bible.

Example:  the following is a letter written several years ago by an employee of the television station ABC in response to a complaint regarding programming which included homosexuality.

“How about getting your nose out of the Bible (which is ONLY a book of stories compiled by MANY different writers hundreds of years ago) and read the Declaration of Independence (what our nation is built on) where it says “All Men are Created Equal” – and try treating them that way for a change!?  Or better yet, try thinking for yourself and stop using an archaic book of stories as your crutch for your existence.” 

Although this employee was fired and ABC then made a more “politically correct” response to the complainant; this attitude is common among a very vocal minority of people.  This is none other than fear of the Bible, or “Biblephobia”.

CASTING DOUBT

Friday, June 12th, 2009

I was recently studying Psalm 62 and was using a reference (commentary) by an author I turn to often. As is normal, we don’t agree on everything but I find his books helpful, especially in sermon structure and outline. Though he puts a strong emphasis on the King James Bible (a.k.a. Authorized Version) he does not believe it to be the infallible word of God, which is obvious in many instances. Let me produce here verse 3 and then show his comments:

“How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? Ye shall be slain all of you: as a bowing wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence.”

This author then commented: “The Authorized Version prints much of that in italics, indicating that the translators had trouble with it and supplied a number of words to make up what they thought to be the sense. Rotherham renders the verse like this: “How long keep ye rushing at a man, continue crushing, all of you, as at a leaning wall, as at a bulging fence?”

This is disturbing for several reasons: one, the statement that the translators “supplied a number of words to make up what they thought to be the sense” would cause one to think that there were more than 5 out of 28 words in italics. Two, the five words in question refer to who is like a “bowing wall” and a “tottering fence”. In the King James Bible they are David’s enemies, in Rotherham they refer to David himself. Third, if the words in question are the five italicized words why change “bowing wall” to “leaning wall” and change “tottering fence” to “bulging fence” (not to mention “imagine mischief” to rushing at” and “slain” to “continue crushing”). Four, the context of the verse itself defines who is the “bowing wall” and “tottering fence” – “ye” (David’s enemies). Fifth, as usual this correction supposes that one man (Rotherham in this case) has the linguistic knowledge and spiritual insight to override the 47 translators of the King James Bible.

But the most upsetting thing about this is that it subjects the infallible words of the Living God to doubts and questions. Who’s right? Is anybody going to be slain or not? Who is the bowing/tottering wall and tottering/bulging fence? Unintentionally, this author has cast doubt upon the word of God. If this were a rare thing it wouldn’t be worth mentioning but this is done throughout the Bible a multitude of times by multitudes of authors and is always disheartening.

The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shat preserve them from this generation for ever.” Psalm 12:6-7