The Enemy in the Camp Part 9: Why I Switched

I wish to cover a couple of topics in this writing.

First, why I switched from King James to the English Standard version of the Bible. To put it simply, we no longer speak the King’s English. Over time, languages transform in understanding and depth of meaning.

I know many people out there claim that the King’s English translation KJV is the only Bible to read. I cannot in any logical sense justify that in my mind or academically.

Languages change; they always have and always will. I have learned that an accurate translation in current speech is the best translation for the time because this is the language that we commonly speak and understand. Many have great difficulty understanding and grasping the meaning of the King James language.

So why not utilize all the research and effort put into making a translation into the current language? Personally, it bothers me when some folks tell others that the KJV is the only proper translation. There are several inaccuracies in the KJV such as the word “peace”. The word “shalom” is translated as “peace”, but peace is only a lack of conflict where shalom is a blessing of protection. The truth is if you wish to have the absolute best understanding, you will invest the time to learn ancient Hebrew, Aramaic, and ancient Greek, and then you yourself can translate into your language.

So, why are there so many translations throughout time? I have come to understand that the current language of trade is the best understood translation at any given time, as long as it is an accurate translation. I think the English Standard Version, or ESV, is that accurate translation currently. Yes, there are shortcomings in all translations.

in comparison to the original languages; I  do not dispute that. Please don’t be confused, as a student of history, I love the King’s English as well as Latin, but I write in neither. From time to time I will use Latin phrases such as “Sola Scriptura” (scripture alone) or “Sola Fides” (Faith Alone). If you were around me very much you would eventually hear me say, “Resurrexit Ideo Vivo” (He rose therefore I live). This last one is a great example of translation becoming mixed and not translating well.

If you translate the English into Latin you get “Resurrexit Ideo Vivo” but if you translate the Latin into English you will find a slight variation: “He rose again, therefore I live.” Do you see the difference? I generally recommend to new Christians or to those that struggle understanding the KJV to get themselves a New King James/Amplified parallel Bible.

That way the Word can be read with better understanding and with some explanation. Within arms reach I keep an English Standard translation, a King James, a New King James, and an Amplified Bible. If you read my first book, Things to Consider, you will see the Scripture references are from the King James translation. Today and in the foreseeable future, all Scripture references will be from the ESV translation.

Before we get into the second topic, I want to say I am an Orthodox Christian and nondenominational. I was not always Orthodox nor nondenominational, however, I feel I have matured through deep study and learning into where I am today. 

Some of you may be asking what being an Orthodox Christian means. So that there is no misconception, Orthodox means I believe in the Bible alone, and I feel no need for any other source of information or doctrine. I believe the Bible contains everything I could ever need in my walk with God and in my calling to serve Him.

Now, why I went from being Baptist to nondenominational. I have met many Christians from different denominations who are true followers and humble servants of our Lord Jesus Christ. Sadly, I have met a lot of folks from several denominations that are arrogant bigots toward those that attend denominations other than where they attend. (Note: I realize some of you may have taken a deep breath when you read “arrogant bigots.” I once knew of a church committee where a question came up about a man who had transferred from the Methodist Church.

The committee considered the question if the man decided to transfer back, would the church send a letter of transfer. Sadly, many replied in the negative. In my opinion, treating a believer differently than any other believer because of their denominational decision is a sickening form of bigotry! And I will not apologize for that opinion!!!)

Even before I realized just how ugly some could be, I had what I call a revelation. I was driving back from out of town and began to notice all the different churches along the way. In the two-hour drive, I was at first stunned at how many different churches there were, then I began to be sickened in my heart realizing that all these different places intentionally separated themselves from each other, and that got me to thinking. I was teaching a men’s Sunday school class at the time and did not delve into this separation for a long while.

However, it remained a burden on my heart for years until through study and prayer I began to understand what had happened and the real sadness in it. Tragically, there remains a wide gap of ignorance that seems to be intentional from an unseen source, and I believe that source is wicked. Many that call themselves Christians have little concept of the establishment of the true Church. The Church was spoken into being by our Lord Jesus Christ after Simon Peter’s statement that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God! That is the foundation and establishment of the Church!

I have never heard from a pulpit or class that the first Christians and all the apostles were in FACT messianic Jews. From the Apostles forward, Christians (the Church) were Orthodox and remained so for over a thousand years.

This is a quote from an article by Mary Fairchild: “Today in the U.S. alone, there are more than 1,000 different Christian branches professing many diverse and conflicting beliefs. It would be an understatement to say that Christianity is a severely divided faith.” Separate denominations didn’t even begin to appear in Christianity until 1039 AD, and even then there were only two. In 1980, British statistical researcher David B. Barrett identified 20,800 separate Christian denominations in the world.

Christianity was once considered a sect of Judaism as stated in Acts 24:5 For we have found this man a plague, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. The early Christians were soon called Pauline Christians as Paul was and still is seen as the great preacher of the Word. As always happens, man interjected his own will through the lies and confusion from Satan. Rome continued to gain power, and in 313 AD the Emperor Constantine made Christianity the official religion of Rome.

However, in the traditions of Roman religion, they began to become corrupted by the inherent normality of Roman polytheism and many began to pray to Mary, Angels, Saints, and ancestors rather than only worshiping God. In the year 1057 AD we find what is commonly called the Great East-West Schism, a division which then led to the Eastern Orthodox Church and Roman Catholicism.

For about five hundred years, the Church was comprised of the orthodoxy of the Eastern Orthodox Church and the polytheists of the Catholic Church. Then in 1517 Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses and in 1529 the Letter of Protestation was published by German Princes who wanted to choose the religion of their Provence and the Protestant Reformation began.

(I believe many things throughout the history of the Church began with good intentions and Godly hearts that later some became corrupted through the greed or lust for power of mankind. Saying this, I can see no good intention in the vast separation of the body of Christ (the true Church) other than corruption in the hearts of men.)

At first there were few separate denominations (names); today there are so many that most seeking God are confused as to where to attend. Charles Spurgeon preached, “I do not ask whether you are Wesleyan, a Baptist, or a Presbyterian. My only question is, ‘Are you born again?’”

I am no theologian nor am I a man educated through a seminary university. I rest my knowledge and wisdom in my study of Scripture and the history of it! I am not a scholar of Augustine, Martin Luther, or Calvin. I do, however, listen to the teachings of learned men such as Charles Spurgeon, R.C. Sproul, John MacArthur, Sinclair Ferguson, Paul Washer, and others. I read and study the Bible and research the history of the times during which it was written.

Along with the history of man’s corruption, it became clear to me this massive separation of the body of Christ we witness today serves no good purpose. Preaching on the topic of discernment, Charles Spurgeon stated that discernment is not the ability to tell right from wrong but the gift to tell what is right from the almost right.

There are many things that can be pointed to that are almost right, and that is exactly what Satan does. He makes things seem almost right and people cling to them because the “almost” is far more comfortable than the truth. I have heard many arguments from folks touting the “almost” in defense of their denominational separation, but they have all failed to pass the logic test.

The fact is this: anything that separates the body of Christ, no matter how good it sounds or how comfortable the tradition thereof, cannot be good in the eyes of God. Whether it be denominations or associations, if its sole purpose is not absolutely in service to God in accordance with Scripture, then it has failed the test. Over time, Satan has sought to corrupt the Church—which he cannot do—but he can and does corrupt those who are weak in the congregations and clergy, therefore corrupting the methods and activities of the denominations.

For example, under the veil of service to God came the Crusades and the Spanish Inquisition. These, in turn, brought some of the most horrendous tortures known to mankind, as did the later Salem Witch trials—all under the guise of obedience through false teaching and the lust for power. I want to give an example of the “almost truth” in some of the conversations I have when discussing the exclusion of denominations.

In my most recent conversation with a denominational proponent, this man began to bring up several mission efforts that were denominationally inclusive. I said that is as it should be everywhere and reminded him that we were not speaking of these efforts but of the denominational gatherings. I was immediately told that, “Our church will allow anyone from any other denomination to join our church.” Of course, he left out the caveats, but allow me to point out the irony here as I did to him. There is one great “almost true” statement, that being “our church.” It is not our church nor is it my church; it is in fact The Church, or it is not of God.

The establishment of the one true Church was clear, as was the organization of it laid out in the Scriptures. Denominations have corrupted many aspects of what we commonly call churches, such as in 1 Peter 5 the elders being the tenders of the flock and Revelation 2 proving the preacher to be the messenger sent by the Lord. When chatting with the majority of churchgoers, it is common to find they believe the preacher to be the Shepherd rather than the messenger.

In Matthew 16 we see Jesus establish the Church and what its foundation is—that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. There is no denomination establishment, only the gathering for the purpose of worship and service to Jesus. Again in Revelation 2, we read of the seven lamp stands representing the Churches, there is no mention of denominational separation, only locational separation.

As I mentioned early in this section, I am explaining why I switched from calling myself Baptist to becoming nondenominational. I kept asking where is the Biblical defense or direction for any separation other than location, and I have yet to find any justification.

The Scripture clearly teaches that we are not to add to God’s Holy Word nor take away from it. I can deduce no logic in straying from what has been given in Scripture. However, the importance lies in the heart of the believer. If a person is a true follower of Christ, then the name on the building is of no consequence; it is who we are in our hearts versus how we identify.

“One day we will meet Jesus, either as Savior or as Judge.”