Church Search Advice Needed

[santuzza]

Hi folks! I recently moved and am in the process of finding a new church. I live in an area that is pretty spiritually dead, so options are limited.

Here's my dilemma. I found a church that seems to have a lot going for it. Seems well grounded in the Word, offers a blended worship style (very important to me, as a musician), has a lot of Bible study classes. Here's the problem: the pastor is a KJV Only guy. He told me flat out that he believed there was only one translation per language that could be considered the Word of God, and in English, that was the KJV.

Now, I have a problem with that. Although I like the KJV and use it often in my personal study, I don't believe we should never look at other translations. In fact, I think one can glean a clearer understanding of the text by using several different translations. Since I don't read Greek or Hebrew, this is the best option for me, I believe.

Should I give this church a try, or should I go with my gut instinct (which is to avoid it like the plague)?

 

[Jeff_56]

pray.



ask yahweh to make the decision for you -- to open the door, or to close the door. he will.


if the pastor is truly devoted to the truth, you have found an exceptional place for fellowship - rare these days.

don't worry about the kjv only aspect. others on this forum with 25 different versions are messing up a lot..... just because they're not seeking truth trusting yahweh in yahshua.

a little child with only one bible , trusting yahweh, by grace and faith in yahshua(jesus), does better.

 

[DesiredHaven]

Just dont tell that church that you use a few translations in your own studies, they arent lords of you, besides, your not obligated tell them your not an onlyist.

To the KJV onlyists I became a KJV onlyist no?

Just be all nuts over the KJV they will never know it.

Although they can be annoying, it would depend on how hardcore their onlyism is

I read the KJV Im just not an onlyist, you simply become a suspect of being so when you do its just the human beast and how it can be I think.

 

[crossnote]

Just watch out for legalism as that seems to be a common trait among KJV only-ers.

 

[Willie-T]

Back when I thought it was important to memorize Scripture to be able to quote it back out, verbatim, like a parrot, I learned everything from the KJV. So, now, if I am around people who have that problem, I just crank up the grace output, and speak kjvneese. Like DH said, they are thrilled, and I don't care one way or the other.

 

[dcontroversal]

Look......so what if he is ignorant on that particular issue.....go check it out...weigh and pray about what he teaches and if the truth is coming forth from the pulpit rejoice.........just keep your view on other translations quiet so as to not make him stumble in his faith

 

[cmarieh]

I would seek the Lord and pray. It seems that you have done your homework on the area so good job. I was told once to look at the children's ministry even if you don't have kids because if that ministry is not their priority there is serious problems under the surface of some of the best rated churches. You need to look at it this way the children are our future and if they are not being taught properly and not being the focus of the head pastor and the staff then that church isn't worth attending.

 

[Willie-T]

Just watch out for legalism as that seems to be a common trait among KJV only-ers.

Although it's not exclusive to them. I belonged to an NIV CoC for twelve years, and we were steeped in Legalism.

 

[GracethroughfaithinChrist]

imo.......isolating a believer in Christ to a certain translation would be a red flag to me because a minister of God in Christ should welcome you to search deep into the scriptures by using other translations available to really see the meaning of the verses written therein.
i personally prefer the KJV nowadays (started out reading the NIV for the first time over 20 years ago) and often compare the verses written in the KJV with all the translations available to offer the best perspective. Also i often read the transliteration from Greek to English and the commentaries of verses as well. My advice is to give the church a chance and see what it has to offer you but if you think the church is parroting some verses from the KJV out of context to support their individual denominations beliefs that don't fit with the truth God has led you into then keep searching until you find the right place.
May God our Father through Jesus Christ lead you to where He sees best for you.

 

[Vernon]

I believe KJV only sects are not abiding in the truth, and while they may be sincere in their love for Jesus Christ, they have fallen short (sinned) in their understanding. I pray for the salvation of all who call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, but I would not fellowship with KJV only.

Just a thought.

 

[AaronEHarris]

Your gut instinct says to avoid it like the plague. How good are your gut instincts? Do you normally go with your gut? I can see both sides of the story here, but I think that instincts are an important aspect of making good decisions. I think it would be really difficult for you to build a good relationship with many of the people in that church because you will be hiding your true believe from them.

 

[wattie]

First and foremost.. is the great question..

Is the Holy Spirit actually dwelling in the midst of this congregation?

Not every church that calls itself a christian church is actually one that God would call His own. (I don't mean the building.. but the teaching, the faithfulness of the members, the way they admininster ordinances of baptism and Lord's Supper etc)

There are some very good reasons why churches go KJV only. It's simple for the whole congregation to be reading the same text and the KJV is proven for deep study among other reasons.

But yeah.. most important- is the actually one of God's churches?

Distinctives of a church that God would call His own:

*Believe the bible is the infallible, inerrant Word of God
*Baptise by full immersion of believers only (no infant baptism or sprinkling)
*Keep to the ordinances of the Lord's Supper and Tithing
*Preach straight out of the Word
*Emphasise the independence of a local church
*Practice church discipline (ie will put a wayward believer through a process of biblical discipline)
*Believe in the one Triune God (God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit)
*Re-baptism of people baptised in a wayward church
*Emphasise Eternal Security

most important: eternally saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

You can get these teachings by looking at a churches statement of faith.

I think it is far more important at what they teach.. than how the service feels. You can get a church with a great band and everyone is friendly but they actually don't believe Jesus is God. This wouldn't really be a real church.

If the Holy Spirit is not dwelling 'in the midst'.. don't go there.

 

[Angela53510]

I cannot imagine being in a KJVOnly church, no matter what else they have.

I would go with your gut, and run in the opposite direction. I just think that if this is a big issue, they have missed the centrality of the Bible being ABOUT Jesus, not about which translation.

 

[MarcR]

Hi folks! I recently moved and am in the process of finding a new church. I live in an area that is pretty spiritually dead, so options are limited.

Here's my dilemma. I found a church that seems to have a lot going for it. Seems well grounded in the Word, offers a blended worship style (very important to me, as a musician), has a lot of Bible study classes. Here's the problem: the pastor is a KJV Only guy. He told me flat out that he believed there was only one translation per language that could be considered the Word of God, and in English, that was the KJV.

Now, I have a problem with that. Although I like the KJV and use it often in my personal study, I don't believe we should never look at other translations. In fact, I think one can glean a clearer understanding of the text by using several different translations. Since I don't read Greek or Hebrew, this is the best option for me, I believe.

Should I give this church a try, or should I go with my gut instinct (which is to avoid it like the plague)?

In My Experience many onlyist churches are otherwise sound; not at all legalistic; and some would not object to other translations being used in personal study

I would advise that you attend for a while before joining and watch for indications of trouble.

I would look at the ministry to teens and young adults; because if this is weak or absent the church is likely not going to grow or evangelize as it should.

 

[Jason0047]

Just watch out for legalism as that seems to be a common trait among KJV only-ers.

Actually, that is not entirely true. Many Mid Acts Dispensationalists (MAD proponents) are KJV only; And well... if you believe in MAD, you also believe in OSAS (Once Saved Always Saved). There are also a couple of other popular OSAS preachers that I seen that are KJV only, too. So it is not just a works thing. KJV onlyists can be either Works Salvationists or they can be OSAS or Antinomian believers.

I believe the King James is the divinely inspired Word of God, but yet I use Modern Translations to help update the Early Modern English. I also do not believe in Works Savlationism or Antinomianism (or OSAS).

 

[Jason0047]

In any event, to answer the Original Post:

Well, what is silly is that the King James is not really all that different than when you try and study the Hebrew and Greek using a concordance. For the Greek and Hebrew is translated by men for you (Just as the KJV has been translated by men). In fact, your Hebrew and Greek Concordance is interpreted for you by Mr. Strong and his friends (And they were not inspired by God to write what they did). Also, you really don't speak Hebrew and Greek and you really have no way of knowing what it says (Unless you trust some men on their interpretation). So either way you slice it, you are choosing to go with what someone is saying in regards to God's Word. You just have to take it by faith which Word is going to be your final authority that you can understand plainly.

For Strong's Concordance is sort of like a Multiple Choice Translation.
So you are either choosig that Translation or you are choosing another.

Anyways, I would pray and ask God for guidance and see how the sermons are.

 

[popeye]

Try this;
"Pastor,peradventure hast thou, a fortnight past, considereth a decree for an ammendment to thine churcheth bylaweth,allowing for us layitivities a forbearance to speaketh the kings language in this humble churcheth?"

Then put your hand to the side of your mouth like you are telling him a secret "where we come from it's called hyper KJV,only ism eth"....."Oh,uh 1611-eth"

 

[popeye]

At least the boundries will be established/establish-ith (thine choice-eth)

 

[notuptome]

For the sake of order in the service I can understand a KJV or any other version as the preferred version. We use the KJV as version read from in the pulpit. We ask our guest speakers to use the KJV when they speak in our church.

There are other versions of the English translations that are very good as well and if an individual believer prefers another because of ease of reading then I see no reason why they should not be permitted to use it. I know our pastor uses other versions in his study but then he also studies the Greek and Hebrew. Best I can do is the Strongs concordance.

Our Lord did say all things in moderation.

For the cause of Christ
Roger

 

[Willie-T]

For the sake of order in the service I can understand a KJV or any other version as the preferred version. We use the KJV as version read from in the pulpit. We ask our guest speakers to use the KJV when they speak in our church.

There are other versions of the English translations that are very good as well and if an individual believer prefers another because of ease of reading then I see no reason why they should not be permitted to use it. I know our pastor uses other versions in his study but then he also studies the Greek and Hebrew. Best I can do is the Strongs concordance.

Our Lord did say all things in moderation.

For the cause of Christ
Roger

We really do have to be careful in presenting some of these common "sayings" as being Bible quotes.

Jesus never said that. All that the Bible suggests is that even good things should not be over done. Saying, "ALL things in moderation", can give a new Christian the idea that everything is OK........ and, again, the Bible never says that. It states that nothing is forbidden us, but that some things are not good for us...... So, should we do them, anyway? No, we should not. This is not an uncommon tendency in Christians. There is the oft "quoted" (MISquoted) verse that God will never give us more than we can bear. This is another of those adopted sayings that are not Biblical. What was REALLY said is that God will not give us more than we can bear WITHOUT WHICH, HE WILL ALSO GIVE US A WAY OUT OF SUCH TROUBLES.

Just something to think about, and to stay aware of.