"Christendom.....we have a problem"

In these last days, we are seeing a lot of new ideas, in the area of ministry: E.G. Video presentations, Power point presentations, You tube videos, sites like this etc.. And although there is nothing wrong with these tools, there is "something wrong". Because during this same period of time, the Church's mission is failing. (i.e. People's lives aren't being changed). Therefore, we must be doing something wrong. Before I continue, let me explain how we can tell, that people's lives, aren't being changed. It all has to do with, a lack of true repentance. Some Churches may be full, but the people's hearts are empty; And the reason we know this, is because of all the open sin in their lives. When Jesus is changing people, they are going to be dealing with their sin. And when people are dealing with their sins, pornography and alcohol sales, start dropping off. -This isn't happening.- Now back to my main point; i.e. "The question is, how we can have all the latest technology at our disposal, and yet our message seems to be powerless to really change people's lives?" The source to this problem, has to do with a lack of power. How can we be preaching, "the right message", yet see that same message, powerless to change people's lives? The answer to this question, boils down to "words". We may have "the right message" but are we using the right words to convey it? There is a doctrine, that all true believers accept, but many misunderstand it. That is, the doctrine of "verbal inspiration". We all agree on what "inspiration" means: (i.e. "God breathed") but what about that word, "verbal"? The word verbal, means "using words". God gave us our Bible, using "words", and not simply ideas. Therefore, the true power of God's message, lies in His Words, and not just in His message. This is the whole issue with the King James Version, of the Bible. These who translated the King James, believed that the words were important, therefore they translated the original languages into English, word for word(as close as it could be). But the philosophy behind "every other English translation", is that "words aren't important, but the ideas are;" This is why they feel free to change the words, any way they choose. (Like has be said for years, "If you change the words you change the meaning!") But something else has happened. When the words are changed, the power of the words is taken away. Today, most ministers, are trying to get God's message out to the world and the Church; But they are overlooking a vital component, to God's message. We must use "God's Words", to get God's message across, with power. God's powerful message is, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." and not, "For God had such love for the world that he gave his only Son, so that whoever has faith in him may not come to destruction but have eternal life." Note: When you change the words, you rob the message, of God's power!

Hi Gareth Nice to hear from you. You said.......“It's not true that the majority of English translations change the words.”The intent of this post, was not meant to condemn all the other translations, as much as It was to lift up the KJV, as the Powerful translation, that it is.The issue is “power”: And the observation that I have made, when I look over the last 400 years of Church history, is that the Church has been losing power, since about 1881 or so, when Westcott and Hort, started this whole mess.Over the centuries, there were multiple English translations being made(Wycliffe, Gutenberg, Tyndale, etc.), but isn’t it interesting, that all this stopped, in 1611, when the first printing of the KJV, came out. I believe that it stopped, because God knew that with this Bible, English speaking people, had His Word, therefore He didn’t lay it upon anyone elses heart, to make another translation.I don’t believe what happened from 1875 to 1881, was of the LORD.-------------------------------------------------- As for those Christians, who truly want to dig into God’s Word(getting the Greek and Hebrew meanings), I believe that God laid it upon Strong, to write His concordance. Hope to hear from you again.-------------------------------------------------- -ALSO IN RESPONSE TO YOUR LATER POST:-You said..........“Bibles, today use a vast variety of different texts. Including the Qumran codexes(the Dead Sea Scrolls)....”This is precisely the problem; The Dead Sea Scrolls, should have never been found, because they were scrolls, that had errors, and were just thrown away, instead of destroyed.

Hi Winsome Nice to talk to you. As for when you said.......”I think you claim too much for the KJV.”I don’t think so. Because like millions and millions of others, I don’t know Greek or Hebrew, but God knows that I want to study and stand upon His Word. Therefore He gave me a Bible that I can trust.Please don’t misunderstand: When I say that God gave me this Bible, I am not saying that I believe in “double inspiration”. Because I don’t. But I do believe, that God providently protected the translators of the KJV, from using the “wrong” ancient manuscripts. As for, the real reason, the Church is failing it’s mission: Of course, it’s because, God’s people are living like the devil. But what I am saying, it that I believe that this is happening, because they have gotten away from God’s Word(even though they be reading their NIV’s). See you later

Hi eliyahu After thinking about it, I guess, I am, “a KJV only person”(for English speaking people only).But I must call you to task, about your statement......“The KJV, is riddled with more “errors” in translation, than any other modern Bible.”-Please, I challenge you.......to show them to me.--------------------------------------------------- As for the great harvest in China, etc. Praise the LORD, He gave them a great Bible of their own, to study and to stand upon.

Hi thesuperjag I guess you and I, are on the same page.See you later.

Hi RaddSpencer I believe you misunderstood my post, when you said..........“The Church has been losing steam, long before the internet”In my post, I called things like the internet, Great. But in spite of all these great tools, we are still losing steam.See you later