Questions & Answers to ask Pastors
Section for Newbies - New Christians
Steps to take if you are going to talk to your pastor
1. Become familiar with the Details of Bible Versions and the Bible Versions Debate
IF you are going to talk to your pastor about Bible versions, we recommend that you take the time to become Very familiar with the arguments used to promote different Bible versions. (Know what the other side says, so you can know what to expect and how to respond to those arguments).
Dont expect pastors to listen if you do not have enough facts, evidence, and historical knowledge to be able to back up the assertions you make about Bible versions.
Pastors have many people come to them every week, and make all sorts of outlandish statements. From the point of view of your pastor, he may think you are simply one of them. So do your best to take yourself out of this category, by doing as much homework as you can on this issue BEFORE you talk to any leader in your church about the issue of Bible Versions.
2. Become familiar with the general works used to defend the King James Version and/or the Textus Receptus (which is the Greek Text that the KJV is based on):
a. Which Version by Philip Mauro
b. The Revision Revised
c. Bible Versions by Gail Riplinger whether you like this Book or not
3. Get a copy of the various Greek Texts that Do and DONT support the KJV. At the very least, you should have:
a. The Textus Receptus of Stephens 1550/51
b. The Textus Receptus of Elzevier 1624/1633
c. The Nestle Aland Greek Text (any one of the editions)
d. The Greek Text of Westcott & Hort
Now for those of you who deal ONLY with the KJV text literally, well then the task is much simpler. If your pastor says that he only deals with the English and Not the Greek, then that makes a lot of the debate simpler.
But many pastors whether they truly know ancient Greek or not like to tell themselves that they know Greek. If they know Greek, and you do not, do not be surprised if they are Not Willing to consider your points about the King James.
[The reason for this is that they will conclude that you do not know enough of what you are talking about, because your points are Not applicable to the Greek New Testament, but only instead to the KJV in English. This happens - to NOT be true, but that is something which often must be demonstrated to a Pastor, and this requires some knowledge of Greek and Greek Words]
That is why we recommend getting the major Greek Texts both that support and go against the King James...because that way:
a. you will become familiar with the main Greek Texts
b. you can show How the Modern Versions do not even agree with their own Greek Texts
c. you can show How the Modern Greek Texts have been changed ...away from the Historic Greek New Testament.
d. you can share with your pastor the details and history of the various Greek Versions, and how they have affected the Modern English Versions
So, to summarize: What is the point of obtaining the Greek Texts of the New Testament and learning some Greek, and learning the history of the differing Greek texts ?
- because your Pastor will have a much harder time dismissing what you share with him about the Bible, and the versions.
- because you will be learning another effective way of being able to present a ready defense of the Bible and to explain the reason for the hope that is within you (the first of the reasons being that you know that you can rely on the Bible as the word of God).
Expect to be ready to answer some questions about Bible Versions and KJV-Only Questions. You should be studying to be able to answer these basic (but not easy) questions about theKJV-Only position. Once you have learned the right answers, then consider giving those same questions to your pastor or church leaders - in writing, so you can have a basis to follow-up and have good conversations with them about these topics.
II TImothy 2:15 "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth".
Expect to educate your Pastor - if he will allow it. It Should not be that way, we know. Your Pastor should be the leader and should be the Spiritual Leader we know and agree with that. Your pastor should have already received the training that he needed to address these issues in Seminary We agree. But this is not usually the case these days, so: IF you want your Pastor to even have the Choice of being able to change his mind on Bible Versions, you will have to provide him with the Books by which he can see, study and understand...that there are real and serious problems with the Modern Versions of the Bible.
That means practically that you buy extra copies of books that deal with the Bible Debates, and simply give them to your pastor so he can keep them. When your pastor understands that you were committed enough to do this, and when he can also know that these books are his to mark and write in or underline or make notes in the margins, and study, then he May take your request that he study the issue...seriously.
Make it difficult for Pastors and Leaders to ignore your materials and hard work, by putting the material in their hands, and letting them keep it. That will make it much harder for them to use an excuse such as: " I would consider what you've said, but nothing has been written about Bible Versions that agrees with you".
Expect to educate other Church Leaders. If there is no one else to do this, then their education will be up to you (which is probably a good thing in any case). Even if the Pastor changed his mind overnight, and suddenly agreed with you, he would still need to talk to other church leaders, the board of Elders/Deacons, and some of the Sunday School Teachers...about this issue that you are right to care about.
Pastors help "direct" churches, but they do Not run monarchies. In fact often the Pastor himself is at the mercy of the Board of Elders (which may or may not be good...depending on which board we are referring to).
Do Not expect your Pastor to look at this issue and make a decision based on a 5 minute discussion with you. Pastors may take many weeks to study this issue. As long as they are serious and attempting to look at this theological problem (which is what the question of Bible Versions really is), they should be given more time to study the issue.
Pastors who are seriously studying this issue...should be willing to discuss it with people that they trust, and they should also be willing to discuss this issue with you. If the goal is to win the heart and mind of that pastor over, it is important NOT to berate, harang, or harass a Pastor...if He is considering this issue, and you know this to be the case. Offer to take your pastor out for a cup of coffee...schedule time if possible to follow up, and see if the material you gave is helpfull, after a couple of weeks.
Do not make your pastor look stupid or foolish in front of others. While this may be occasionally tempting (if we allow our natural self to take over), doing this can be destructive and very counterproductive to the point you want to make, or to the conclusion you hope your pastor may reach.
There is a difference between calm (or semi-calm) discussion, and other conversations that degenerate into name calling. We know that this would not apply to 99% of you, but it is important to keep in mind the Long Term goal of discussions with your pastor. The idea is to continue to make the pastor your friend if possible, and to be sure that he knows that you are trying to truly help him.
Expect to verbally tell your pastor the reason Why you are sharing the information with him: because you care about Him and about the spiritual state of the Church. Pastors need re-assurance also. If you do not tell them what your motives are, they may mistakenly draw false conclusions. Not everybody who debates or discusses an issue with pastors, is doing this because they care either about the Pastor or the Church, so you should be prepared to state this directly to your pastor.
Do not expect your Pastor or the Church to Change their Bible versions on the basis of an instant PUBLIC debate. IF one is organized, then that would be something different. But Pastors who feel pressured through Public Debate, especially if they are unprepared, tend to perceive the debate as a "challenge to their authority". Even when it is not meant in that manner, most people do not like to be put "on the spot".
We are trying to send two message to those who read this:
1. Do be assertive about your concerns
2. Be gentle and cautious about HOW you express your concerns.
Many people seem so frustrated about this issue of Bible Versions, that by the time they are talking to their pastors, they often feel more like yelling at him. Since Pastors often have No clue about your own personal frustrations, they often react by being shocked, hurt, and become defensive.
We hope that you will talk to your friends about your concern, before it reaches this level. But we understand that it can be hard to discuss this matter with others. Asking people to think for themselves and study the Bible for themselves, or even in a group is something hard to get others to do.
Maybe you should suggest a Bible study or a study group or something of that nature, and find out if others would be interested in that.
Lastly, please take time to pray for yourself, and for your pastor - Before you talk with your pastor, and After you have talked with your pastor. You may want to download or consider our "prayer requests" page, and see if any of those might apply to your situation.
You may also wish to let your friends know about this site. At least this would give them the basis for additional discussions and conversations with you.
Your Prayer Requests - What to ask God for
Section for Newbies - New Christians
Questions to ask your pastor - Questions you Should ask a Pastor
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Questions & Answers for Pastors -
XOFC Discussion Group & News on Versions/KJV Mailing List
We also Offer some books on Bible Manuscripts, Bible Versions, Textual Criticism and what has happened with New Testament Manuscripts. You will find most of these books - which we offer - to be very helfull in your studies:
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