Molehills And Gnats
“You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel!” (Matt 5:23:24, NIV).
It’s sad that there are Christians wasting time in foolish scraps,
Making mountains out of molehills, zealously straining out gnats.
A typical example is the Bible version row,
Fueled by KJV defenders obsessed with their ‘sacred cow’.
If you like the KJV, that’s perfectly fine with me,
But don’t press it on another acting most self righteously.
Yes, you’re entitled to your view, but so are others too,
Enjoying other versions be they earlier or new.
Stating that modern versions are corrupted or are flawed,
Hardly aids our witnessing as ambassadors for the Lord.
We’re to preach God’s Holy Word, not dispute its contents,
As pushing it’s been doctored, throws doubt on all its contents.
Let’s just focus on God’s Truth, that’s seriously under threat,
And not hung up on versions unnecessarily get.
Every truth can still be found if one has an open mind,
Despite the imperfections some meticulously find.
Yes, the KJV is fine, I just haven’t made it mine,
And in the version that I read, I’m still seeing each truth shine.
No Bible’s free of defects, including the KJV,
But not one single defect, removes truth that sets men free.
You can trust the Word of God, despite defects you might see,
But a storm in a teacup I consider them to be.
No Christian should get side-tracked by a molehill or a gnat,
Nor by those imperfections that some seem to have off pat.
Is God honoured or dishonoured, when we share a fault we find?
Could that shake another’s faith, putting doubts into their mind?
Thus, next time you enter into a Bible version debate,
I’d be extremely careful, lest it be, God’s Word you slate.
By Lance Landall
“ ...Instead, make up your mind not to put a stumbling-block or obstacle
in your brother’s way” (Rom 14:13, NIV).
Don’t be so busy swatting flies that you miss the wasp
Note:
This poem is referring to Bible versions only, not paraphrased
Bibles. Paraphrased Bibles are totally unsuitable as study
Bibles, and should not be used as one’s standard Bible. One
should also watch loose versions of the Bible, for example; the 'Good
News Bible'.
We need to remember that Bible ‘versions’ are just that — ‘versions’, they’re not totally different Bibles.
The following are examples of ‘versions’ — NASB; KJV; NKJV; RSV; NRSV; NIV; ESV.
God had His hands over the Bible because it was His Word, not because it was the KJV.