Dear "In cool air, jet flies",
Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I write to you as a fellow servant of the Gospel, deeply committed to the truth of Scripture and the unity of the body of Christ. It is with a heart of love and a desire for edification that I share these thoughts, hoping they may encourage reflection and dialogue.
As you know, our faith is rooted in the unchanging character of God, who is love (1 John 4:8). This love is not merely an attribute of God but the very essence of His being. It is this love that compelled Him to send His Son for our salvation (John 3:16) and to reveal His truth to us through His Word. Because God is love, He desires that all His children be united in truth and love, reflecting the unity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (John 17:21).
In light of this, I am concerned about the teachings you have been promoting, particularly regarding the doctrine of Verbal Plenary Preservation (VPP) and the King James Version (KJV)-Only position. While I respect your zeal for the Scriptures, I fear that these teachings may inadvertently hinder the unity of the Church and obscure the broader truth of God’s love and grace.
God’s Sovereignty and the Diversity of Bible Translations
Our God, in His infinite wisdom, has allowed the existence of multiple Bible translations. These translations, while varying in their linguistic and textual approaches, have been used by the Holy Spirit to bring countless souls to Christ and to nourish the faith of believers worldwide. The existence of these translations does not undermine the authority or inerrancy of Scripture but rather demonstrates God’s providence in making His Word accessible to people of every language and culture. To insist on the exclusive use of the KJV or to claim that it alone is the perfectly preserved Word of God risks elevating human tradition above the sovereign work of the Holy Spirit in guiding the Church.
Speaking the Truth in Love
The Apostle Paul exhorts us to "speak the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15), recognizing that truth and love are inseparable. While it is crucial to uphold the truth of Scripture, we must do so in a manner that reflects the love of Christ. The KJV-Only and VPP positions, while perhaps well-intentioned, often lead to division and strife within the body of Christ. They can foster a spirit of exclusivity and judgmentalism that contradicts the unity and love that Jesus prayed for in John 17. Let us strive to be known not for our rigid adherence to a particular translation or interpretive framework but for our love for one another (John 13:35).
The Unity of the Church
God’s desire is for His children to be united in truth and love. This unity is not uniformity but a harmony that embraces the diversity of His people. When we insist on personal views like VPP or KJV-Onlyism, we risk creating unnecessary barriers to fellowship and cooperation. Instead, let us focus on the core truths of the Gospel—the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ—and the essential doctrines that unite us as believers. In doing so, we honor the prayer of our Lord and bear witness to the world of His love.
A Call to Humility and Reflection
I urge you, dear brother, to consider the broader implications of your teachings. Are they fostering unity and love, or are they causing division? Are they pointing people to Christ, or are they drawing attention to a particular translation or interpretive tradition? Let us approach these matters with humility, recognizing that our understanding is partial and that we see through a glass dimly (1 Corinthians 13:12). Let us hold fast to the essentials of the faith while extending grace and charity in matters of secondary importance.
In closing, I pray that the Holy Spirit will guide you as you reflect on these matters. May we all strive to be faithful stewards of God’s Word, speaking the truth in love and working toward the unity of the Church. Let us remember that our ultimate goal is not to defend personal views but to glorify God and make disciples of all nations.
With love in Christ,
Revd. So and So
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