The Gold Standard of Biblical Discernment

From the founding of the United States of America until 1935 our currency was held to what was known as The Gold Standard. American Heritage Concise Dictionary, Third Edition, 1994 defines gold standard as a monetary standard under which the basic unit of currency is equal in value to a specified amount of gold.

This determines the purchasing power of the currency. For instance a 20 dollar bill or a 20 dollar gold coin would purchase a man's high quality 3 piece suit, white shirt and tie in 1935. Now having gone off that standard, a 20 dollar bill might buy a tie, on sale, in a discount store. The 20 dollar gold coin will still purchase a man's high quality 3 piece suit, white shirt and tie.

Now let us apply the Bible, God's Holy Word, as the Gold Standard for our Christian belief system. A good friend of mine, retired pastor Clarence Patterson, has a favorite saying when determining any doctrine, concept, or definition: "What does the Bible say about that?"

With the myriads of English Bible translations out there which one is God's gold standard? I quit counting several years ago at 150. For further study on this subject, I refer you to my earlier blogs on this subject (Here). Suffice it to say there is one translation in every major language in the world from the Textus Receptus of the New Testament and the Masoretic Text of The Old Testament. For the English speaking people, that is the King James Version-1611.

When I hear fundamental preachers or teachers say, "I like the way a particular version says something. , my immediate response is, "Fellow, it doesn't matter what you like. What matters is what did God say or not say about that.

I am presently reading a book about the wonders of the millennial reign of Christ that awaits all believers in Christ. The author is a well known fundamental preacher and teacher. He quotes from several modern versions, especially from the New International Version(NIV) . My question is, "What is this man's gold standard of God's Holy Word? What does God say about that?" Otherwise this man book is excellent in interpretation, scriptural timeline, descriptions, and intruiging presentation

Actual facts about the NIV: The man who owns the publishing company that publishes the NIV is Rupert Murdock, a multi billionaire form Australia. He is well known as the porno king of the world. He also purchased several Christian book publishing companies headquartered in Grand Rapids, MI.

Also, one other note: One of the translators, of the NIV, later left her husband and children to live a lesbian lifestyle. When I pointed this out to a Christian lady, she said, "But that

was after", I Responded, "Do you believe that our Sovereign God did not know that she was a latent lesbian?" This same translator wrote in a later publication, "I know longer believe in God as a portrayed in the Bible. I believe him to be a delinquent parent."

Now with that in mind, I have a very difficult time believing our Holy, Omniscient God would choose such a wicked person to translate His Holy Word. Compare this to the translators of the King James Version- 1611

In Christ's Service,

                                                                            Chaplain Daryl E. Sell