About the Author

Thomas Ray Floyd was born in 1953 in Simpson County, Mississippi, the son of Roy Thomas Floyd and Lina Sue Shows Floyd. Thomas Ray's mother was a member of a Primitive Baptist church, and he cut his teeth on the doctrines of distinguishing grace.

When he was a small boy, his father was converted to Christ and became a member of a Missionary Baptist Church. Thomas Ray joined the church of his father when he was 13 years old, and thought of himself as a Christian. The doctrines of grace that he had heard as a child continued to be precious to him and when he became an adult, he joined a Primitive Baptist Church. When he was 27, Thomas Ray made his first effort to preach the gospel in public and was ordained to the full functions of the ministry in 1985. In 1986 he was convinced under the preaching of Rolfe Barnard (by tapes from Mt. Olive Tape Library), the written sermons of Spurgeon, and the ministry of Elder Zack Guess that he had been a false professor and cried out in agony of soul to the Lord Jesus Christ to have mercy and truly save him. And He did! Floyd then began to preach the gospel as he had been taught of the Lord.

Floyd has pastored churches in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Tennessee and until recently was pastor of a church plant known as "Particular Baptist Fellowship." He and his wife Brenda presently attend Zion Baptist Church at Polkville, Mississippi, pastored by Elder Glen Hopkins. The pulpit ministry of Zion Baptist Church can be heard at Sermonaudio.com.

Sunday, March 7, 2010

The Conserving Influence of the King James Bible

(Article for publication March 10, 2010 AD)

"...meddle not with them that are given to change" (Proverbs 24:21).

We believe the King James Bible to be the best translation for the English-speaking people primarily because of the underlying Greek manuscripts from which it is translated, the Textus Receptus. This is not to belittle the earlier translations from those manuscripts like Tyndale's translation and the Geneva Bible, for they are also reliable translations. But we do believe the KJV to be an improvement over those works. We also recommend the KJV because of its clarity on the Deity of Christ, because of its good fruit, and its ease of memorization.

Another good reason to keep our King James Bible is for its conserving influence. Liberalism is destroying the modern church and compromising the soul saving gospel of the Bible. The proliferation of new Bible translations has encouraged liberalism and modernism, in our humble opinion. It has been my observation that churches and individuals that start using the modern translations tend to become more liberal in their beliefs and practices.

The modern day "churches" are filled with entertainment and games, but sadly deficient in preaching the gospel. Today's churches now have the super bowl in the church, dance classes, karate classes, ballgames, and everything but the gospel. No wonder the churches are filled with unconverted people. Christ established His Church to preach the gospel, administer the ordinances and maintain Godly discipline, not for entertainment and games. If our forefathers could return from their graves and witness the downgrade in the churches they would be horrified. But most importantly, we do not believe Christ is pleased with turning His Father's House into a social club and entertainment center.

There are many factors involved here and the main one is that the "churches" and "preachers" are mostly unconverted, at least by their fruits (the Lord knoweth). However, my own experience tells me that churches that hold to the Old Translation are generally more conservative, and not as likely to be tossed by every wind of doctrine and take up with every fad that gets started. Christians are to contend for the faith that was once delivered to the saints, not start and follow religious fads. Fads are bad enough, but particularly detestable in the church. It appears to me that the continual changing of Bible versions is more for fad that for the sake of the Truth. I remember when the liberals were advocating the Revised Standard Version. Then they all went wild over the NIV. Then they all started following the NASV fad. Then it was the New King James Version. Now they have another faddish version and all the while the gospel and the church and vital Godliness is in decline. May the Lord have mercy upon us.

The inspired wise man, Solomon tells us not to meddle with those that are given to change. Let us heed his warning as regards Bible translations and the doctrine, practice and methods in the church.
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