Our Windows of Questions Our Book of Knowledge!

"In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which
was right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25).
What's changed today??
By: Pastor L.R. Simas, Sr.
08-05-08

time of failure. God hasn't changed as seen in the verse that
follows, "For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of
Jacob are not consumed" (Malachi 3:6). So what has made this a
time of failure??
The opening verse in Judges gives a hint as to what is going on in
today's world. It states two things. One "...no king" and two,
guidance of the Lord and help of the Holy Spirit, what has
happened and how we might right the things that are not.
When I think back to when I was a boy (early 60's) things (at
least to me) seemed much simpler. One didn't worry where the
next meal was coming from or what clothes to wear. We didn't
notice what was going on around us. Although it wouldn't be
long until things changed.
The Vietnam conflict (or war) came about and many lost their
lives and where was God?? Surely He new what was going on
then?? Well He (God) did and like the book of Judges, He waited
for us to come to Him. Not in our way, no my friend, in his way.
I don't mean to imply that I was for the war or conflict, nor did
I even know enough about it then. I'm simply stating that one of
the things forgotten, is God. Like He is today.
It doesn't surprise me that today that God's Word can't be
preached, shared, or even given away in the public square. Much  
like the continuous failures of the judges in the book of the same
name. There was no leader after the death of Joshua that could
unite the nation and the Israelites. These folks lost their leader
and we have lost our standard.
With regard to the standard, it is (of course) the Bible. The
problem is which one?? Thus we have done what the Israelites
did. In that man had done what seemed right.
It seems that man today is confused more then ever, as an
example let me share with you a story about a man that is suing
over the a single word, the word homosexual. World net Daily in
the Sunday, July 09, 2008 edition the article called "Testing the
faith". We read of a man stating that he was harmed because two
bible publishers (on purpose) changed the meaning and word that
in his opinion didn't mean what he supposed them to mean. The
article can be found at http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.
php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=69147
One more thing I'd like you to see, this man compares bible
versions:
In 1970, I Corinthians 6:9 read as followed-
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom
of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor
adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with
mankind. King James Version!!
Just by way of clarity the word effeminate means: Having the
qualities of the female sex; soft or delicate to an unmanly degree;
tender; womanish; voluptuous (Webster's 1828Dictionary).
In 1982, the same scripture read like this-

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the
kingdom of God? Do not be deceived, neither fornicators, nor
idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites. New
King James Version.

Let's take a look at a few of the changes man has thought would
be better then God's written word.
King James Version
2 Corinthians 2:17 "For we are not as many which corrupt the
word of God"
New King James Version
"peddling the word of God" (like the NIV, NASV and RSV)

King James Version
Titus 3:10 "A man that is an heretick after the first and second
admonition reject"
New King James Version
"Reject a divisive man"(like the NIV)

King James Version
1 Thessalonians 5:22 "Abstain from all appearance of evil."
New King James Version
"Abstain from every form of evil." (like the NAS, RSV and ASV)

King James Version
Isaiah 66:5 "Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his
word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my
name's sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear
to your joy, and they shall be ashamed." [This means that the
LORD shall appear, which shall occur at the Second Coming of
Christ.]
New King James Version
"Hear the word of the LORD, you who tremble at His word:
"Your brethren who hated you, who cast you out for My name's
sake, said, 'Let the LORD be glorified, that we may see your joy.'
But they shall be ashamed." (Like the NIV, NASV, RSV and
ASV, the Second Coming is wholly omitted from this scripture.)

In 2001the same scripture reads like this-
I Corinthians 6:9 Surely you know that the people who do
wrong will not inherit God’s kingdom. Do not be fooled, those
who sin sexually, worship idols, take part in adultery, those who
are male prostitutes, or men who have sexual relations with other
men, those who steal, are greedy, get drunk, lie about others, or
rob those people will not inherit God’s kingdom. New Century
Version.
And this is just the tip of the iceberg. The man makes the case for
returning to a standard. As time has gone by the word of God
has been changed to meet man's requirements. Not as God has
stated of Himself. If God doesn't change then it reasonable to say
neither does his word, the Bible!!
What you've been reading is just a sampling of what well
meaning man has thought that you and I don't need to know
and thus has seen fit in his own eyes to replace, change, or
remove. Please take yet another look , then read them in the King
James Version, see what they say and ask yourself, what was the
reasoning of replacing, changing, or removing these verses??
What did it prove?? That God can make the world (and
everything in it) and not write a mere book??
The following 16 verses are completely removed or [are in
Brackets]from the text of the New Century Version!
Matthew 17:21, Matthew 18:11, Matthew 23:14, Mark 7:16,
Mark 9:44, Mark 9:46, Mark 11:26, Mark 15:28,
Luke 17:36,Luke 23:17, John 5:4, Acts 8:37, Acts 15:34, Acts
24:7, Acts 28:29, and Romans 16:24!
It's a sad day, when the world is trying to do what it thinks is
right in its own eyes. Then they completely ignore God, that is
with the exception of calling on Him when in personal trouble or
to curse Him when He is deemed to be unfair!!
Sadder still, when His word is being changed without regard for
who He is and who we are in relationship. Or to ignore (almost
completely) His gospel, that He commanded to be spread
throughout the world. "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of
the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever
I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even
unto the end of the world. Amen" (Matthew 28:19-20). Lastly is
to have the great commission rejected, by law, or by a local
ordinance is prohibited!!
So, what is changed today?? We have!! As King Solomon said,
"The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that
which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new
thing under the sun" (Ecclesiastes 1:9).
Allow me to close with the words that again King Solomon said
is the whole duty of man. "Let us hear the conclusion of the
whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is
the whole duty of man." (Ecclesiastes 12:13).
May this message be the one that touches your heart and causes
you to come to know that God's knows His Word, He wrote it!!
And please remember that God gave us His only begotten and
Jesus died for you; will you live for Him?? Please feel free to e-
mail or write at the address below.
With love in Christ, whose I am and yours,
Pastor Popeye,
pastorsimas@hyannisbaptistchurch.org
Or write snail mail at:
Hyannis Baptist Church
Po Box 34
West Hyannisport, Ma.
02672-0034
Psalms 12:6-7 and Ephesians 3:8
Join us now on the web!!
www.hyannisbaptistchurch.org