Not long ago I met a dear lady named Dorothy, who worked in one of the local markets. We talked a bit about the Gospel as she knew I was here for the sole purpose of missions work and she herself was a believer. Amidst our conversation she revealed that she had no Bible. We parted ways that day and I made a mental note to acquire one for her and deliver it when time allowed. Yesterday was such a day and I dropped by her small shop to bring her a copy of the Word. She was elated and extremely grateful for such a valuable gift. We talked a bit more and I left her to her work as I headed back to our base.
On the way we passed the big crusade that has been going on since Thursday. The crusade started every day at 3:00 p.m. yet the main evangelist did not arrive on the scene until around 6:00 p.m. It just so happened, that he was up front as we were going by and seizing the opportunity, I stopped that I may listen in to what he had to say. His posters that have been around town for about three weeks boasted of salvation, healing and miracles at his crusade and I thought I would see if he preached a message of truth and conviction.
I stayed for about ten minutes, five of which were spent thanking the various groups that assisted with the crusade. He then entered ‘battle mode’ in which he attacked the NIV for being a poor translation and heralded the KJV as the only true Bible. He spoke of the inerrancies of the NIV and the overwhelming accuracies found in the KJV. His words were delivered with passion and a slight air of arrogance. It was clear the fellow had not been trained as an evangelist but knew he come get a large crowd there off of Kibera Drive.
As I listened I surveyed the crowd that was estimated as being 5,000 strong. We were all scattered across the hillside and my first thought was of Jesus feeding a number of such great proportions. Then I looked at the tremendous opportunity to preach the Gospel to many who were unsaved and needed the Lord’s touch. Instead the message was about the importance of the KJV when in reality scarcely anyone in the crowd had a Bible to begin with. After all, if he is so set on the precision of the original, he should honor the word by preaching in Greek and supporting the New Testament’s original Greek manuscript.
I mean not to criticize his ministry, as I am sure he was convinced in his own mind he was preaching the gospel truth, but I had just come from giving someone a Bible who had none. How can anyone preach a message of such seeming insignificance when compared to the masses that don’t even know the God of the Bible? Moreover, how can one so dogmatically claim superiority to ones who have never seen a copy of the Word? So I leave with that thought, frustrated when man gets in the way, yet hopeful because the ones here are still hungry for the Gospel!!
Just by way of note, I in no way support nor disregard any version nor suggest anyone do so. However, if we really keep the big picture in mind, I believe we will find that some issues of contention are rather irrelevant when juxtaposed with the overwhelming importance of salvation and God’s plan.
