Kevin here, still searching for a church in DFW area. Something i never expected was churches that are not KJV not disclosing what version is used, or deliberately hiding it. I do believe that KJV is a better version, but not perfect. What i don’t understand is hiding the version used. If you believe your version is correct, shout it from the rooftops.
Reform Baptist
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Blood-Bought Pilgrim
Puritan Board Sophomore
I think you’ll find that most churches don’t advertise their translation choice because they don’t see it as a question of one “right” choice. There are several good options out there, and churches have to choose one for practical reasons, but it’s not a very important issue for most of us.
Polanus1561
Puritan Board Senior
how does a church deliberately hide their translation?
Polanus1561
Puritan Board Senior
Their audio sermons online may reveal something.
Blood-Bought Pilgrim
Puritan Board Sophomore
Are you saying the pastor won’t answer the question, “Which translation do you use?”
That is odd indeed.
As a pastor, if I had a visitor come to our church, and the first question they asked me was, "Which translation do you use?" and it was asked in a way that gave me the impression it was an end-all-be-all kind of issue (i.e., demanding an answer and then posting about me on the internet if I didn't), there would be about 18 bright red flags going up in my mind.
This is hardly the most important thing you ought to be considering in searching for a church.
This is hardly the most important thing you ought to be considering in searching for a church.
This, exactly.
Three excellent churches in the DFW area that use the KJV: Christ Covenant Reformed Presbyterian Church (Todd Ruddell pastor); Dallas RPCNA (Rom Prakashpalan pastor); and the Free Church Continuing preaching station in Greenville (Craig Scott pulpit supply). Best of all, the preaching you’ll sit under in any three of these will greatly edify and promote holiness and growth in Christ.
All three of those men will readily answer your question.
All three of those men will readily answer your question.
davejonescue
Puritan Board Junior
In my limited experience, the only churches that list the translation they use on their websites "statements of faith" are KJV-Only churches. For everyone else, they no longer use it, but will use the NASB, the NKJV, the ESV, the HCSB, etc. So a good way to answer your question, is if a church doesnt let you know they use the KJV on their website, they probably dont. Many churches will have a standard "pew Bible," but will let congregants bring their translation of choice for worship. Not a make or break issue for most now days.
Polanus1561
Puritan Board Senior
these are names I thought I would also suggest, but I was cracking my head for KJV Reformed Baptists and could only think of Jeff Riddle who of course isn’t in Texas.
I don’t know of any in the area, either.
RamistThomist
Puritanboard Assessor
Visit one day and find out. If the pastor isn't answering because he suspects the question is a trap, then I get it. Most pastors, though, don't mind answering the question.
SeanPatrickCornell
Puritan Board Junior
Something about this doesn't sound right to me.
What exactly is the pastor saying when you ask what version they use? Is he just hem-hawing because the church doesn't use just one translation or is the pastor flat out refusing to answer at all?
Most non-KJV churches don't particularly care which version the members of the congregation use. My church officers, for example, tend to preach from the New King James for the sake of uniformity, but we're not a "New King James" church. Our members use all sorts of translations. ESV, NASB, KJV, HCSB, CSB, LSB, etc.
If someone came up to our pastor to ask him "what version does your church use?", he'd likely need you to refine your question.
What exactly is the pastor saying when you ask what version they use? Is he just hem-hawing because the church doesn't use just one translation or is the pastor flat out refusing to answer at all?
Most non-KJV churches don't particularly care which version the members of the congregation use. My church officers, for example, tend to preach from the New King James for the sake of uniformity, but we're not a "New King James" church. Our members use all sorts of translations. ESV, NASB, KJV, HCSB, CSB, LSB, etc.
If someone came up to our pastor to ask him "what version does your church use?", he'd likely need you to refine your question.
Pilgrim
Puritanboard Commissioner
Sermon Audio has a place for churches to list what version they use. You might try there if you haven’t already. They have a search function for local churches.
Unless a church doesn’t have a website, it’s usually not too difficult to figure out which version they use.
Also, many churches don’t have an official version. Whether they do or not, few see it as an issue to “shout from the rooftops.”
As others have said, if you lead with this question, many will assume you are a KJV Onlyist who might then attempt to debate the issue with him if they don’t use the KJV. Some people have what amounts to a “KJV Never” position and discourage people from using it. If you don’t get a response, I’d just forget about it and move on.
A lot of younger pastors have little to no familiarity with the KJV. I can think of at least one I knew who did not even own one, and he wasn’t even that young, although he came to faith later in life. In the digital age, I wouldn’t be surprised if that is becoming more common.
Unless a church doesn’t have a website, it’s usually not too difficult to figure out which version they use.
Also, many churches don’t have an official version. Whether they do or not, few see it as an issue to “shout from the rooftops.”
As others have said, if you lead with this question, many will assume you are a KJV Onlyist who might then attempt to debate the issue with him if they don’t use the KJV. Some people have what amounts to a “KJV Never” position and discourage people from using it. If you don’t get a response, I’d just forget about it and move on.
A lot of younger pastors have little to no familiarity with the KJV. I can think of at least one I knew who did not even own one, and he wasn’t even that young, although he came to faith later in life. In the digital age, I wouldn’t be surprised if that is becoming more common.
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RamistThomist
Puritanboard Assessor
And KJV-only churches are usually quite clear that they are KJV-only. You probably don't have to ask.
I take this to be a case of wanting not a KJV-only situation, but a KJV-preferred and actual KJV use in the pulpit.
Ben Zartman
Puritan Board Junior
Most churches have loaner bibles in the pews, so you can follow and read even if you don't own that version. My question for churches to visit, after establishing decent orthodoxy, is about the singing. Nothing ruins a Lord's Day like an otherwise decent church indulging in bands or singing CCM.
I wondered where Craig ended up. He is still RPCNA, right?
He is.
TheInquirer
Puritan Board Junior
I have never been in a church that only believed one particular version is correct so there was never a need to publicize what was used very strongly. There typically was a version that was standard for preaching (NASB in my MacArthur days, ESV since) and you’d warn about paraphrases and gender inclusive language and all that but not many disparaging remarks toward the other Protestant “conservative” translations (for lack of a better term).
I just dont get the “this translation is best” arguments. I wish to give grace to those who are doing it out of a sincere desire to protect and defend the purity of the Word of God but for others it comes across as fueled by either ignorance or arrogance. Perhaps the proliferation of translations, and the marketing that goes along with them, makes it all worse. After all, if you come up with a new translation, you also need to have reasons to get people to buy it. And in the end, we are arguing over a “translation” which means it has been translated by translators and subjectivity always plays a role in moving from one language to another. Perfection can’t be had.
in my opinion, I wish the discussion was more often centered around “Which translation is best for what purpose?” I like reading a variety of good and trustworthy translations. After seeing my kids go through different stages of learning, comprehension, and reading ability, different translations were better for them at different stages of life. I like reading the Bible through in different translations to get my mind out of a rut that tends to develop over time reading the same translation. I like certain translations for study and certain for casual reading. I like Logos best of all for exegesis
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I just dont get the “this translation is best” arguments. I wish to give grace to those who are doing it out of a sincere desire to protect and defend the purity of the Word of God but for others it comes across as fueled by either ignorance or arrogance. Perhaps the proliferation of translations, and the marketing that goes along with them, makes it all worse. After all, if you come up with a new translation, you also need to have reasons to get people to buy it. And in the end, we are arguing over a “translation” which means it has been translated by translators and subjectivity always plays a role in moving from one language to another. Perfection can’t be had.
in my opinion, I wish the discussion was more often centered around “Which translation is best for what purpose?” I like reading a variety of good and trustworthy translations. After seeing my kids go through different stages of learning, comprehension, and reading ability, different translations were better for them at different stages of life. I like reading the Bible through in different translations to get my mind out of a rut that tends to develop over time reading the same translation. I like certain translations for study and certain for casual reading. I like Logos best of all for exegesis
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