Since truth is essential the gathering of facts is crucial. But we better be careful about the source of our information. Things are not always what they appear to be. Mark Twain made a good point when he said, “If you don’t read the newspaper you are uninformed, if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed”.

Man has been looking for knowledge and wisdom since the beginning and, if you remember, he didn’t get off to a good start (Gen. 3:1-6). As a whole we’re not doing any better today! Considering where Americans get their information it is no wonder that we are in such a muddled mess. Millions depend on people like Oprah Winfrey for advice and they are led astray. Listen to this nonsense from dear O’ Oprah about where to look for answers. She wrote:

Our real power comes from knowing who we are . . . and that begins with looking inside ourselves in silence. I’ve always believed you really need no gurus, no leaders, no guides—just yourself. You have all your own best answers. What you’re trying to find is already there. Be still and know it.

Now, if you are really ready for some facts here they are: “…the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps”.(Jeremiah 10:23); “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path”.( Psalm 119:105). Think about it!

Since this is Stewardship Month at Lakeway, the following story serves to illustrate how foolish some people can be:

A rescued alley cat can live like a fat cat after inheriting $13 million from his owner.

Maria Assunta, a 94-year-old widow and heiress from Italy, left her 10 million euro fortune plus several properties scattered across Europe to her 4-year-old kitty, Tommaso, according to London’s Daily Telegraph.

The wealthy widow, who died two weeks ago, originally wanted to leave her fortune to an animal welfare association that would commit to looking after Tommaso. But when Assunta’s lawyers couldn’t find a group that lived up to her standards, she instead drew up a will in November 2009 leaving her estate to Tommaso through a nurse named Stefania, according to the Telegraph.

Stefania, who cared for Assunta in her final months, had promised she would look after the cat and make sure he was loved after her patient died. Stefania told the Telegraph she had no clue Assunta was so wealthy.

“She was very discreet,” Stefania said. “I knew very little of her private life. She only told me that she had suffered from loneliness a lot.”

Tommaso, Stefania and another cat now live in a house outside Rome.

Now I realize that none of my readers would have done what that woman did, but are we not just as foolish when we fail to use our goods as God commands—bringing down a curse upon our own heads? Think about it!

I don’t know that I’ve ever sent two “Think About” articles in the same day, but this time I’ve just got to do it. I’m so mad I want to cuss! Don’t get all bent out of shape–I’ve resisted the urge (so far). The strange thing is that someone will probably get more upset about that than what I’m about to tell you. Now, back to my story.

Bro. Preston, our Assistant Pastor, sent me a text message expressing his disgust concerning Kerry Shook and his “church” in the Woodlands (that’s in Houston for you folks who don’t live here). Like several others they are having a football theme on “Superbowl Sunday”. They are designing their service times and the sermon titles around the game and, as I understand it, doing the same while the Texans are in the play-offs. As an article in the local paper said–they will be all decked out in their Texan jerseys “rooting from the pews”.

So after responding to this I sent Bro. Kenneth a text concerning the antics of Ed Young, Jr. That’s what prompted this second article from me. Here’s the article from the Christian Post, by Anugnah Kumar that set me off:

Ed and Lisa Young, founders of Texas-based Fellowship Church, will spend 24 hours in bed on the church roof next week and stream themselves discussing sex live on the Internet to encourage married couples to see firsthand the power of a healthy sex life as prescribed in their new book, Sexperiment.

Two days after their book, Sexperiment: 7 Days to Lasting Intimacy with Your Spouse, is released Tuesday, the Youngs will take part in a 24-hour “bed-in,” which will be streamed on the book’s website as they engage the audience on issues related to intimacy in marriage.

The book encourages married couples to have sex for seven straight days – a challenge that made headlines in 2008 when Pastor Young first introduced it to his church – with the promise that the “amazing results” will last far beyond the week.——

Throughout the 24-hour period beginning at 6 a.m. Friday, Jan. 13, the Youngs will do live interviews in person as well as via Skype, answering relationship questions and highlighting their most popular teachings about sex and relationships live via Twitter and Facebook……

Pastor Young is known for using out of the ordinary ways to teach his congregation. In February 2011, he literally drove a Ferrari and Rolls-Royce onto the church stage as part of a sermon illustration to tell the congregation they are a Rolls-Royce as they are made in the image of God.

Young is also kicking off a “Sexperiment” sermon series this weekend to coincide with the book’s release.

Never in history has there been so many false teachers and gullible people. If I have to explain to you how foolish this nonsense is it wouldn’t do any good. It’s no wonder that Christians are the laughing stock of society. If all I knew about Christianity was what I saw from these so-called “Mega-churches” I would have no desire to ever become a Christian. It is a shame and disgrace what these folks will do to get a crowd and sell books. In case you’re wondering, yeah I still want to cuss! Well, I’ve decided to not read anything else today, lest it prompts me to write a third article and since I’ve got a headache I’m in no mood to do that. So I’ll just read my Bible for a while and get rid of that cussing feeling. You might want to think about that also.

As I read the headline I almost started to shout then I read the rest of the story. The headline said,”Texas Megachurch Quits Using NIV Over Accuracy Concerns”. I thought to myself, “It’s about time!”–anyone should be able to see that it isn’t accurate! But, now for the rest of the story. Here’s the article:

Pastor Gregg Matte of Houston’s First Baptist Church recently made the announcement, deciding that the church would use the Holman Christian Standard Bible instead.

“Upon review of the changes made to the NIV, Pastor Gregg believes that it is no longer as accurate in terms of reflecting the meaning of the original biblical texts,” reads the church’s website.

“Members and guests are welcome to use any translation of their choice – during the worship services, in Life Bible Studies, or for personal study of God’s Word.”

I guess he then would have to admit that for all the time he has been preaching from the NIV that he hasn’t been preaching the Word of God! I doubt we will ever hear that apology from him–but it is certainly in order. Sadly, instead of turning to the KJV he turned to another modern version. He was almost right, but altogether wrong!

I just don’t understand it. Two people hold in their hands different versions of the Bible that flatly contradict each other (70 vs. 72, Luke 10:1) and then they speak to their neighbor about having the very Word of God –speaking boldly about its trustworthiness, claiming it is without error. But even a first-grader is smart enough to know that both cannot be right.

The Bible is either perfect or it isn’t. If it is truly God’s Word it is without error. If it has errors it isn’t God’s Word. If the “Bible” you hold in your hands is wrong in one place it is less than perfect, and if you can’t trust it in one place how can you trust it in another.

The unbelievers must be laughing at us Christians, and who can blame them? They can clearly see the inconsistencies of our claims. Even they are smart enough to know that the NIV and the KJV cannot both be right. Yet we keep right on quoting the modern versions as though they are infallible, without any regard for what others think. Most of the people who tout the new versions do so because they like how they are written, as opposed to the old English of the KJV. They claim they are easier to read and understand–which isn’t true. They boldly assert their belief that their favorite version is indeed the very Word of God, although they have never studied the facts. They just like it and use it, but they have no evidence that it’s true. Corner them about it and they couldn’t debate their way out of a wet paper bag to prove their assertions if their life depended on it. They have made up their mind and no amount of facts will change them. They seem totally unconcerned about how foolish they look in the eyes of their neighbor, or what God thinks.

For people like this, personal preference is more important than truth. They feel comfortable with their belief and refused to be challenged by the facts. They feel even more confident in their error when some modern “preacher” is in agreement with them. They reason that if ” Dr. Know it all” agrees with them they must be right. But they are wrong more often than not. The most dangerous people on earth are not unbelievers, but those who claim to be God’s messengers and aren’t. They deceive folks into embracing error. Be careful who you follow!

Another thing I find strange is that folks who claim the NIV, etc. is the Word of God get incensed when someone points out the error of their ways. They act as though you have no right to use the KJV. They get fighting mad when someone suggests that the KJV is the most accurate translation of the Bible in the English language—never stopping to think, “Where was the Word of God to the English speaking world before the modern versions came along? They act as though it did not exist until their pet version came along, which is nonsense! If the KJV was God’s Word before the new versions existed it still is and if it is the modern versions aren’t. Think about it!