|
|
Examining the Lies of the King James Attackers
As we press forward in examining and debunking the lies of those who attack the King James Bible, I want to examine one line of thinking that has existed for a long time. Perhaps you have heard this before: “but King James was a homosexual” or perhaps “But King James killed Baptists”. There are a number of things to consider as we examine this vein of lies.
Let me address the second one first. “But King James killed Baptists”. I have to honestly admit that until a few weeks ago, I had never heard this argument before, and I also need to admit that I heard this in an unusual place. You may be aware that at this present time amongst independent Baptists there is presently a huge fight over the inspiration and preservation of the King James Bible. In doing some research on these issues I came across a quote by Jack Schaap, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Hammond, IN. Pastor Schaap made the following statement in a book he wrote and distributed at Pastor’s School in 2008:
“There are also those men we hold high with respect, and yet they murdered and tortured our Baptist forefathers. Four such men include Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Winthrop, and yes, even King James.” (Quoted from p. 53 of Where Are We Going?)
I included the statement “But King James killed Baptists”. In the conclusion of my previous article on this subject because the above statement was stuck in my mind as I wrote this. I have found that statement odd because I do not personally know to many independent Baptists who hold Luther, Calvin and Winthrop in high regard. The reality of history proves that all that the Protestant Reformation did for Bible Believers was give us another set of enemies. With the above quote fresh in my mind I included it in the conclusion of the last article. Since that time I have done a little research on the subject and have found the following information:
· King James was connected with Edward Wightman and Bartholomew Legate being burnt at the stake
· It would be a stretch to say that Wightman or Legate were Baptists, or even Christians by the orthodox sense of the words. Consider the following information.
o The doctrines and beliefs of Bartholomew Legate were (as drawn from the Commission & Warrant for his execution):
1. That the Nicene creed, and Athanasius creed, contain not a profession of the true Christian faith.
2. That Christ is not God of God begotten, not made; but begotten, and made.
3. That there are no persons in the Godhead.
4. That Christ was not God from everlasting, but began to be God, when he took flesh of the Virgin Mary.
5. That the world was not made by Christ.
6. That the Apostles teach, Christ to be man only.
7. That there is no generation in God, but of creatures.
8. That this assertion, God to be made man, is contrary to the rule of faith, and monstrous blasphemy.
9. That Christ was not before the fullness of time, except by promise.
10. Christ was not God, otherwise than an anointed God.
11. Christ was not in the form of God equal with God, that is, in substance of God, but in righteousness, and giving salvation.
12. Christ by his Godhead wrought no miracle.
13. That Christ is not to be prayed unto.
· The doctrines and beliefs of Edward Wightman were (as drawn from the Commission & Warrant for his execution):
1. That there is not the trinity of persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, in the unity of the Deity.
2. That Jesus Christ is not the true natural Son of God, perfect God, and of the same substance, eternity and majesty with the Father in respect of his Godhead.
3. That Jesus Christ is only man and a mere creature, and not both God and man in one person.
4. That Christ, our Savior, took not human flesh of the substance of the Virgin Mary his Mother; and that, that Promise, 'The Seed of the Woman shall break the serpent's head,' was not fulfilled in Christ.
5. That the person of the Holy Ghost is not God coequal, coeternal, and coessential with the Father and the Son.
6. That the three creeds, The Apostles Creed, The Nicene Creed, and Athanasius's Creed, are the heresies of the Nicolaitanes.
7. That he the said Edward Wightman is that prophet spoken of in the eighteenth of Deuteronomy in these words, 'I will raise them up a prophet,' &c. And that, that place of Isaiah, 'I alone, have trodden the winepress;' and that place, 'Whose fan is in his hand,' are proper and personal to him, the said Edward Wightman.
8. And that he the said Wightman is that person of the Holy Ghost spoken of in the Scriptures; and the Comforter spoken of in the 16th of St. John's Gospel.
9. And that those words of our Savior Christ of the Sin of Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, are meant of his person.
10. And that, that place, the fourth of Malachi, of Elias to come, is likewise meant of his person.
11. That the soul doth sleep in the sleep of the first death, as well as the body, and is mortal as touching the sleep of the first death, as the body is; and that the soul of our Savior Jesus Christ did sleep in that sleep of death as well as his body.
12. That the souls of the elect saints departed, are not members possessed of the triumphant Church in Heaven.
13. That the baptizing of infants is an abominable custom.
14. That there ought not to be in the church the use of the Lord's Supper to be celebrated in the Elements of breath and Wine; and the use of Baptism to be celebrated in the Element of Water; as they are now practiced in the Church of England; but that the u se of Baptism is to be administered in water, only to converts of sufficient age of understanding, converted from infidelity to the faith.
15. That God hath ordained and sent him, the said Edward Wightman, to perform his part in the work of the Salvation of the world, to deliver it by his teaching, or admonition, from the heresy of the Nicolaitanes; as Christ was ordained and sent to save the world, and by his death to deliver it from sin, and to reconcile it to God.
16. And that Christianity is not wholly professed and preached in the Church of England, but only in part.
So, was King James guilty of killing Baptists? I would have to say no, not by an orthodox definition of the word Baptist.
So, was King James a homosexual, or more importantly, does any of this mater in the arguments over the Bible?
….To Be Continued