The Year of the Bible

John 8:47
"He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God."

Pennsylvannia atheists and PA lawmakers have been battling after the state’s House of Representatives unanimously passed a resolution calling 2012 the “Year of the Bible.” At the time, a staff lawyer from the Freedom From Religion Foundation called the act “shocking.”

Now, two other groups, American Atheists and Pa. Nonbelievers, are being accused of invoking racial themes after posting a Bible-inspired billboard against the designation. Their sign, which tackles the issue of slavery, was erected in an area of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, with a large African American population.

State Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland (D-Delaware), a black legislator, was one of the many voices objecting to the now-removed billboard, which featured a shackled slave. The image of the individual in shackles appeared below the words, “Slaves, obey your masters.” Kirkland supported the Bible resolution and has claimed that the billboard took the Bible out of context and that it portrayed both racism and hatred.

“I’m a Christian,” Kirkland said. “My master is Jesus Christ, so I obey Him.”

When it comes to the billboard, Ernest Perce V, of the American Atheists says that he and his group would like the House to repeal the Bible resolution. “We want Christians to accept all of the Bible and to accept the wicked parts as well,” he said. “The bible was used as an excuse for many very bad things, including American slavery.”

source, www.WGAL.com

Godless men are at their worst when attempting to usurp the will of the believers. Like Satan, they will twist, abuse and misquote God's word in an effort to confuse and condemn Christians. The above-noted story is a good case study of how these godless people work. It's also a prime warning to believers to read, study and believe God's word on a daily basis, so that when the enemy or the world distorts God's word, we are ready with the Gospel of peace and the shield of faith (Eph. 6:15-16).

Notice that Colossians 3:22 is taken out of context (plus the quote is from a non-KJV Bible):

"Slaves, obey your masters."

The King James Version of Colossians 3:22-24 gives a better - and correct - perspective:

²²Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God;

²³And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

²⁴Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

Servants of Christ are called to serve their masters (ie, bosses) as to the Lord Jesus. In other words, everything we do, we are doing for the Lord. Whether it is washing dishes, mowing the lawn, filing paperwork, cooking a meal, performing heart surgery, driving a delivery truck or standing in the grocery line (which I really hate, especially when the coupon lady is in the front line pulling out each single piece of coupon from her baggy purse). AND, we are to do it "heartily", meaning merrily, joyfully.

Also, notice that the atheists stated , “We want Christians to accept all of the Bible and to accept the wicked parts as well,”

Of course, Christians accept ALL of the Bible! The wicked parts are Adam's disobedience; Cain's hatred of Abel; Abraham's unbelief in Egypt; Jacob's trickery; David's adultery; Solomon's polygamy & worldliness; Saul's bloodthirsty zeal for killing Christians; and on and on. Of course we accept the wicked parts because the Bible mirrors our hearts because all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23).

Another statement the atheist made: “The bible was used as an excuse for many very bad things, including American slavery.”

Yes, the Bible was used to excuse and condone very evil actions in the world. This doesn't mean that the Bible promoted slavery. Just a quick reading of the Book of Exodus will tell you how God emancipated the Hebrew slaves from bondage. By the way, His dear Son Jesus Christ can do the same for you and me (Luke 19:10; Rom. 10:9-10).

Finally, every year is the Year of the Bible as far as I'm concerned. In 2011, it marked the 400th anniversay of King James I commissioning the translation of the Bible into the English language. No matter what king, principality, political group, nation or era has done to destroy the KJV Bible, it has withstood the attacks and the test of time.

God's word truly endures forever!

For those not acquainted with the wonderfully poetic and beautifully translated King James Bible, I am attaching a link (right here: The King James Bible 400th Celebration) for your perusal. Enjoy and may the Lord richly bless you today.

To find out more about having a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, see here: The Plan of Salvation