Do We Need To Amend The Bible?

With the activities of the holiday season, I’m a little behind on the news. Did you hear this?

I just read about an interview that CNN host Piers Morgan conducted with author and preacher Rick Warren on Christmas Eve. While discussing the issue of same-sex marriage, Morgan argued that there needs to be an “amendment to the Bible.” “Both the Bible and the Constitution were well-intentioned, Morgan told Warren, “but they are basically inherently flawed. Hence the need to amend it.”

To his credit Warren kindly, but firmly disagreed. “Not a chance. What I believe is flawed,” said the California preacher, “is human opinion, because it constantly changes.”

I don’t know the religious affiliation, if any, of the British journalist, but Morgan clearly does not understand the difference between the constitution and the commandments of Christ, between the law of the land, and the law of the Lord.

The Bible is not like the Constitution. It is not a human product, but a Divine one. While the constitution originated in the mind of man, the Bible came from the mind of God, revealed by the Holy Spirit to inspired men who penned it. The apostle Paul spoke of his writing in this fashion.

“How that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets” (Eph. 3:3-5).

Peter affirmed that we have been given “all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2Pet. 1:3). Jude wrote that we have received “the faith once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3).  And Paul told Timothy that “All scripture is given by inspiration of God” (2 Tim. 3:16).

Therefore, we should not tamper with the contents of God’s Word. Rick Warren was right when he replied to Piers Morgan: “What is new is not true. If it was here 1,000 years ago, it will be true 1,000 years from today. Opinion changes, truth doesn’t.”

Of course, Morgan is not alone in his opinion of amending the Bible. In November, an Episcopalian minister, Bertie Pearson, published a new Bible that doesn’t condemn homosexuality. His version called “The Queen James Bible” revises eight verses in the King James Bible that deal with homosexuality.”

What’s next? A Bible for thieves that doesn’t condemn stealing? Or a Bible for adulterers that doesn’t condemn fornication? Or a Bible for prevaricators that doesn’t condemn lying?

Amending the Bible is a bad idea! Not only is there no stopping point, but those who would trifle with its sacred contents are warned.

“For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” (Rev. 22:18-19)

While Morgan, Pearson and others of their ilk, may think changing “the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man” is a good idea, both secular and sacred history tells us that it always ends in disaster.

 “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death” (Prov 14:12).

 –Ken Weliever, The Preacherman