Unchaining the Lion
For years, many of us in the King James Bible community have felt the burden of being “KJB Defenders.” We’ve seen the councils, the committees, and the endless arguments over manuscripts. But we must ask ourselves: if we believe this is God’s perfect and inerrant Word, why do we act as if it’s a fragile thing that needs our protection?
The great preacher Charles Spurgeon was once asked how he would defend the Bible. He famously replied:
“Open the door and let the lion out; he will take care of himself. The way to meet infidelity is to spread the Bible. The answer to every objection against the Bible is the Bible.”
When we stop arguing and start preaching, we finally let the Lion out of the cage. Here is why shifting from “defending” to “proclaiming” is the most scriptural path we can take.
1. The Power is in the “Quickness”
In Hebrews 4:12, the KJB tells us the Word of God is “quick, and powerful.” In this context, quick means living.
This verse depicts the Bible not as an object to be shielded, but as a sharp, surgical instrument that does the work itself. If a surgeon spent all day arguing about the sharpness of his scalpel but never performed a surgery, no one would be healed. By preaching the Word directly, we allow the “surgical” work of the Holy Spirit to penetrate the soul and spirit—a far more powerful witness than any technical argument over manuscripts.
2. From “Winning Arguments” to “Winning Souls”
The “spiritual ax to grind” that has plagued Christendom often stems from a place of fear—a fear that if we don’t prove the Bible’s perfection, God’s kingdom will somehow fail. However, Isaiah 55:11 removes that burden from our shoulders:
“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please…”
If the Word is guaranteed to prosper, the pressure is off the believer to be a master debater. Our responsibility is simply to be a faithful messenger. When we trust the sovereignty of the text, we stop trying to win the debate and start trying to win the soul.
3. The Balance of Meekness
We are often told to “stand on our convictions,” but we must do so according to the “how-to” found in 1 Peter 3:15. We are told to be ready to give an answer, but to do so with “meekness and fear.”
This is where many defense organizations struggle. Arguments often lack humility. When you approach someone with the KJB not as a weapon to beat them into submission, but as the source of your hope, the conversation changes entirely. It moves from a cold debate about textual criticism to a living testimony of God’s grace.
4. Prioritizing Unity Over Strife
The result of constant bickering is the loss of friends, spiritual brothers, and sisters. Scripture warns heavily against being proud and “doting about questions and strifes of words” (1 Timothy 6:4).
There is a deep irony in trying to “defend” a Book that commands us to love one another by treating our brethren with contempt. The best way to honor the King James Bible is to live out the truths found within its pages:
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To love one another.
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To be at peace with all men.
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To preach the Gospel to every creature.
Conclusion: Let the Sword Do the Work
The Word of God is a “discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” It doesn’t need our meager, frail attempts to bolster its authority. It is an irresistible force.
Preach the Word. It can defend itself. Preach Jesus, and let the bickering end. KJV