Why should we bring our bibles to church? I’m a pastor. I’m called to the ministry of the Word. That’s easy enough. But what about the rest of the church? Why should you bring your bibles too?
After visiting a few churches recently, I can see how enticing it would be to leave your bibles at home. They feel big and heavy and take up approximately 50% of your available hand-resources. Who wouldn’t want to go paperless?
To combat this urge to lighten the load, I’ve heard (and made) all kinds of arguments as to why it’s important to bring your bible to church:
- to demonstrate that we are the people of the Word
- to train people to read their bibles
- to ensure everyone is reading along with the preacher
- to evaluate and hopefully affirm the content of the sermon
But the unencumbered fire back…
- You can carry multiple versions of the bible on your phone, ipod, kindle, etc.
- We can display the text with a projector.
- What about the guest without a bible?
- What about the unnecessary slaughter of trees? (welcome to the CA mission field!)
Guys like Tim Challies have been interacting with this topic recently…well, except for the the “green” argument. Others mock the “books are a better technology” argument on youtube.
One angle I haven’t seen anyone discussing is how the congregation is going to minister to one another without a “hard copy” (let’s assume most people haven’t yet memorized large swaths of scripture). This may be the strongest argument for carrying a bible to church. Sure, you can pull up the verse on your phone or kindle and then pass it over to your friend or the guest who has come down front for prayer after the service…but how awkward is that? I’ve never even held a kindle. Every time I hand my iphone to someone they bump the screen and mess up the funny video I wanted to share with them. I can see a day coming when a future mobile device will be practical for this kind of thing but not yet, not from where I’m standing.
So for now, if for no other reason, bring your bibles to church so you can encourage one another. What else do we have offer but his Word? Tote ‘em and Quote ‘em.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
“but how awkward is that? I’ve never even held a kindle. Every time I hand my iphone to someone they bump the screen and mess up…”
You should use a Blackberry instead
A Christian not bring his/her bible to church, or not having it handy wherever they are, is a concept that my mind just cannot fathom. Maybe it is because I became a Christian in the ’70s, and in Orange County at that, but not always having my bible with me is like not having my right arm.
Craig B