Paper versus Plastic - Todd McCauley

Hey y'all, I don't know about you, but have you noticed the trend taking place in churches across the nation. The trend I'm speaking of are people bringing their iPads and smart phones to church in place of their Bibles.  I don't know where you stand on the issue, but I don't like the trend, NOT because I'm Anti-technology or Old fashioned (maybe just a little), but because I'm Pro Bible.  So! Paper or plastic?  Meaning what should a believer carry with him to the public gathering of believers, the paper Bible or an Electronic device in place of the paper Bible. Well I choose the paper Bible for some of the following reasons.  The reasons given are not original to me.


1.  Taking a paper Bible to the public gathering shows that the Bible is important to you.


2.  Taking a paper Bible to the public gathering can be a testimony to your neighbors as they see you carrying it Sunday mornings.  


3.  Taking a paper Bible to the public gathering provides an example to others in the church, including the children.  This example is related to point #1.  As ministers of the gospel one of chief ways to influence people is by way of example. If they don't see us carrying and using our Bibles, what are we communicating?


4.  Taking a paper Bible to the public gathering eliminates the temptation of distractions (email, youtube, games). 


5.  Taking a paper Bible to the public gathering encourages the teacher or preacher.  With you phone or IPad the preacher has no idea what you're looking at, Acts or Angry birds.


6.  Taking a paper Bible to the public gathering allows you if needed to be able to give your Bible away to someone in need.


7.  Taking a paper Bible to the public gathering allows you the opportunity to mark and make notes in your paper bible in ways that you could never do on your Android device.


8.  Taking a paper Bible to the public gathering communicates that the Bible is accessible to everyone not just those who can afford the technology.


9.  Taking a paper bible the public gathering identifies you as one of "them".


10.  Taking a paper bible to the public gathering connects us to a bloodstained history.   Read the following concerning William Tyndale, translator and martyr (1494-1536).  "Although the Bible was available in the vernacular in much of Europe, the only version of the Scripture tolerated in England was St. Jerome’s Latin translation, which dated back to the 4th century. It was thus a closed book even to most clergymen, but William Tyndale, a dedicated Christian and scholar, was determined to make God’s Word accessible to all men.However, as early as 1408 a council of clergymen had met at Oxford, England, and decided that the common people should not be allowed to have copies of the Bible in their own tongue for personal use. William Tyndale’s work in England was forbidden. Undeterred, Tyndale moved to Germany. Between 1525 and 1535, he translated and printed in English the New Testament and half of the Old Testament. He worked from the Greek and Hebrew original texts, an impressive feat since knowledge of those languages was found only in the highest academic circles. His pocket-sized Bible translations were smuggled into England. The Church attempted to stop these books, ruthlessly seeking them out to confiscate and destroy them. Ultimately, Tyndale was betrayed by a friend. He was arrested in Brussels, Belgium, and condemned as a heretic. In 1536, at the nearby town of Vilvorde, he was brought forth to the place of execution, tied to the stake, strangled by the hangman, and consumed by fire. As he died, he cried at the stake with fervent zeal and a loud voice, “Lord! Open the King of England’s eyes.” This miracle God did less than a year later. In August, 1537, King Henry VIII gave his authorization to the Bible generally known as Matthew’s Bible. He decreed that it should be freely sold and read within his realm.Thus Tyndale’s great desire to get the Bible in the hands of the common people was realized. The Reformation followed soon after" (Dr. Jim McGowan).
    
     After reading this brief history of Tyndale, I appreciate my paper Bible all the more. Our paper bibles remind us of the sacrifice made to place the word of God in our hands, in a language that we can understand. 
     
     Listen, I appreciate convenience, but convenience is NOT always appropriate. Whenever we stand before God's people to either read or preach from his word may we always be able to say, "please, turn IN your bibles, Not, "please turn ON your Bibles".

Where's the word?

How many of you remember a series of Wendy's commercials in the mid eighties that featured the kindly old lady shouting out, "Where's the beef?” As a follower of Christ, I have a similar sentiment, "Where's the Word?” The more I'm exposed to Christendom (i.e. Christianity collectively) the harder it is to find the Word of God. Let me tell you the motivation for my writing this article. Earlier today I received an E-mail inviting me to attend a Men's Bible study. Okay, nothing wrong with a Men's Bible study, right? Here's the concern, "they weren't studying the BIBLE". As I continued to read the E-Mail I discovered that they would be using a book written by an Atlanta based motivational speaker/life coach entitled, "The 4:8 principle". This book is supposedly based on Philippians 4:8 and teaches you how to think rightly in order to change your life so that you can achieve your God given goals and success. Read one of the reviews of this book by one satisfied customer: "The 4:8 Principle is a fantastic book that we, as a family, are using as a framework to guide daily decisions."

Did you get that last part? They are using this guy's book as a, "...Framework to guide (their) daily decisions". Folks, isn't that the role the Bible should play in the lives of people?

Why in the world are Christian men studying a book ABOUT the Bible, and not the Bible itself?

One reason I believe is because we have lost CONFIDENCE in the SUFFICIENCY of Scripture.

As I close, allow me to remind us of three (3) important truths about Scripture:

First, it is the Scripture alone that sanctifies us (cf. John 17:17a). The word Sanctify means, “to make holy", "to set apart". Friend, ONLY God's word makes us Holy.

Second, it is Scripture alone that is truth (cf. John 17:17b). The word "truth" means, "that which corresponds with reality". Brother and Sister, Only God's word corresponds totally and absolutely with reality.

Third, it is Scripture alone that is inspired (2 Tim 3:16). The Greek word translated by the English word inspired is the word, "Theopnuestos"(pron, the-op-new-stoss). This Greek word speaks concerning the character and communication of God's word (in the original autographs). In the Greek NT this word is found only one time, in 2 Tim 3:16, and means, "breathed out by God". When the Scriptures were orginally penned God insured that what the authors wrote, they wrote without error. What this one Greek word tells me about Scripture is that the ONLY thing on planet earth that is without error is Scripture. The ONLY writing on planet earth that bears the character of God is Scripture. Our books aren't inspired, our dreams aren't inerrant, our visions aren't sufficient, and our songs aren't complete. Therefore, if the Bible alone Sanctifies, if the Bible alone is Truth, if the Bible alone is inspired, WHY, are we as Christians studying in our so-called "Bible studies" everything BUT the Bible itself?

Lord, where's the word, where's the word?

For His Glory,
CoolImprov