Do you bring your Bible to church?

[evangelist6589]

I am seeing a sad trend in that many no longer bring their Bibles to church but rely on phones and iPad's. The problem with this is that many will be texting, checking FB, watching movies, and the like while listening to a sermon. Bob Jones University made a policy in recent years against electronic Bibles in chapel's which is a very good idea. The second trend are churches that display all the Bibles verses on the screen and people no longer need to carry their Bibles.

I know that some that like these trends are going to militantly defend themselves and say I am "criticizing" them or something, and which I am indeed! I do so with a valid reason and that is that people need to learn how to read the Bible for all its worth, and they need to know how to find books of the Bible without a computer as I once had to memorize Bible books. Also checking FB and the like during a sermon is not a good idea.

As for me I follow leaders whom set an example. John MacArthur brings his Bible to church and does not use a electronic device to preach. I have yet to see a YouTube video of Ray Comfort open air preaching with a electronic device.

 

[annsni]

I really love how you jump to conclusions when it is not warranted.

Yes, I bring my paper Bible with me to church. I also bring my iPad and iPhone. I will generally use my paper Bible if we are going to be staying in one Scripture passage but I've started using my iPad if we are going to be going to multiple Scriptures so that I can write and turn to the passages more quickly. I do not text, I do not go on Facebook or watch movies. Watch movies?? Really? That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard.

 

[thisnumbersdisconnected]

I know that some that like these trends are going to militantly defend themselves and say I am "criticizing" them or something, and which I am indeed! I do so with a valid reason ...

Please show me the Scripture that allows you to condemn the form in which we carry God's word.

I have done both, and I continue to carry my trusty old NASB Key Word Study Bible to services and Bible study. However, I also carry a version of that same NASB on my phone (a new HTC 1, not the iPhone you included in the poll, which forces me not to vote) that I use often. My Key Word Study Bible has a lengthy concordance, the Strong's definitions for every single word in the Bible as well as the AMG ("Key Word" publisher) expanded word definitions and usages, and even a rather extensive Maps section. So why use my phone? Because I can access the exact same information much more quickly, efficiently and quietly that I can noisily turning pages during the sermon or Bible study.

You're making assumptions that everyone who uses their phone or tablet is going to get distracted and start texting, emailing, playing games or watching movies. (Really?? You've actually witnessed this?) Perhaps some will. Most won't. In fact, I've never seen anyone with a Bible app on their phone or tablet doing anything during services or Bible studies except using that app. So refuse to use the electronic versions if you wish. Don't worry about what others are doing, fair enough?

 

[evangelist6589]

Please show me the Scripture that allows you to condemn the form in which we carry God's word.

I have done both, and I continue to carry my trusty old NASB Key Word Study Bible to services and Bible study. However, I also carry a version of that same NASB on my phone (a new HTC 1, not the iPhone you included in the poll, which forces me not to vote) that I use often. My Key Word Study Bible has a lengthy concordance, the Strong's definitions for every single word in the Bible as well as the AMG ("Key Word" publisher) expanded word definitions and usages, and even a rather extensive Maps section. So why use my phone? Because I can access the exact same information much more quickly, efficiently and quietly that I can noisily turning pages during the sermon or Bible study.

You're making assumptions that everyone who uses their phone or tablet is going to get distracted and start texting, emailing, playing games or watching movies. (Really?? You've actually witnessed this?) Perhaps some will. Most won't. In fact, I've never seen anyone with a Bible app on their phone or tablet doing anything during services or Bible studies except using that app. So refuse to use the electronic versions if you wish. Don't worry about what others are doing, fair enough?

Thats why in my post I said "many" for I know that not everyone will misuse their electronic devices. However it has become such a problem in some environments that BJU had to prohibit electronic Bibles, and Pastor Erwin Lutzer released a CD series of a sermon he preached on this same topic and said the same. But I am aware there are millions of people out there and many do not misuse their electronic devices, but many do. With old trusty paper Bibles no one could do these things.

 

[Gib]

I've seen plenty of people over the years, even before there were cell phones and tablets, carry their Bibles in hand with a pen and doodle all over their bulletin the during the pastor's message. Who needs Facebook when you can draw flowers and butterflies all over your bulletin?

 

[evangelist6589]

I really love how you jump to conclusions when it is not warranted.

Yes, I bring my paper Bible with me to church. I also bring my iPad and iPhone. I will generally use my paper Bible if we are going to be staying in one Scripture passage but I've started using my iPad if we are going to be going to multiple Scriptures so that I can write and turn to the passages more quickly. I do not text, I do not go on Facebook or watch movies. Watch movies?? Really? That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard.

There are good uses of these electronic devices and you have made one.

 

[evangelist6589]

I've seen plenty of people over the years, even before there were cell phones and tablets, carry their Bibles in hand with a pen and doodle all over their bulletin the during the pastor's message. Who needs Facebook when you can draw flowers and butterflies all over your bulletin?

Excellent point. However FB, YouTUbe, and the like have made the distractions far easier to access, and with the ADD culture that we live in today, I am afraid these devices are a distraction for far more than they are helping. Pastor Erwin Lutzer preached a series on this topic recently and he agrees. The media, the internet, tablets, and phones, are a great asset to our society, but also a major problem and not just with distractions during a church service. But like anything they also have their advantages.

 

[Don]

I'm one of those ones that's going to "militantly" defend themselves.

How dare you dictate the terms of my bible reading and studying?

Do you have any--ANY--idea how handy that "electronic" version comes in when you hear a pastor make a statement about a passage, and you can quickly look up in your (included) Strong's, Commentary, or other bible study aid to determine if the pastor is correct? In the past, I had to write down what was said, and wait until I got home to do the research. Either way -- looking it up right then electronically, or writing it down so I could research it later -- I was now distracted for the next couple of minutes.

Or consider this: How many of us walk out of the house, only to realize we forgot our cell phone, and will go back to get the phone? But how many of us walk out of the house, only to realize we forgot our bible, but don't go back for it? So I load a bible on whatever cell phone I have at the time, and I'm ALWAYS good-to-go.
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Every time we have a "new way of doing things," we meet those people who want to "remain pure" to the old way. Please consider: Your argument is VERY similar to the KJVOs.

 

[InTheLight]

Thats why in my post I said "many" for I know that not everyone will misuse their electronic devices.

I am afraid these devices are a distraction for far more than they are helping.

You didn't answer the question: Have you seen people surfing Facebook or watching movies on their iPad during church?

 

[evangelist6589]

You didn't answer the question: Have you seen people surfing Facebook or watching movies on their iPad during church?

Indeed so.

 

[thisnumbersdisconnected]

However it has become such a problem in some environments that BJU had to prohibit electronic Bibles ...

"Had to"? Or made the legalistic choice to do so? Knowing BJU, which I admire for its theology but not for its legalism, I think is more likely the latter.

... and Pastor Erwin Lutzer released a CD series of a sermon he preached on this same topic and said the same.

Lutzer also lost a lawsuit three years ago as the result of his sending personal documents and information alleging marital infidelity and personal problems to a church which had hired a former Moody Church pastor who had resigned. As the alleged infidelity and personal problems were not a factor in the man's resignation, and never proven to be actual fact, I wouldn't say his judgment is the best upon which to base any stance concerning Christian or church issues, despite his lengthy teaching history. And what right has he to criticize the "electronicization" of the Bible when he's all over Facebook, Twitter, has podcasts, videocasts and every other kind of -cast to promote himself?

With old trusty paper Bibles no one could do these things.

Unless, of course, they let them sit around and gather dust from disuse. But no one would do that, would they?

 

[Tom Bryant]

I am seeing a sad trend in that many no longer bring their Bibles to church but rely on phones and iPad's. The problem with this is that many will be texting, checking FB, watching movies, and the like while listening to a sermon. Bob Jones University made a policy in recent years against electronic Bibles in chapel's which is a very good idea. The second trend are churches that display all the Bibles verses on the screen and people no longer need to carry their Bibles.

I know that some that like these trends are going to militantly defend themselves and say I am "criticizing" them or something, and which I am indeed! I do so with a valid reason and that is that people need to learn how to read the Bible for all its worth, and they need to know how to find books of the Bible without a computer as I once had to memorize Bible books. Also checking FB and the like during a sermon is not a good idea.

As for me I follow leaders whom set an example. John MacArthur brings his Bible to church and does not use a electronic device to preach. I have yet to see a YouTube video of Ray Comfort open air preaching with a electronic device.

So what's the problem with putting Bible verses on a screen? We encourage people to bring their Bibles - electronic or otherwise - we also provide Bibles in the seats for people. But we also attract people who wouldn't know genesis from Revelation, much less where to find Micah. So we put them on the screen because faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. We want everyone to be able to see - whether they have a Bible or not - the Word of God.

And, one more part of the rant: Who cares what JM or RC do?

 

[padredurand]

and Pastor Erwin Lutzer released a CD series of a sermon he preached on this same topic and said the same.

Being electronically distracted is no more or less distracted. An electronic Bible is no more or less a Bible.

Ironic. Pastor Lutzer releases a series of messages condemning one form of electronic media in another electronic format. Moody Church Media has hundreds of podcasts, sermons, and Pastor Lutzer's blogs available on their website.

You don't need an iPad to get distracted. Folk will watch a spider weave a web, twist their wristwatches around to get the sun to reflect off the face and cast a dot of light across the sanctuary, or rummage in the bottom of their handbag looking for a cough drop.

As Gib mentioned, folks have been entertaining themselves for years with their bulletins. They make paper airplanes out of them, doodle, fill in all the letters o,b and d. write out a shopping list. You don't even need a bulletin to get distracted. Preacher reads the text and some folk just keep on reading to themselves. I've seen me do it! Preacher read from Acts and I was almost finished reading Romans before he was done.

 

[annsni]

So what's the problem with putting Bible verses on a screen? We encourage people to bring their Bibles - electronic or otherwise - we also provide Bibles in the seats for people. But we also attract people who wouldn't know genesis from Revelation, much less where to find Micah. So we put them on the screen because faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. We want everyone to be able to see - whether they have a Bible or not - the Word of God.

And, one more part of the rant: Who cares what JM or RC do?

We have "pew Bibles" but we don't have pews so we have the ushers hand out Bibles at the beginning of the message. On the screen, I will put the reference to the text we are going to use and then the page number in the pew Bible so that people who don't know where the books are can find it easily. It's VERY rare that we would put the actual text on the screen.

 

[annsni]

Oh and I think the OP would laugh at me when I do my personal Bible study at home. Laptop at the ready, Kindle in hand, iPad on my lap and notebook on the table. Then I'm ready to go. In addition to the regular reading that I do for my quiet time, I'm also going through Wiersbe's book on 1 Peter and so that is on my Kindle and I have been using my iPad as my Bible so that I can hop and skip easily. If there is a particular passage or verse I want to highlight, I'll grab my regular Bible as well to highlight it because I love running into highlights and notes as I later read through the Scriptures. So I'm a mess when I study!

 

[sag38]

Let's see: First we are not allowed to ask for a donation for a meal at church. Second, we are not allowed to bring our ipad in place of a paper Bible. What's Evangelist's next petty pet peeve?

 

[Dr. Bob]

Another silly topic that is an electronic waste of my time having to moderate

 

[Yeshua1]

I really love how you jump to conclusions when it is not warranted.

Yes, I bring my paper Bible with me to church. I also bring my iPad and iPhone. I will generally use my paper Bible if we are going to be staying in one Scripture passage but I've started using my iPad if we are going to be going to multiple Scriptures so that I can write and turn to the passages more quickly. I do not text, I do not go on Facebook or watch movies. Watch movies?? Really? That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard.

I have seen at my church leather bound bibles, paper backed ones, tablets, I pads/phones/smart phones etc as ways to read and follow the message of the sermon..

My Senior pastor has remarked that if you have to go to movies/youtube while he is preachin, keep volume on low, and that he is doing a really bad job ifyou feel inclined to go there during the message!

 

[sag38]

All through college, seminary, and any other venues I have attended I have doodled during lectures, speeches, sermons, etc. I have even been guilty of day dreaming. God forbid!! It is really hard for me to exclusively focus on a speaker unless he or she is really on point. Even when I am watching a movie I fidget and need something to do with my hands. Just because someone does not appear to be in rapt attention mode while silently perusing a supposed distraction does not mean that he or she is not listening. We would do well to pay more attention to our own spot on the pew rather than being distracted by what someone else is doing in his or her own spot.

 

[preacher4truth]

I take a Bible.

I heard there was this sect in the NT that made up some silly rules and watched others to see if they also adhered to them, and if they didn't they were mocked and ridiculed.