Preacher Signing Bibles

First time I've ever heard of this. I've been to churches / conferences where the speaker was signing copies of books he had written, but I've never seen someone signing a Bible.

Not too sure what to think about that. Guess I'll have to give it some thought.

 

I was speaking once at a church that someone had seen me racing on TV and I signed a photograph. But, I would not have signed a Bible.

 

I preached once at a SBC church. I was filling in last minute for the DOM who couldn't make it. After the service an old gentleman walked up and said "would you autograph my Bible?" And I looked at him not knowing how to respond (he'd never heard of me before, so it wasn't like he'd be able to say 'I got Nate's autograph.) Turns out he just meant for me to put my name on one of the notes pages so he would remember to pray for me. I gladly abliged.

But that made me think. I'm largely against it. In fact, I'm largely against book signings in general. I'm not sure I have scriptural support for it, I think it is more than a preference. I have one book signed. A prof who I like authored a book, and half as a joke to my wife, I had him sign it for us.

If you want to have an author sign your book, I say go for it. But for me, it seems like I'm putting too much value on someone's signature

 

I have had people ask me to sign their Bible before, but it has been a while since that has happened. Personally I think it does shed glory on the messanger rather than the message. My desire everytime I ascend the pulpit is that this sinful worm that I am would fade away and the glory of Christ would burst forth and open hearts and minds to God's greatness and truth.

If a person asks me to ever sign their Bible in the future I will decline.

 

I see nothing wrong with having someone that you were blessed by signing your Bible. The great missionary, Bertha Smith, signed mine years ago. When I see her signature it just reminds me of the privledge I had of meeting her.

 

I'm with Insuranceman. In the one or two churches I've been a member, where such a thing was done, it was so the individual had a record of preachers he/she had been privileged to hear.

However, let us not forget the wisdom of the great Jerry Clower, who said that when he started getting invitations to speak to large crowds, he'd write the event and the date in his Bible. One night, his wife found him tearing those pages out and throwing them in the fire place. She asked him what he was doing, and he said, "I don't want to get to heaven and find out I've got more in my book than He's got in His!"

 

I have one on the inside cover, it says
'Keep the faith'
- Moses

 

:laugh: :applause:

I love old Bro. Clower. He had some real wisdom!

On furlough, I occasionally get asked to sign one of the little pamphlets or books I've written. I always say, "You know, that will lower its value!" But they want it signed anyway!?! Of course I don't say the same thing when asked to sign a Bible.

As far as the right or wrong of it, the Bible doesn't say, so, to quote a famous philosopher, namely Alfred E. Newman: "What, me worry?"

I see no harm in the practice, though I've never asked anyone to sign my Bible. Having a Bible signed by someone they respect seems to be a blessing to some, just like having a Bible passed down in the family is a keepsake. So where is the harm? Maybe they will be blessed by knowing my favorite verse, which I always include (Matt. 4:19), or the Japanese characters I add of the name for Japan.

Besides, none of you would have me throw away my palm-printed signature of famous Sumo wrestler Terao, would you???

 

I have asked preachers to sign my bible before when they were a blessing to me. One of them was John's grandfather when I was a teenager. I have been asked to sign other's Bibles as well. I don't see anything wrong with it. I do occasionaly look back at the signitures in my old Bible, pray for those still living and remember those who have moved on. Each one brings to mind special memories to me. It is elevating the speaker to some degree, but these men were special to me. Often I think of those who I wish I had asked for their signature but waited to late.

 

My sentiments exactly.

 

Well said, NCT.

Grandad always signed with Ps. 126:5-6 or just 126:6. What a blessing! At college, I once had to use a pictorial NT he and Grandma had given me in order to prove my connection. "Aw, I don't believe you are John R. Rice's grandson. Prove it!" Of course I still have it. What a precious keepsake!!

It is signed, "To John Rice Himes. Congratulations on your 14th birthday and love and pride and great expectations from your Grandad and Grandmother Rice. God bless you! (Signed) John R. Rice, Ps. 126:6, Lloys C. Rice, Ps. 16:11."

By the way, I still have a couple of his handkerchiefs Grandma gave me, with an embroidered "R" on them. Think I should sell them on E-bay?? :laugh: :laugh: (No way! I still use them for whatever handkerchiefs are to be used for!)

 

About Jerry Clower;

One morning at the St. Louis airport, in a crowded restaurant, I had occasion to eat breakfast at the same table with Jerry. He was in the natural like just like he was on TV. Very funny, very gentlemanly, and very knowledgeable.

 

To accuse one of giving the messenger the glory rather than God because a preacher signs a bible is to judge the heart of a person without really knowing what is in his heart. It is not true that the only explanation for having someone sign your bible is that you are lifting up the preacher. There are other possibilities.

This kind of judgement is harmful and unecessary. It is often the reason for many divisions in the church.

My Bible has the signatures of many preachers who have been used by the Holy Ghost to encourage me. Some are well known. Some are only known to a few. I can look on their signatures in time of discouragement and remember what the Holy Ghost said through them and be encouraged yet again. As a pastor this is important.

Lets be careful of our judgements.

 

When I was a Marine on Okinawa and attending a Revival at Maranatha Baptist Church, I walked the aisle to surrender to the Gospel ministry. Bro. Tim Lee was preaching. I had him sign my Bible at the time. It meant a lot to me. Years later, at another meeting in the North Houston area, I went to hear him preach again. This time I had my family with me and I was a local pastor. My son walked the aisle and was praying. I saw Tim Lee get out of his wheel chair and crawl down next to my son to make sure he was saved. After the service, I showed Tim Lee his signature and told him he had prayed with me the same way years ago. We were all touched.:smilewinkgrin:

 

I don't see any problem with it either. Most churches Ive ever been in have all seen the signing of a Bible as a normal practice when you have been blessed and helped and convicted through his preaching. We aren't to take more honor upon ourselves, we are to give it to God instead. But that doesn't mean that we cannot give some honor to a man of God, as well. It isn't the preacher standing up there and taking the glory, it is us giving him honor where honor is due.

 

Personally, I'm not especially fond of the idea, although I have had one signed a couple of times. I think it is a matter of personal conviction, and don't look down on anyone either way.

Lester Rolloff came to speak in Chapel at BBC while I was there, and some were having him sign their Bibles, which was the first time I had ever seen this. I thought, "He didn't write the Bible, why have him sign it?" I had a hymnal with me, and I asked him to sign it instead. He looked offended, signed it anyway, with a scripture reference regarding holding God's word in high esteem. {Which was exactly what I was doing, he just didn't understand.}

I used to carry a tape recorder to record special messages, and sometimes had the preacher sign the tape. Got Jack Hyles, Ian Paisley, Jerry Fallwell, and a few others.

My daughter has a special Bible that she has carried for years, and has collected a couple of hundred signatures. Helps her remember Missionaries, guest preachers, etc. {She even let me sign it when I was ordained.}