Posted by
Hallelujah sunrise on Friday, October 12, 2007 1:44:40 AM
How many have been to a church where the bible verses are dictated on an overhead screen to go along with the sermon? What's the point of bringing a bible to church if the verses to the sermon are on the TV screen? Now one could take a bible along with them to see if the verses that are on the screen match up to what the bible says, but since the words to the bible are right up there for anyone to see, why bring the extra baggage? I mean, it's hard enough just to carry a huge coffee mug.
The thing is, there are people out there who don't know the bible for various reasons, including the issues of lack of desire, lack of friends to hold them accountable, lack of purpose in life or even a lack of storms-why go to the bible if all is sunny and rosy in your life? Of course, I am talking about Christians here. So, to place the scripture on the silver screen for all to see, is not helping people in their search of the scriptures. The audience isn't really reading the Word. The Word is being dictated to them but in a practical kind of way. In olden days, the preacher would say, "turn to such and such a passage" in the bible, and we would turn to "such and such a passage" while during the whole process, hearing the rattling of the pages as they turn. We would read along with the pastor and sometimes beyond, in order to get a broader perspective of the sermon. With the bible in front of me, I usually find myself looking up other scripture quotations that go along with the subject that is being taught. And if I didn't have a bible, there was usually one in the back of the pew, or I could read off someone else-if she's good looking, that would be a bonus (I am still human and male). But a lot of churches have gotten away from the practice of having its members read from the bible whether it's because it's easier for people to follow along in one translation on the screen or that people don't want to feel left out because they didn't bring a bible with them to church. The words are being read to us, and we aren't even being challenged to search the scriptures to find out whether these things are so (Acts 17:11).
If you are in a church that is currently showing the words to the Holy Bible on the silver screen for all to see and take note, just chalk it up to one more reason for biblical illiteracy and treating the Word as any other talking points memo(TM) to go along with other issues in life.
Now, if I may be bold in saying, or really, really liberal, let's make this Sunday, bring-a-bible-to-church day. It wouldn't be that hard considering most of us own at least six. Let's not just be hearers of the Word but doers also (James 1:22).