Florida school district bans Bibles on Religious Freedom Day

[windcatcher]

Is it just me.... or haven't most Christians read the story about the Ethiopian Eunach returning to his country and in route reading in the book of Isaiah. God sent Phillip (if my memory serves correctly) to explain better the passages and the fullfillment of what he read and he was converted and baptised.

A person cannot read a book he doesn't have. But once he has a book to read....he has a choice........ he can devour its contents though he may have his questions and lack some understanding. Who would dare say that he is not better prepared for someone to answer his questions and explain the gospel to him than to a person who has no preparation. In all cases... it is dependant on the Holy Spirit to draw men's hearts to Jesus Christ.


Why would a Christian question this when in so many parts of the world, the Bible is precious, and some would die trying to get and keep a copy? Is it so that there are people who are called 'Christian' that resent the distribution of any portion of scripture, or think it is unprofitable?

 

[targus]

..there are people who are called 'Christian' that resent the distribution of any portion of scripture, or think it is unprofitable?

I just love this type of hyperbolic baseless characterization of the opinions of others.

Holding the opinon that we are called to PREACH the Gospel not simply hand out Bibles equals "resenting the distribution of any protion of Scripture" in the mind of some.

Priceless. :love2:

 

[Winman]

Wow Targus, you ask if anyone has ever been saved by just reading the Bible? Yes, many thousands of people have said this is how they were saved.

It's funny, those people who want to ban the Bible from school have more faith in it than you. They do believe that a Bible can have an effect on a person, that is why they want to ban it.

 

[targus]

Wow Targus, you ask if anyone has ever been saved by just reading the Bible? Yes, many thousands of people have said this is how they were saved.

It's funny, those people who want to ban the Bible from school have more faith in it than you. They do believe that a Bible can have an effect on a person, that is why they want to ban it.

More of that baseless hyperbolic mischaracterization of others. :love2:

 

[Winman]

More of that baseless hyperbolic mischaracterization of others. :love2:

How is it a misrcharacterization? Didn't you ask if there was ever someone saved by reading the bible without someone preaching?

Is there anyone here who was saved because someone handed them a Bible without preaching the Gospel?

Is there anyone here who was saved by only reading a Bible without someone explaining the Gospel to you?

How far would someone have to read into the Bible before gaining an understanding of the Gospel well enough to know how to accept Jesus?

The written word carries the power of God. It is quick and powerful (Heb 4:12)

Go to the Blue Letter Bible and search "it is written". You will be amazed how many times Jesus said this. He put great emphasis upon the "written" word.

Matt 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Handing out Bibles is a great way to lead people to Christ. Many people have testified that they got saved reading the scriptures, or that they were convicted by the written scriptures and went to church, heard the gospel and were saved.

Preaching is important, but not all preaching is good. You can go to church where the preacher gets up and talks about helping the poor, or doing good works. Preaching is only good if it says what the written word says.

 

[targus]

How is it a misrcharacterization?

This mischaracterization...

It's funny, those people who want to ban the Bible from school have more faith in it than you.

 

[Winman]

This mischaracterization...

I don't see that as a mischaracterization at all. You questioned whether whether people can get saved by reading the scriptures alone. That is doubt.

Those people who oppose the bible on the other hand seem to have a great fear of it. So it is obvious they believe the written word of God can have an effect on people.

 

[targus]

I don't see that as a mischaracterization at all. You questioned whether whether people can get saved by reading the scriptures alone. That is doubt.

Those people who oppose the bible on the other hand seem to have a great fear of it. So it is obvious they believe the written word of God can have an effect on people.

Believe of me what you will...

I know you to be wrong.

If you are comfortable judging the mind and heart of someone who you have never met - good for you - I guess.

 

[ReformedBaptist]

Believe of me what you will...

I know you to be wrong.

If you are comfortable judging the mind and heart of someone who you have never met - good for you - I guess.

Would you stand with the state and forbid Christians from distributing Bibles?

 

[targus]

Would you stand with the state and forbid Christians from distributing Bibles?

In general - no.

Under certain specific limited circustances - yes.

For example - I would be ok with not allowing the distribution of Bibles at a polling place. Or in a jury room.

 

[Winman]

Believe of me what you will...

I know you to be wrong.

If you are comfortable judging the mind and heart of someone who you have never met - good for you - I guess.

I apologize for being too blunt. I really don't think any such thing about you. Sometimes we say something we really don't mean. I am sure you love the Word of God and have much faith in it.

So, I was being a little rough, I am often like that. I apologize for that. I have never been known for having much tact. My father who recently passed away and younger brother are even worse!

 

[targus]

I apologize for being too blunt. I really don't think any such thing about you. Sometimes we say something we really don't mean. I am sure you love the Word of God and have much faith in it.

So, I was being a little rough, I am often like that. I apologize for that. I have never been known for having much tact. My father who recently passed away and younger brother are even worse!

No problem.

I assume that everyone here is Christian if not Baptist and as such love the Scriptures.

Our disagreement is more about focus - I just happen to think that a one on one sharing of the Gosple is more productive than handing out Bibles on a wholesale basis.

I talked with my wife about this - she is a public school teacher with 30 years experience - and her concern was how many of those kids that were handed Bibles without a sharing of the Gospel are throwing them in the trash - or worse.

 

[Winman]

No problem.

I assume that everyone here is Christian if not Baptist and as such love the Scriptures.

Our disagreement is more about focus - I just happen to think that a one on one sharing of the Gosple is more productive than handing out Bibles on a wholesale basis.

I talked with my wife about this - she is a public school teacher with 30 years experience - and her concern was how many of those kids that were handed Bibles without a sharing of the Gospel are throwing them in the trash - or worse.

Well, if only one child reads the bible given them and ends up getting saved, it would be worth it.

I don't know if they are still doing it, but Gideon's used to give out New Testaments, in fact I received one when I was a boy and had it for many years.

Here are some testimonies, showing several who accepted Christ through receiving a Gideon's Bible.

http://www.gideonsintl.ca/-media/returns/youth.html

 

[ReformedBaptist]

In general - no.

Under certain specific limited circustances - yes.

For example - I would be ok with not allowing the distribution of Bibles at a polling place. Or in a jury room.

Good. Then leave these be. The state of Florida has overstepped their bounds. Not that you have anything to do with it anyway.

My children will never face this because I will never have them in a state school, at least not for the better part of their education. But if they were to be in a public school setting I would encourage them to share their faith, distribute Bibles, pray, and preach the Gospel to students and teachers, whatever the cost.

No state, or government on earth has the authority to forbid a single Christian from preaching the Gospel whenever and wherever God sends them.

 

[RAdam]

So once one is regenerated, he has no use for the bible? That's what I learned from this thread.

Good grief.

 

[targus]

So once one is regenerated, he has no use for the bible? That's what I learned from this thread.

Good grief.

How are you getting this idea?

 

[Revmitchell]

How are you getting this idea?

uh....me too.

 

[RAdam]

From targus basically saying that giving out bibles is a worthless endeavour unless one preaches to them trying to get that person into heaven. He puts all the emphasis on regeneration and totally forgets practical sanctification.

 

[targus]

Good. Then leave these be. The state of Florida has overstepped their bounds. Not that you have anything to do with it anyway.

It isn't the State of Florida that is banning the distribution of Bibles on the public school campuses - it is the Collier County School District.

The schoold district is operating within their authority to set rules about who can and cannot distribute literature on the school grounds.

If the citizens of the county disagree with it - they should replace the superintendent.

My children will never face this because I will never have them in a state school, at least not for the better part of their education. But if they were to be in a public school setting I would encourage them to share their faith, distribute Bibles, pray, and preach the Gospel to students and teachers, whatever the cost.

Students are not being prevented from sharing the Gospel with each other in this case.

They are preventing a non-profit group from coming onto the school property to distribute Bibles.

No state, or government on earth has the authority to forbid a single Christian from preaching the Gospel whenever and wherever God sends them.

Actually that is not true.

There are trespass laws.

 

[Revmitchell]

He puts all the emphasis on regeneration and totally forgets practical sanctification.

Which is the focus of passing out Bible at a school.