A preacher friend of mine is a bit disillusioned concerning members who do not bring a Bible to church. In this particular church most of those who do not bring a Bible are men. Some of these men leave a Bible in 'their' pew, but of these there is a count of exactly two.
I've seen this elsewhere, where men would not carry in a Bible but would leave one in their favorite 'spot'.
I've witnessed the same trend in several churches. The thing is that almost every woman brings a Bible. The men? Not so much.
That said, when watching those who enter for the 'worship service' nearly every man who enters do not bring a Bible. They don't use a tablet, smart phone Bible -- they use nothing at all.
There are few men who actually bring a Bible to SS or to worship. Said simply sit there, some fall asleep, some look completely disinterested.
Is bringing a Bible indicative of being spiritual, indicative of intent to grow, or is bringing a Bible just unnecessary?
It seems more women bring a Bible to church than do men.
I'll have to check, but I can't think of a man who does not bring a Bible to church. I will say many of the Bibles are being held together with duck tape, I guess they like their old Bible and don't wish to pay for it to be recovered. I will say we are a rather conservative church and 50 percent or more are over 55.
When I go to assemble with Believers, I always carry my iPad.
I have several Bibles on it.
I also leave a Bible on the pew of the Church I am a member of.
Doesn't necessarily mean one is less spiritual if one leaves a Bible on the pew.
It may just mean he has another at home.
What is this leaving a Bible on the pew stuff about???
Technology seems to have not helped with folks bringing their Bibles. If they are gonna blast every verse on the screen, why bring a Bible, I'm sure is the thinking?
Not to mention a lot of folks are just carrying their Bibles for show and what's in it doesn't mean a hill of beans to them.
Yes, it doesn't mean one is less spiritual. The two men I refer to have one at church, and they don't use it during the message either, their Bible sits under the chair in front of them.
There is no screen allowed at this church! Screens are bad and worldly!
I've not thought of some carrying a Bible for 'show'. Years ago a trustee of mine talked about how Bill Clinton carried a worn out Bible when filmed going to church and said 'there is no way he wore that Bible out himself'.
Yet I am somewhat perplexed about the amount of men who do not take a Bible to church. Let's think the opposite of carrying one for 'show' and perhaps think they are 'embarrassed' to carry one?
That was my line of thinking. At the church my wife and I attend, the Bible verses are projected onto three very large screens; one at "center stage" and one each on either side of it. When we first started attending, we both brought our Bibles with us all of the time. Now it's about 50/50. Although, I do have to say that at least when I carry my Bible with me, I can read the other passages around the verse being displayed on the screen to get a little better idea of the context. Don't get that option with just reading from the screen.
Just got an Android phone and have already downloaded a couple of Bible apps, so at least now if I'm not bringing my regular Bible with me, I can always use an app or two to follow along with.
I dont think it makes someone 'more of a christian' or 'super spiritual', However, I kinda feel like we should love our Bible and having it on us if not Digital then hard copy, Nothing like shouting Amen and raising your Bible :p
I'd feel NAKED if I showed up at church or any other Gospel preaching/teaching function or meeting without my Bible in hand. Maybe I'm just "old-school" or something but that is just how I feel and believe. I love to hear the sound of pages turning when my Pastor asks everyone to "open your Bibles too...." or find such and such passage or verse in the scriptures. A very sweet sound indeed. Any man who would bring a Bible in and leave it in his "spot" likely doesn't read it the other six days a week either. That may not be true all the time...but I'd wager it is most of the time.
As I said, my iPad carries my Bible.
And I do not just open it on days I go to assemble with others... I open it daily.
One has to when one is a member of Internet forums where things oft he Christian faith are discussed and debated.
I have no problem with the iPad thing but as an "old-schooler" I'll always prefer the old "black-backed Book". I suppose if everybody went to using the iPad I'd probably go get one and figure out how to use it. Just love flippin those pages. I will say though that it did bother me to sit in church not long ago and observe the young lady in front of me playing solitaire on hers DURING CHURCH. It was just impossible not to notice and it hurt my heart to see that.
We do have a few women and one man that I know of who use their cellphone or something for an e-Bible. I had just believed everyone brought a Bible to church if they had one.
While I do have Solitaire (and other games) on my iPad, I never played them in Church in the past, nor will I ever play them in Church in the future. (today, being the present, is not a Church day :laugh: )
In my opinion, the young lady should have had her iPad taken away and given back to her after service.
I appreciate your comment and your "opinion"... I actually thought about that...but she was bigger than me....and I didn't want to cause a scene...(or get beat up):laugh:.