You know, things change. One day people are reading from a scroll made of sheep skin; the next day…well, centuries, they are using movable type. Still the same trustworthy, reliable, inspired Word of God. The Bible was moved from hand copied scrolls and parchment to a more easily reproducible book form. You may remember that the Gutenburg Bible was the first book published using movable print. Seems kind of like a small breakthrough, but it was really a major advancement for people of faith. Many believers gave their lives to make sure the precious Word of God could be translated from the Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek and Latin and printed into the language of the people. Now, we have the Bible in so many good translations, you may never have time to read them all.
Breakthrough number next: the digital age. I know…we all miss the day of using our scrolls to read God’s Word. Ok, so we don’t really remember using scrolls. Most of us getting up in age, have only known the Bible to come to us in book form. It has a cover, it has pages to turn and a place to put your book mark. You could underline and highlight it if you so chose. You can carry it with you. Our Gideon friends made the Bible small enough to fit in your pocket or your pocket book. You could buy a Bible big enough to be the center piece of your coffee table. That is how I grew up. The big, black copy of the Bible that weighed several pounds was always prominently displayed on the coffee table in the center of the living room.
IT’S A NEW DAY. The world has gone digital. I am so thankful for the believers that have continued the tradition of making the Bible easily accessible. I am sure all the sheep are glad we no longer use scrolls. It is very common for worshipers to pull out their phones when the pastor asks “Now, will you open your Bibles to …”. Gladly, they take out their phone, go to their Bible app, choose the Bible translation, the book, chapter and verses. There it is…right there on their phone. It looks like they are playing “Candy Crush” or checking facebook…but they are accessing the Word of God. They also have the ability to underline, highlight, take notes, look up commentary, double check the pastor’s reference to the Greek word “agape” and instantly share with their network of social media friends, what is going on in worship at that moment. Yes, I know, they actually tweet out while we are singing “In the Tweet by and by” or “Tweet Ye First”. IT’S A NEW DAY. I am still old school and use my old tried and true printed version of God’s Holy Word. At other times, like at night before bed or while I sit and wait for an appointment, I use the Bible app on my phone. It’s the Word of God…whether it is a scroll, a 6 pound coffee table size Bible, my old 20 year old NIV or my phone’s Bible App…it is all good, all God, all the time. IT’S A NEW DAY…but it is the same wonderful words of life.
See you Sunday with my Bible in my hand…and my phone Bible app near by.
Pastor Tom
