I Haven’t Opened My Bible in Years
Image by Martin Gommel
The year was 2000. The place was Cedar Rapids, Iowa. I was with a small group of high school students helping roof homes and clean out run down buildings as part of a mission trip. Each evening we would gather with other teams for worship, and each evening the speaker, in classic Joel Osteen fashion (still practically unknown at that point), would urge us to lift up our Bibles and proclaim, “This is my Bible…”
There I stood, holding my Palm Pilot, joining the throng - with strange glances all around and snickers from the students I was with.
I had a Bible. I hadn’t packed it for the trip, though. My Bible had become the digital version I carried with me everywhere I went.
Nine years later and little has changed, except that I’d have to think really hard if I needed to find my print Bible, and the Bible form I use regularly has expanded beyond the simple form I used back then.
The Bible I use doesn’t cost me a dime and is much more powerful than flipping through the pages of a book. It allows me to access Scripture from anywhere at anytime and to find specific verses or search for topics with a few swipes of my fingers. I can ‘highlight’ and save passages that carry more weight for me at that particular time, or share them via email or even through friendships on social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook. I can even add personal notes, share thoughts or media on particular passages with others, and glean from what others have learned and experienced through their own lives.
What about you? What form of the Bible do you use most often?
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Mark.Burleson shared their voice on 09.08.2009:
hehe you could say in John Osteen fashion.. he took that from his dad =]
I still prefer reading/studying from my paper bible though
Chris shared their voice on 09.08.2009:
Daniel Decker shared their voice on 09.08.2009:
I find myself using Youversion more and more, especially for quick reference or specific passage lookup, but I still like using the paper Bible when I am doing a study. When studying (mornings) I typically find myself sitting at my desk with my journal, Quest Study Bible, NIV Archeological Bible, Message and a Chapter-by-Chapter commentary book. Once in a while I’ll break out the Mounce’s Expository Dictionary too… when I am feeling really nerdy. :)
All in all, I think being in the Word is what is most important, regardless of how someone accesses it. I see no difference in spiritual value in the mechanism that delivers it (book, electronic, audio, etc). Whatever connects.
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Brad Ruggles shared their voice on 09.08.2009:
Yeah, that’s so true. I always chuckle when I visit churches who have the “house Bibles” and the speaker tells everyone “turn to Matthew 6:1…that’s page 654 in your Bibles.” Meanwhile, it takes me all of 2 seconds to type it in and pull it up in almost any version I want.
On a separate note, I’m really looking forward to YouVersion Live and the interactive element it will provide!