I have heard it said that the King James Version is the only “inspired” version of the Bible from the table of contents to the maps in the back. Some may laugh at that while others cheer. This is indicative of a long running debate over which version of the Bible is the most accurate.
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There is a new debate raging today that has less to do with the linguistic versions. Today's debate centers around the physical versus the digital. This debate gets even more passionate when applied specifically to the worship service. The rest of this post will focus on that environment.
I have heard many argue it is distracting when people use a digital Bible in church. They are convinced “those people” are also surfing the web or playing games instead of following along in a Bible app.
When I ask those who make this statement if they can see the screens of those digital devices, the answer is “no” almost 100 percent of the time, and those who can see the screens cannot verify what is actually on them.
I grew up going to church. I remember many times looking around the sanctuary and seeing a couple of people who had their Bibles open as if they were following along. However, upon closer observation, I noticed they had a magazine open and laying in their Bible. For some reason that did not spark a debate about whether we should bring an English Bible versus ancient scrolls to church. Full disclosure: I could not tell if the magazines were the latest issue of a magazine, the Sunday school quarterly, or a book of crossword puzzles. In today's terminology, “I could not see their screens.”
Culture shift
A challenging reality for those of us who were born into the Gutenberg Era of print is that we find ourselves in a new culture. It is a culture that was silently and suddenly thrust upon us. We did not intentionally pack up and move to another culture, yet we find ourselves in a digital culture that does things differently.
A trip back into history
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Can you imagine growing up in the Church prior to the Protestant Reformation? People did not have access to the Bible in their own language let alone carry one to church.
Imagine sitting in church shortly after the Gutenberg Press began producing mass copies of the Bible in your language. Gradually people start doing the unthinkable. They bring a Bible to church with them.
I wonder how people reacted to that. Did they find it distracting that people would follow along in their Bible while the preacher read it aloud? Afterall, it was believed the church officials were the only ones wise enough to interpret the Scriptures.
So we need to ask ourselves some tough questions
What is the acceptable format of the Bible?
- oral or penned with a quill?
- papyrus scrolls or mass printed?
- physical or digital?
What is our motive for bringing a Bible to church?
- to check off a box on the attendance card?
- to be seen as righteous for bringing the biggest, shiniest, leather-bound edition?
- to study and learn God's word?
Are there reasons a physical Bible could be better?
It may be easier for us to underline, take notes, and learn from a physical Bible. That is true for many people. However, the same is true for many that they are able to highlight, take notes, and study better from a digital Bible.
Suggested Next Steps
- If you prefer a physical, leather-bound Bible, bring it and use it.
- If you prefer a digital Bible, bring it and use it.
- If you do bring a digital Bible, be sure to turn off the ringer and mute the sound.
- Bring your Bible.
- Read your Bible.
- And don't judge one another for not being just like you, dressing like you, or carrying a Bible in the same form as yours.
- Love one another.
Potential resource for digital Bible owners
While this will not solve the debate completely, here is a solution for those who find digital devices distracting during a worship service. This link will take you to Amazon where you can find covers that make Your iPhone/iPad look like a physical book.
