Reading the Bible on phones, tablets, and screens during worship is a blessing of modern technology. Today’s preacher can expect worshipers to follow the sermon by looking at texts projected on screens or by “turning on” their own Bibles. For this reason, many churches no longer provide physical Bibles in worship and many worshipers no longer carry a hard copy Bible of their own. While I hold my position loosely, I want to make a case for making hard copy Bibles available as well as encouraging the use of physical Bibles in worship. Here are four reasons:
- Their presence suggests their importance. The mere existence of physical Bibles does not make a church orthodox, but when worshipers see hard copy Bibles available in pews or chairs, they likely infer that the Bible is important to the church. While this benefit is more symbolic in nature, it nonetheless helps communicate a church’s belief in the prominence of Scripture and its relevance for worship and daily living.
- They help worshipers stay focused. Unless we have completely silenced them and turned off every potential notification, phones stand a good chance of interrupting us if we’re using them to follow the sermon. Then there is the temptation to look quickly at a text message, read an email, or check that game score. To be sure, some folks are more disciplined than others, but turning off the phone and reading from a church Bible or hard copy of our own reduce the potential for worship distractions.
- They help readers see the wider context. Electronic devices are convenient for reading Scripture, but screen size limits readers to what is viewable with each click. While I like reading the Bible on my phone or tablet, I especially enjoy being able turn pages in my hard copy Bible. Seeing a wider span of text helps me understand the wider context and flow of a particular passage. I just can’t do that as well when I’m clicking through hyperlinks or depending upon text that’s projected on a worship screen.
- They help users grasp the overall content and structure of Scripture. Because physical Bibles enable worshipers to see more Scripture at once (see #3 above), readers can also become more familiar with the overall content and structure of the Bible. They can quickly see the layout of the Old and New Testaments, scan chapter headings, and easily compare Scripture with Scripture by placing a finger in one passage while looking up another. Clicking on a linked text while scrolling on a phone is convenient, but it just doesn’t allow for the same seamless experience.
Pastors: What are your thoughts on having and using physical Bibles in the worship service?
These thoughts pretty much echo my own. Using an electronic device does allow me to shap translations when visiting another church, that’s a plus, or quickly look up a crossreference more discreetly than flipping pages. It also allows a quick look at original language informaion (for nerds like me). However, when preaching, I really like seeing peoples’ collective nose in the hard copies of the Word.
Great post this morning.
Thank you, so much, my friend! And I agree with your reasons for using an electronic device, too.
I like the second point. When I look at information on my phone I am often drawn to a different topic that comes to mind while researching the initial topic of inquiry. Today’s smart phones make it very easy to jump from one topic of research to another. Looking at one book alone helps me stay on topic. Thanks again for your insight.
Thanks, Phillip! I too find myself distracted by researching whatever comes to mind
God’s Word is God’s Word. From papyrus scrolls to iPads, it never changes.
Although I like both as well (I have a library full of hard bound books that I regularly read), I moved to using my iPad as my primary study Bible a long time ago. The amount of resources at my fingertips is undeniably more convenient and allows for great note taking all in one place. Plus having dozens of versions available in one resource allows me to have contextual understanding not possible with a single bound book.
Then a few years ago, I began using it at church. And I have been very pleased I did so. I can make more notes (endless) and highlight every passage without concern of blurring words with the highlighter. I also can change the size of the print so I can read easily.
Just fyi: your point 2 is in conflict with point 3. Being distracted by reading ahead or previous passages while the message is presented is much like any other distraction: you miss what is being taught because you are focused on something other than preaching.
Point 4 is not relegated to the physical Bible. All these are available and easily accessed in the digital format.
Technology is not our enemy. Incorrect use of it can be. We have a generation that has had an iPad since before they started school and most every school is issuing them to students for their work. We have to embrace this. Teaching appropriate use is our responsibility, not trying to convince that their use is wrong.
God bless,
John
Thanks, John. You make some good points, brother
When a Bible is seen, a person knows it is used for one thing: to hear from the Word of God. When a phone is seen, one can start thinking about it being used for talking, texting, browsing, etc. The pastor who ordained and licensed me to ministry taught me something years ago. He said that every time he reads Scripture from the pulpit, he always looks down & IN his Bible. Even if he has the verse memorized, he still looks IN his Bible. He told me he does this so people will know those precious words they are hearing aren’t coming from him or anywhere else but from the Bible. It’s a powerful practice.
Amen, Brian! That is my practice as well. Thanks for sharing this helpful suggestion
Thank you very much for great post and comments! I am not a preacher, but I agree to both ways of using physical Bibles and technological Bible apps. I myself feel comfortable to read Bible daily in my physical Bible and bring It any where I go. I do read on Iphone sometimes for quick searching, copying to make Bible verse photos on Iphone, and some other uses.
I think in the church, we should have physical Bible placed behind the pews, not only for church members but for the visitors also. Most of visitors don’t have Bibles installed on their phones. It’s important for the unbelievers to know that the church live by God’s Word by seeing the Bible in church. They may open and read the Bible, and believe in God; since God’s Word has power to change people’s hearts. If we read on our phones, they may not know what we read in there, and may think otherwise!
Thank you and God bless you, Pastors!
Thanks, Durene! You make a great point about visitors not having a Bible app installed on their phones. Blessings!
I’ve been in a church that made sure to include the pre Bible page number(s) from of passages that would be referenced so that those less familiar with looking up verses would not be left out.
Sorry. Pew Bible not pre
Hey, Benji! I think that’s a super idea, and another way to get worshipers in the Word