Back in the day, when receiving an invitation to a party, BYOB was often included, meaning “bring your own bottle.” In other words, “We won’t be supplying the drinks.” It’s occurred to me that the same initials might be helpful when it comes to encouraging corporate worship: Bring Your Own Bible. In this article, I want to make some practical appeals to enhance our times of corporate learning as we gather each Lord’s Day for worship.
First, whether a physical copy or an electronic Bible, we should pay attention to the words being expounded. To simply listen to a preacher without engaging the text is not helpful. It is empirically supported that, when a person utilises a variety of “senses,” they learn better. Hence, using our ears and our eyes is a must. When gathering for corporate worship, pay attention to God’s word with your eyes as well as with your ears.
Second, as beneficial as are some “study Bibles,” ignore the notes when God’s word is being preached. When you go home, by all means check out what Sproul or MacArthur (probably not Scofield!) have to say. But as God’s word is preached to the gathered congregation, realise that something unique is happening. Faithful preaching in a local church is an event in which God is speaking to a congregation for worship-driven edification. Therefore, guard against becoming distracted. And speaking of distractions, perhaps bringing a physical copy of God’s word to corporate worship might prove beneficial?
Again, when the church gathers for corporate worship, having an open Bible before us is conducive to learning and to worship. But perhaps the old-fashioned paper and ink variety carries some advantages.
“The sound of silence” can be a blessing in corporate worship, but so can sound of paper pages as worshippers follow along as God’s word is preached. I hope our children will become accustomed to this noise.
I’m aware that, for centuries preceding Gutenberg, Christians did not have their own personal copy of a Bible and family Bibles probably caused hernias because of their size! I am also aware that “the times, they are a-changin’.” Technological advances are such that the Bible is accessible at one’s fingertip, and for that I am grateful. I am also aware that there are places in the world where the Bible on a device trumps having no Bible at all. I remember many years ago when wind-up cassette tape players were distributed to remote peoples on which they could listen to God’s word read in their own language. Wonderful! My concern therefore is not with the use of technology that enables having access to the Bible on a computer or other smart device. I love having access to God’s word on my Kindle and on my phone. To have instant and ubiquitous accessibility to God’s revelation is a gift to the church. However, when studying Scripture, particularly when we gather as a congregation, having a physical Bible might prove often to be a better way. Consider a few reasons for carrying a physical copy of God’s word to corporate worship.
First, because the Bible is a holy book. The word “holy” (as in Holy Bible) means different. As God’s self-disclosure, the Bible is a completely different book than any other. And sometimes appreciation of this can get lost as we simply google for God’s word or select our ESV on our Kindle. The same device on which we read God’s revelation is the same device on which we also read the daily news, check our emails, engage in social media, etc. That is not sinful; I just wonder if being so “digital” might detract from our appreciation of God’s words.
Second, and related to the above, there is value in children seeing their parents carrying, and reading, and even marking their Bibles—both at home and in corporate worship. This can point our children to the priority of God’s word (See Deuteronomy 6:4–9). Children are most likely used to seeing their parents on their phones. But corporate worship provides an opportunity to do something different—infinitely so. In other words, when the church gathers, we have the opportunity to impress upon our children the priority of Scripture by bringing our Bibles, opening them, reading them, following along in them, even writing in them. This can say to our children, “The words of this book are essential to worship of the true God. What the preacher is saying is grounded in what God is saying. This book matters.”
Third, using a physical Bible is far more conducive to learning our way around the Scriptures. With an electronic device, there is little need to know the location of the books of the Bible nor even the larger context of a passage. A physical Bible, however, provides this very opportunity.
Fourth, a physical copy of the Bible provides less opportunity for distraction. Though screen technology may have some advantages, nevertheless, the disadvantages of imminent distractions outweigh the pluses.
Unless the device is disconnected, various messages might come through during corporate worship, producing otherwise avoidable distractions. The temptation to google a question or to search for the source of a quote disrupts concentration. Screen technology can also interfere with the transcendent. Since so much of our life is driven by devices, Lord’s Day worship provides the opportunity to take a sabbatical from the norm, including shutting off our phones and iPads to focus on the medium of God’s word. In a sense, a holy time-warp might prove helpful to aid our rest and our reflection and our reverence.
My opinion, of course, is not prescriptive. I am aware that some people find it easier to take notes with an electronic device and are careful to avoid the potential distractions I have noted. However, my appeal is that we be discerning and diligent to make the most of our weekly opportunity to be exposed to our great God through his glorious word. So each Lord’s Day, let us take seriously the privilege to BYOB.
Pastorally musing,
Doug