Thanks for the post!

I think that helps my point to say that! that shows how much value that it had INSIDE of them, so much value that they didn’t need to carry it with them physically because they always carried it with them spiritually. They didn’t even need screens, lol …..

I wish I could say that I am there, I’m not. Honestly, I could do much better on memorization of scripture. I don’t even have one book memorized. It’s something that I have to get better at!

I don’t really have a point to this at all .. just that I agree with you .. and I have from the first time I read this post .. I just see a lot of “religion” creeping in here from some incredibly well intentioned people, and I always have to play the counterpart!

this is great discussion!

When I bring my Bible to church, I can see for myself what the guy up front is talking about. Depending on your church, your pastor may preach a lot out of the text or not as much (see Clayton’s other post) and if you don’t have your own Bible with you, all you have is the guy up front telling you things. Sure the text may be on the screens but you still have to rely on it. I’m not saying we should come to church looking to criticize but if we don’t have our Bibles with us, we will never know if we are being taught truth or someone’s agenda.

When I am being taught from the Bible, I want to be pointed to the text and then many times I want to re-read it as well as the surrounding text to better place myself in the scriptures. Why? Because it is my responsibility to feed myself not anyone else’s. Yes I need my pastor and others to speak truth into my life. Yes I need other people to teach me things from the Bible. But if my attitude when I go to church is that I will be spoon fed the entire time and I have no responsibility, I in essence hand that duty over to someone else. That, in my opinion, is the cancer that is eating the evangelical church alive. People no longer take responsibility for feeding themselves. You may think that not bringing your Bible to church is far removed from what I am talking about but I’m convinced it is part of the problem.

I do agree that bringing my big ‘ole black Bible does not automatically equate to anything. On the other hand, it’s the baby steps in one direction or another that sometimes make the biggest difference.

Concerning whether or not Jesus ever said to a crowd “turn in your Torah’s to…” I am sorry but I cannot let that comment go without stating a very important point we miss. Jesus did not HAVE to say that, because to every Jew in th e 1st century, as soon as Jesus began to quote Old Testament passages, EVERY SINGLE Jewish male, and most of the females would have been immediately familiar with the text he was quoting or alluding to. Their’s was an oral culture since only the most eucated could read or write, but their entire religious life centered around the temple, religious practices and observances, and the spoken oral tradition of the story of God and the Hebrews. The scriptures were quoted, read, recited, memorized, and sang continuously in Jewish homes. So a quote like the one above, while it sounds cute and was used to make a point, is incorrect in the assumption that Jesus did not place a high value on the Hebrew scriptures. Of his last 7 sayings on the cross, 6 of them are direct QUOTES from the Old Testament. The underlying assumption is that the audience of his day was versed in Torah, Psalms, the prophets, and the writings. Our Western style of learning, which is Post-enlightenment, relies on bound books that we read. Ancient middle eastern culture relied on the passed-down oral record of the what God had done as recorded in the Hebrew scriptures, and Jesus knew them better than the rest, including Pharisees and the devil himself.

I just want everyone to be careful to make the Bible your God instead of God himself. God’s Word is innerant and powerful, it is God’s word to mankind, and should be treated as such ..

BUT …….

Everyone is talking about how we should all carry our bibles everywhere we go, and everything else that is being said .. and that sounds very good .. but quickly becomes a religious ritual and nothing more. I know people who carry their bible everywhere, and it doesn’t change their life at all.

That’s because we shouldn’t be half as concerned on if we have God’s word WITH us, as we are if we have it IN us.

I don’t remember many times in scripture where Jesus starts his teaching with “turn in your Torah’s to ….”. I don’t remember him tatooing it on his forehead or wearing it on a box haning from his head, I do remember him loving it so much that it was a part of him, I bet you that he even had it memorized. It was the Pharisees (I am NOT calling anyone here a pharisee!) that were the people toting it around.

Once more, I am not saying that it doesn’t have a place in our churches .. it has to! I’m not saying don’t carry it to your bible study .. go for it. it is a neccesity to study it privately too! But please don’t limit God’s word to a huge book .. it’s alive, and it should live in us. God is much more concerned with that, than if we have it with us!