Last week, as I shared my commentary on church, that was the first time I had attempted to attend  four churches in one morning, but arrived back home without attending even one worship service. Where are the churches of our youth? As a child reared in a small Ohio community, we always knew what denomination a church was by the name of the church. Then when my family relocated to Oklahoma, there were more churches than in Ohio, but we always knew what the church was before we entered the sanctuary.

Now, churches are so mysterious with their religious affiliation that I often reserch where the pastor and/or staff attended seminary to have an understanding of the type church I might be attending. Even that information doesn’t always prepare me for what is awaiting behind those church doors. As mentioned in part one of this commentary, the first church I visited last week had a darkened sanctuary with loud music and strobe lights.

Another component of wondering if it’s truly a church is the lack of Bibles used by those attendees in the churches. Dr. Phil Cooke’s article on Bibles in the church shared this, “when the pastor began his message, he asked everyone to turn to a particular chapter in the Bible, so I opened my Bible and found the scripture reference. Then I looked around, and to my surprise, out of about 400 people…I was the only one I could see holding a Bible. I’m seeing it in churches of all sizes, theological perspectives and worship styles.”

Dr. Cooke continued, “think about it. God has given us a revelation of who He is, who we are, our purpose, destiny, and the key to salvation and eternal life, and we don’t even think enough of it to read it. I’m reminded of the classic quote from Charles Spurgeon: “ A Bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t.”  I agree a thousand times over.

Just this week while having lunch with someone I had just met, they queried about my strong faith. When I’m discouraged, I don’t telephone a friend or relative, I immediately go talk to God and allow Him to “talk to me” through His words; my Bible.

I still have my first bible which is decades “old”, the cover is torn and the pages are tattered, but I cherish that bible as much today as the day I received it as a young child. I have bibles which were high school graduation gifts and Bibles which have been used so often, I had to replace them. I have different versions of the Bible which I use in my Bible studies.  I have Bibles my fur babies, have also “cherished” chewing away a portion of God’s word. I only trust they “hid the words in their hearts.”

As I’ve walked through great trials in my life, God, prayers and my Bible  were sometimes literally all I had. I had no one to physically talk to, but I can always find words of comfort and reassurance in my Bible.

Our churches have become so casual in dress, attitude and worship that many view Bibles as “old school” or “out of date.” Thom S. Rainer noted, “ when church members bring their own Bible (to church), something subtle, but deeply important takes place…when members carry their Bible, they begin to think in terms of “my Bible”, not just the verses on the screen.”

When I open my Bible in church, I know God has walked with me in those pages. A projection screen on a church wall seems very aloof. I have no connection to that screen, but I agree with Mr. Rainer, it is my Bible which I read during my time with the Lord. As some of the credit card commercials tout to never leave home without it, I never leave home without my Bible when I’m going to church.

 To be continued!