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How Important is the Bible? |
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Location: Blogs Brad's BlogMid-Week Missive |
 | | Posted by: Brad Miller | 6/30/2010 8:11 AM | Greetings!
I gave up a long time ago recommending movies to people because I discovered that movies that I find riveting don’t always hit other people the same way. (Isn’t that right Rev. Jennifer?) These days the only two movies I wholeheartedly recommend are “Field of Dreams” (especially for fathers, sons, and baseball fans) and “Ordinary People”, a profoundly real movie about the pain and heartbreak and joy of life in late 20th century America. Those are probably my two favorite movies of all time, although any good (or bad for that matter) Jimmy Stewart, Henry Fonda, Katherine Hepburn or Cary Grant movie is always a good bet.
Now, all of this is my way of leading to saying that I saw a movie this week that got me to thinking, but this is not, I repeat, this is not a recommendation for people to see it. Some might like it; many would not. Having said all that, I recently saw a movie called “The Book of Eli” starring Denzel Washington. It was one of those post-Apocalyptic survival movies that seem to come into vogue during times of economic stress. (For example, the “Mad Max”, “Road Warrior” “Waterworld” and “The Postman” movies of the late 1970’s to the mid 1980’s.) What made this movie different from those is that in this movie, the Bible played the central role in the story. I won’t give the plot away, but suffice it to say that in the aftermath of some unknown cataclysmic event, the Bible is seen by some as a source of power and authority – even if they do not agree how that power and authority should be used. Denzel Washington plays a man of great faith and greater conviction – a man willing to do whatever, and I do mean whatever, he believes God is leading him to do…even if some of those things don’t necessarily fit into our view of what a good Christian would do!
The movie got me thinking about the importance of the Bible in our daily lives. For some of us it is very important, but for some of us, even those who consider ourselves committed Christians, I wonder just how important it really is? How do we use it? I’ve been told, rightfully I think, by many of my elders that we don’t teach the Bible like we used to. My generation does not “know” the Bible as well as my parent’s generation did. Do we consult it in times of trouble? Do we truly study it well? These are all personal questions and I’m not entirely sure how to answer them, even for myself. And then, as sometimes happens, I got an e-mail from an acquaintance that triggered even more thought about the Bible. It’s just one of those innocuous e-mails that get sent around and around and around, but like so many things that we too often just discard, it actually got me to thinking even more about how important the Bible really is in my life. The piece is called “The Bible vs. The Cell Phone”:
Ever wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phone?
What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?
What if we flipped through it several time a day?
What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?
What if we used it to receive messages from the text?
What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?
What if we gave it to kids as gifts?
What if we used it when we traveled?
What if we used it in case of emergency?
Oh, and one more thing: unlike our cell phone, we don't have to worry about our Bible being
disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill. And no dropped calls!
So, how important are the scriptures to your daily life? If you’re not sure, try this: keep track of how much you check your cell phone each day. I’m not talking about actual calls, but just checking it for messages or e-mails, or whatever. Now, take that same approximate time and “check” your Bible. Open it up and read it. If you spend 10 minutes tomorrow flipping open your cell phone and checking it, go home and spend 10 minutes reading your Bible. And then, try to do it the next day, and then the next, and then the next, just for a few minutes… after awhile, you just might be surprised how important it will become, again.
For an updated prayer list and list of coming events, please go to www.brookhavenchristian.org
For your prayer list:
Please keep the family of Grace Parker in your prayers. Grace passed away last Friday in Charleston, S.C. Grace was a former member of BCC and is the mother of Mike Parker. There will be memorial service celebrating Grace’s life on Sunday July 11th at 2:00 p.m. The family will receive visitors beginning at 1:30 and the service will begin at 2:00
As we prepare to celebrate Independence Day, please pray for the leaders of our nation, and of the world, that all might know the freedom that we know.
Please pray for all those who will travel over this upcoming holiday weekend.
Upcoming Events
Don’t forget about our Campbell Stone Buckhead Service Day on Saturday July 10th from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Campbell Stone Buckhead. Sign up today by calling Ruth Luckett at 404-237-3030 or by e-mail at ruth@brookhavenchristian.org
I hope to see you as we celebrate the Lord’s Day together this Sunday, July 4th. The scripture lesson is Luke 10: 1-11, 16-20. and the sermon is titled “The Kingdom is Near”. Have a great rest of the week.
Be peaceful,
Brad
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