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I agree on that. It should be on the churches to provide the Bibles. If someone goes up to a bookstore, and couldn't afford a Bible, the store should ideally recommend a nearby church to get a Bible from instead (as a form of courtesy).
Well, hopefully we as humans have courtesy and help those in need, just like the scripture says. There are Bibles for under $5 a pop retail, as of August 2023, that might as well be given away by churches or bookstores to the poor.I agree also. And scripture says that we are the church now. So we should all have extra bibles on hand for the express purpose of giving them away. Economy bibles are cheap!
And for churches. Yes, we do have inexpensive paperbound copies available and we have a library where someone can check something out. You don't want to get into the cost of the altar copies. When people yell that Bibles were chained to the altar, like this:Whew, that's a lot for some people.
Wow, that altar Bible has a price > a midrange PC or iPhone 14 (glad I am planning on getting a midrange Samsung A55 phone next year). Good thing the altar copies are attached to the altar.And for churches. Yes, we do have inexpensive paperbound copies available and we have a library where someone can check something out. You don't want to get into the cost of the altar copies. When people yell that Bibles were chained to the altar, like this:
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THIS is the reason why.
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The thing is that cheap Bibles to just hand out are relatively new. Even early Gutenberg printings, while cheaper than hand copied ones, were still out of the price range of your average peasant. As an Orthodox chanter, my role in the service is to do all the readings, other than the Gospel, so that people can hear and understand them.Wow, that altar Bible has a price > a midrange PC or iPhone 14 (glad I am planning on getting a midrange Samsung A55 phone next year). Good thing the altar copies are attached to the altar.
Yep, it is similar to Moore's law for computers. The price of a billion transistors decreases by half every 18-24 months. Bible printing has gotten cheaper nowadays, as economies scale.The thing is that cheap Bibles to just hand out are relatively new. Even early Gutenberg printings, while cheaper than hand copied ones, were still out of the price range of your average peasant. As an Orthodox chanter, my role in the service is to do all the readings, other than the Gospel, so that people can hear and understand them.
When I Google wealthy Pastors one of the many links that I was given was thisI agree on that. It should be on the churches to provide the Bibles. If someone goes up to a bookstore, and couldn't afford a Bible, the store should ideally recommend a nearby church to get a Bible from instead (as a form of courtesy).
Jesus warned us about how dangerous idols are... If an item becomes an idol.. It's best to throw it away... Just like in the bibleYeah, lots of megachurch pastors with millions of dollars, never reaching the poor. Thankfully, not all pastors are like that.
Agreed. It seems like the very pastors which preach about Jesus are the ones who are ignoring Mark 10:17, as they buy their $500K Rolls Royces, $1M private helicopters, $10M jets and $50M mansions either blatantly in front of their congregation, or secretly behind the church's back.Jesus warned us about how dangerous idols are... If an item becomes an idol.. It's best to throw it away... Just like in the bible
Mark 10:17-27
As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’” “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”
Heck, you don't even need Bibles. Just call 555-GEN-ESIS!Agreed. It seems like the very pastors which preach about Jesus are the ones who are ignoring Mark 10:17, as they buy their $500K Rolls Royces, $1M private helicopters, $10M jets and $50M mansions either blatantly in front of their congregation, or secretly behind the church's back.
I don't see how giving a Bible could worsen any situation and it certainly could help any situation. Bibles are often ignored for years, then, often when a calamity strikes, are looked upon with curiosity, and later, when understood, with wonder and amazement. So if someone's reaction is initially negative, take heart. It may change later. And very often does.View attachment 333099
I posted this in a "Christians Only" forum because the idea is not to incite Bible bashing. We, Christians, love the Bible and frequently give Bibles to non-Christians. The Gideons have done this for decades. Is this the right approach? Or are non-Christians likely to misunderstand and reject the Bible based on that misunderstanding?
Helicopters are often over a million and few jets are as cheap as 10 million. Inflation! It hits us all, even the idolmakers.Agreed. It seems like the very pastors which preach about Jesus are the ones who are ignoring Mark 10:17, as they buy their $500K Rolls Royces, $1M private helicopters, $10M jets and $50M mansions either blatantly in front of their congregation, or secretly behind the church's back.
Not sure if it is half but I know that they some percent get saved. I got saved by reading the Bible from the beginning to the end. Of course, God was drawing me to His crucified Son for over 5 years leading up to that.This is unbelievable. Half of the non-Christians who receive a free Bible get saved! If this were true, I'd start distributing free Bibles tomorrow. It would be a crime not to do this.
Do you have a reference?
I've heard many testimonies of people reading a Gideons Bible in a motel and being saved as a result. My wife and I give Bibles to people who show some interest in the gospel. It would have been a waste on me before I was saved, but who knows where people are at except God?View attachment 333099
I posted this in a "Christians Only" forum because the idea is not to incite Bible bashing. We, Christians, love the Bible and frequently give Bibles to non-Christians. The Gideons have done this for decades. Is this the right approach? Or are non-Christians likely to misunderstand and reject the Bible based on that misunderstanding?
You just nailed it. We have no idea how close people are to letting God in. Or what circumstances in their life might occur to let that happen. The Gideons had a great concept.I've heard many testimonies of people reading a Gideons Bible in a motel and being saved as a result. My wife and I give Bibles to people who show some interest in the gospel. It would have been a waste on me before I was saved, but who knows where people are at except God?
I don't know about now, but Goodwill stores did not use to charge for BiblesI think all Bibles should be given for free to everyone.
Gideons reps, would come to our church and read testimony letters of people saying they "stole" the Gideon Bible from their hotel room, or hospital, and they ended up saved. (spoiler alert: you can't steal a Gideon Bible from the hotel)I've heard many testimonies of people reading a Gideons Bible in a motel and being saved as a result. My wife and I give Bibles to people who show some interest in the gospel. It would have been a waste on me before I was saved, but who knows where people are at except God?
View attachment 333099
I posted this in a "Christians Only" forum because the idea is not to incite Bible bashing. We, Christians, love the Bible and frequently give Bibles to non-Christians. The Gideons have done this for decades. Is this the right approach? Or are non-Christians likely to misunderstand and reject the Bible based on that misunderstanding?
The Pocket Testament League has pocket -sized Gospel's of John that can be handled out. I still have about a half dozen of them myself. I keep them at work, in my car, jacket in case I have conversations with a unbeliever, I can give them one.I think it's a waste of time in the vast majority of cases. Nearly everyone would say "No, thank you". Most who do accept would give it to a family member or friend who wanted one. Some might even toss it away. Very few would ever pick it up and read it, and fewer still would believe what is written in there.
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