Why Are You Ashamed To Carry Your Bible To Church?

In many churches today, a troubling sight has become common: A Reverend Minister mounting the pulpit with an iPad and an iPhone and no Bible. In the congregation, hundreds of members are scrolling on phones and tablets, with no Bible in sight. No pages turning. No rustling of leaves of the Word. Just cold screens.

The question must be asked boldly: We have been told the argument: "We are in the electronic age. We are modern. Therefore, you have something on electronic devices to replace the Bible."

That argument according to a Christian Crusader, Francis Ameyibor, is untenable. It is theologically flawed, spiritually dangerous, and practically deceptive.

The Apostle Paul declared with boldness in Romans 1:16, a text that must be re-read in every church today: "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, for it is the POWER OF GOD…."

“Reverend Minister, we ask you today with all reverence: Is the Bible the POWER OF GOD? Can you contain the POWER OF GOD in an electronic device?

“Can you raise your iPad during deliverance process? Is your smartphone anointed? Do you reverence your electronic device? You charge your phone; you don't honour it. "You protect your phone from falling, but you reverence your Bible because it is the WORD AND POWER OF GOD,” Christian Crusader Ameyibor, who is also the founder of God's Vessel Global Foundation, asserted.

“The Bible is not a book. It is the LIVING WORD and the POWER OF GOD; therefore, it cannot be planted/uploaded in a dead electronic device. The Psalmist said, "Thy word have I hid in mine heart." He did not hide it in a device.

Yes, we are in the digital age, and the argument is that if we are in the digital age, why carry a huge Bible? Okay, we accept that logic. Then by that same logic, “why inconvenience yourself and your members to go through the struggle of traveling long distances to attend two or three-hour church services and meetings when they can save themselves that stress through online services?

“If the device can replace the Bible, then online service can replace in-person church. Add your transportation fare to the offering and stay home,” Mr. Ameyibor stated.

He noted that “we cannot have it both ways. All church activities can be conducted online via electronic devices; digital age preacher stop in-person church services. Let members worship, attend online church services through their electronic devices.

“But we know that in-person fellowship is irreplaceable. Hebrews 10:25 says, "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together." Because there is POWER in presence. There is anointing in gathering.

“In the same way, there is reverence, discipline, and power in physically carrying, opening, and preaching from your Bible.”

The Warning: I tell you today, "If we don't change our attitude very soon, church members will stop attending in-person church services. They will say, If my Pastor does not see value in carrying his Bible, why should I see value in carrying myself to church? My phone is enough."

With all due respect, Reverend Ministers, lead the way. Go back to carrying your Bible to church. Preach from your Bible and encourage your congregation to read along from their Bibles.

“Let us teach this generation the Word of God through the Bible, not through a screen that also shows WhatsApp notifications, football scores, and Facebook pop-ups in the middle of your sermon.”

THE PROPHETIC CALL BY FRANCIS AMEYIBOR: BRING BACK THE BOOK

This culminated in a threefold prophetic call to the Church in Ghana and across the world.

1. To Every Preacher: I beseech you by the mercies of God that you bring back the hard copy Bible to the pulpit. Do not mount the pulpit with only a tablet. Let your hard copy Bible be there. Let it be open. Lift it up. Read from it. Show this generation that this Book is still our authority. Let them see that you still study the pages, not just search Google. Your tablet should be your notebook, not your Bible. Your phone should be your assistant, not your altar.

2. To Every Christian: I plead with you to go to church with your hard copy Bible. Let your children see you carry it. Write in it. Underline it. Make it yours. Stop going to church empty-handed.

3. To Every Family: Put the hard copy Bible back on the table. Let the family altar have a physical Bible again. Let the Word be central in the home again.

This is not the moment for argument; you may have your opinion for neglecting and throwing away the hard copy Bible, but this is not the time for argument. It is a Biblical call for us to bring back the hard copy Bible to the pulpit.

Brethren in the Lord, let us go to church holding our hard copy Bible from this day forth. Holding the hard copy Bible is a message to the world around you, it demonstrate that you belong to the family of Christlike people, that alone restrains you. It announces who you are and shapes your posture as you hold that Sacred Book.