The power of print

The power of God’s holy print

After trying an electronic reader, gadget-loving Stuart Blount discovered that nothing beats reading from a printed Bible.

I’m one of those people who likes a gadget. My wife convinced me recently that we didn’t need an air fryer just because ‘everyone else’ is having one – but, being honest, I did feel the peer pressure.

Over the years I have enthusiastically engaged with technology, like the time I bought a Kindle (other digital reading products are available). It seemed a common-sense choice. I could carry around a veritable library of reading material wherever I went. But, even though the idea had great merit, I found out I really do prefer to hold a good, old printed book.

The same is true for me when it comes to the Bible, something that has quite literally come alive for me over recent months.

I don’t mean to be critical here, but as I travel around churches I notice that so few people bring their printed Bible to church any more. This is not designed to be any kind of judgement of those who love using their smartphone to access the Bible passage or references used in the Sunday message, rather just a thought about whether holding the pages of sacred text has become a little inconvenient, and taking your phone from your handbag or pocket is much easier.

It is hugely significant to note that the first book ever printed was the Bible. Johann Gutenberg chose the Bible as the first product of his marvellous invention of movable type in 1455. After the pioneering work of Gutenberg, the printing revolution spread quickly across Europe. The new technology meant that the Bible was accessible to more and more people, not only the aristocracy and the clergy.

I suppose, in 1455, the printed Bible was as revolutionary as the Kindle or any of its technological cousins was when they first appeared in 2007.

REMINISCED

As I pondered these thoughts I realised I was actually being quite hypocritical. Whilst I reminisced about the times I carried my Bible to church, and even from venue to venue at the Elim Conference, I was now only taking my iPad to church as the visiting preacher and turning on its electronic pages to read the Scripture as well as having access to my message notes.

I made a decision. I decided to set aside my digital assistant and travel with my Bible once more. I feel when I open it to take out my preaching notes that the imagery reminds me that it is what I say from the Word of God that is of greater importance than my own diligently constructed thoughts.

When we think of those in the persecuted church across the world who have little or no access to the Bible, it may inspire us to be men and women who treasure the freedoms we have to own more than one Bible. There are currently 52 countries in the world where it is dangerous to own a Bible – 13 where it is strictly illegal and only available through covert smuggling.

Why not pick up your printed Bible today and thank God you can turn its pages without fear. Take a little time to sit still with the greatest book ever printed and ask the Holy Spirit to bring God’s Word alive to you, whatever is happening in your personal world. Let it speak hope to your concerns, peace to your storms, guidance to your uncertainties, affirmation to your insecurities and healing to your wounds.

My advice to you is expressed well in the words of the great 19th century preacher Charles Spurgeon: “Visit many good books, but live in the Bible.”

This article first appeared in the April 2023 edition of Direction Magazine. For further details, please click here.