A Digital Paradox of Paper
I’m a gadget junkie. I love new phones, shiny digital things that promise to make my life better, only to let me down with their unending updates and complexities. Still, when a new widget comes out, I want one.
In my ministry, I’ve used PowerPoint, ProPresenter, Proclaim, YouTube, and a host of other digital tools. I’ve preached from an iPad, an Android tablet, and a Surface Pro. I love them all.
But, several years ago something changed. I stopped using my digital Bible unless I was studying on the computer looking up things. I got my paper one out and started reading it instead. I looked over my marks, highlights, and margin notes. There was some rich truth to be found on those pages.
To this day when I get the rare opportunity to preach the Word, I may put verses on the screen, but I still use my old paper Bible. There’s just something comforting of sharing the inspired Word of God as you hold in your very hands.
More than that, when I preach, I LOVE for the congregation to use a paper Bible, too. It’s purely preference, but like the old-timers used to say, “I love to hear the leaves rustling” as the saints flip and turn to the passage of the day.
Yesterday I saw two videos of ministers at our church, the senior pastor and our student director, both doing a video teaching and both had out their “paper Bibles”. For some reason, and I know this may be weird, but it did my heart good to see them holding onto the Word as they preached. And they aren’t alone.
I’ve seen this trend around the internet lately and I love it. In an age where digital connection and communication has taken over, it warms my soul to see folks pulling out “The Book”.
Don’t get me wrong, I love YouVersion, Logos, and the like. Use them all the time … there’s just something comforting to the soul in the tactile feel of the pages in your hands.
Stay hungry. Keep reading. Keep studying.
