Should we use smart phone to read Bible?

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Billyd

Senior Member
May 8, 2014
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#21
At least one forth of the people in the church I attend use a tablet or smartphone. I use a tablet with a split unlinked screen. I can quickly follow the pastor when he goes on a trip into other scriptures. I can book mark the message scripture, take notes, and quickly copy scriptures into my notes.

To me the greatest thing about having a Bible app on my smartphone is that I no longer have to carry my small print small bible every where I go. I have every version of the Bible at my fingertips. I can share the Gospel, and answer questions using Scripture immediately. This old man wouldn't trade his smartphone app for anything.

IMHO, it is not only okay to use your smartphone in church, I encourage you to use it or a tablet.
 
Jul 25, 2013
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#22
Would you throw your credit card in the offering plate also, or would you come prepared....
Everything has it's place and everything belongs in it's place, church is not the place....
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
36,689
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#23
I think post human was misunderstood. Actually saying that we shouldn't carry a Bible just so we are recognized. Saying it's fine if you do its fine if you dont.
that's it ^ thanks :)

i don't think it was Ken's intention - but he mentioned that if we were reading scriptures on a phone or other device instead of a recognizable leather-bound book, people around us wouldn't know we were reading the scriptures.

my reaction to that is that "so other people can see that i'm reading the Bible" is absolutely not the reason i read a bible.

in fact, i recently bought a new bible, because the book of Jeremiah fell out of my old one! haha it had seen many years of use. but the one i bought is very big, including lots of maps & concordance and stuff. i actually feel conspicuous carrying it around at church, like people might see me and think "look at the size of that bible what is he trying to prove by carrying it"

i didn't mean to pooh-pooh the idea of reading a recognizable bible in public, or wearing a cross or some t-shirt with a biblical reference on it or anything of the sort.
i think if i am personally making a show of reading the bible in front of people, i may be reading for the wrong reason.

Ken's right too, and he has a point. it's not for disagreement's sake i replied.

much love, let God be glorified!
 

skipp

Senior Member
Mar 6, 2014
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#24
The one bad thing about an electronic text is that it doesn't have the sentimental value of a beloved, well read old Bible. There are some old Bibles that I have that feel like they are old friends. The kind of Bible you pass on to your kids.
 
K

kennethcadwell

Guest
#25
that's it ^ thanks :)

i don't think it was Ken's intention - but he mentioned that if we were reading scriptures on a phone or other device instead of a recognizable leather-bound book, people around us wouldn't know we were reading the scriptures.

my reaction to that is that "so other people can see that i'm reading the Bible" is absolutely not the reason i read a bible.

in fact, i recently bought a new bible, because the book of Jeremiah fell out of my old one! haha it had seen many years of use. but the one i bought is very big, including lots of maps & concordance and stuff. i actually feel conspicuous carrying it around at church, like people might see me and think "look at the size of that bible what is he trying to prove by carrying it"

i didn't mean to pooh-pooh the idea of reading a recognizable bible in public, or wearing a cross or some t-shirt with a biblical reference on it or anything of the sort.
i think if i am personally making a show of reading the bible in front of people, i may be reading for the wrong reason.

Ken's right too, and he has a point. it's not for disagreement's sake i replied.

much love, let God be glorified!
Exactly, its not to be done to make a show out of it.

The purpose for reading the bible is help bring you closer to the Lord in understanding how He wants us to walk in His ways.

To carry one openly, is just simply to have an outer expression of the love you have for our Lord.
In turn it shows to others how happy you are to be in Christ, and with that draws them in to find out why you are so joyful.

If you do not have that outer appearance, others would not know you are a Christian and therefore not come up to you and ask advice when they are needing it. That outer appearance helps draw in, and eventually when the life of that lost soul by bringing them to know Jesus Christ.
 

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
30,707
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#26
Would you throw your credit card in the offering plate also, or would you come prepared....
Everything has it's place and everything belongs in it's place, church is not the place....
I see many churches have online tithing now.
 
K

kennethcadwell

Guest
#27
I see many churches have online tithing now.
Electronic collecting....

Does it automatically take 10% out of your account, or are you given a choice ? lol
 
Jun 30, 2011
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#28
I think we should rejoice that they are in a Bible, not get all mad because they are not doing what we do
 
Jan 6, 2012
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#29
Hi brothers and sisters, today smart phone is very popular. I've been using SmartBible App on my phone to read bible, research biblical places and figures. I think it is very useful for me, when I'm in the Church, I use SmartBible to take notes quickly. Someone think we should not use smart phone in the Church even we are reading bible.

What do you think?

This is the SmartBible that I am using
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=smart.bible.free.kjv
Nothing wrong with it, but it depends on what your pastor thinks about it or if other people in the church feel comfortable with it. If the pastor doesn't mind, then it's okay; but if he prefers you not use a smartphone in church and others feel uncomfortable with it, you might want to go Bible shopping. I have several Bible apps but like the YouVersion app most. In one church, the pastor didn't feel comfortable with me reading the Bible on my phone. Some people used tablets which was okay with him, but staring at your phone in church sometimes makes it look like you're up to no good. In another church it was basically the same thing, but some churches don't mind. So, it's up to your pastor and the church environment.
 

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
30,707
3,650
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#30
Electronic collecting....

Does it automatically take 10% out of your account, or are you given a choice ? lol
Don't know but you can do it off your phone in the pew and print out a tax deductible receipt when you get home.
I'm waiting for virtual Communion before I virtually tithe :)
 

Billyd

Senior Member
May 8, 2014
5,062
1,498
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#31
Electronic collecting....

Does it automatically take 10% out of your account, or are you given a choice ? lol
I've been in a couple of larger churches that have a terminal at each entrance where you can swipe your bank card to make your tithe or an offering.

Kinda makes you wonder how many people are now putting their tithe on credit. If there's anyone out there that attends one of these churches let us know if they actually take credit.
 

Angela53510

Senior Member
Jan 24, 2011
11,783
2,948
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#32
I have 15 Bibles in paper, including some favourite study Bibles and in other languages, but I still take my tablet to church. I like to look up the passages in Hebrew or Greek, which I could could not do with an English only version.

I also disagree about memorizing verses. If there is a verse I don't know all of the words, I can search it, then I make a card up learn the verse!

My thought is we should use these tools to glorify God. You can't go wrong with glorifying God in all you do!
 
B

biscuit

Guest
#33
I see nothing wrong with a smartphone when learning the Bible. To me there is something unique & mystical when holding a Holy Bible in my hands.
 
K

kennethcadwell

Guest
#34
I've been in a couple of larger churches that have a terminal at each entrance where you can swipe your bank card to make your tithe or an offering.

Kinda makes you wonder how many people are now putting their tithe on credit. If there's anyone out there that attends one of these churches let us know if they actually take credit.
Well it is just a sad state on how everything is slowly moving to a plastic financial system instead of the paper/coin currency we have now.

If it goes to an all plastic currency system, who knows what type of control over your finances and life will come next.
 

sacraig67

Senior Member
Aug 17, 2014
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#35
Some churches, in this area at least, when you become a member ask for your account info and they take 10% of your weekly income.
 
K

kennethcadwell

Guest
#36
Some churches, in this area at least, when you become a member ask for your account info and they take 10% of your weekly income.

Yeah I have heard of that, it is mostly RLDS, or Mormon churches that do that around here.

I do not believe in that though, because the NT does not hold us to 10%. It says give what you can from your heart.
 
Jul 22, 2014
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#37
I use "My Sword" on my smartphone and use "E Sword" on my tablet. I also like listening to the dramatized "Word of Promise" read along app for my tablet, too. Mostly I use Biblehub.com's website for reading while out and about and or when researching verses when talking with others. I also like Open Bible. Info for there cross references search tool. They have the largest collection of cross references online that I found. I also like Blue Letter Bible for doing key word searches.
 

skipp

Senior Member
Mar 6, 2014
654
7
0
#38
I've been in a couple of larger churches that have a terminal at each entrance where you can swipe your bank card to make your tithe or an offering.

Kinda makes you wonder how many people are now putting their tithe on credit. If there's anyone out there that attends one of these churches let us know if they actually take credit.
Goodness!!!

I'm kind of glad that I live in a rural, old fashioned area. I have never seen anybody with a tablet or smart phone out during a Church service or swiping their bank card to make a tithe.
 

sacraig67

Senior Member
Aug 17, 2014
455
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#39
Yeah but here it is Christian churches. I am not gonna name the church cause that wouldn't be right of me.
 

skipp

Senior Member
Mar 6, 2014
654
7
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#40
Some churches, in this area at least, when you become a member ask for your account info and they take 10% of your weekly income.
I don't agree with this type of practice at all.