Is It Holy Or Just A Book?
By Phil Scovell
I was raised in a strict Baptist home. Actually, I think it did
me more good than harm but most today would disagree. I find it
humorous that so many Pentecostals and Charismatics today were raised
by, what appears to be, the same parents. We just went to different
churches was all. anyhow, I digress.
Before focusing on what I really want to say, and before I
explain what happened to me recently, I want you to know exactly the
type of life I lived growing up in Iowa with a Baptist preacher for a
father. We did not go out to eat on Sundays. Shoot, we hardly ever
went out to eat in the first place but never on Sunday. I did not
ride my bike on Sundays and my bike was my life. We went to church
Sunday morning, and Sunday evening, so most of the time my folks made
my little sister and I take a Sunday afternoon nap. What's up with
that? Anyhow, I figured it out. We took a nap because mom and dad
had to take a nap or they would fall asleep in church. My dad was the
head deacon out of about 25 men on the board so we couldn't have that
happen.
I loved flying kites in the field next to our home but I never
flew kites on Sunday as a kid. Dad didn't work on the car, unless it
had broken down, we didn't watch television, if my sister and I were
allowed to go outside, we had to stay in our own yard, and we were not
allowed to play with other kids in the neighborhood on Sundays. I
could probably write a book about this topic alone, but by now, you
get the picture.
I said all of this to talk about symbolism. Is it important?
Well, if you know anything at all about the Bible, you know symbolism
is very important but how important is it in every-day life? Let me
explain.
I was taught that you never placed the Bible on the floor. You
never, absolutely never, hit another kid on the head with your Bible.
I saw many who did such things but I was afraid to try it.
Furthermore, you never laid the Bible lower than other books.
Additionally, you never, never, never, placed anything on top of the
Bible because, at the very least, it should be on top of any stack of
magazines, papers, or other books. I'm sure you understand why I was
taught this. Was it necessary? I'll refer to the answer after my
next story.
We were in a Pentecostal church one night. We were members of
this church. We had a wonderful time of worship and the preaching was
great. The pastor was the best organist I have ever heard and he knew
how to play by the leading of the Holy Spirit, too. He was fantastic.
He sang very well and his preaching, in my opinion, was very good.
So, as I started to say, after this great service one night, the
whole church ends up down at the front. For you nonpentecostals and
anticharismatics, it isn't all that common to have an all church altar
call, meaning, everybody ends up down front praying or being prayed
for. Yes, I know. We are often worried we've sinned and backslid and
lost our salvation but that's for a doctrines class. Besides, I don't
believe that anyway. "Once a Baptist; always a Baptist?"
So, we are down front, as I said, and the pastor, and God only
knows where he came up with this hair brained idea, takes his Bible
and lays it on the carpeted floor. No fooling. He lays his Bible,
God as my witness, right down on the freaking floor. Then he gives a
little speech about how important it is to stand, the key word here is
"stand," upon the Word of God in our daily life. So far; so good.
Then, God forbid, he invites individuals to step forward who wish to
stand on his Bible as he prays and dedicates their lives to living a
Biblical life. I almost blew a gasket. I thought my heart would stop
beating or lightning would fall and burn the church down. I never
even believed anybody would attempt such a thing but he did. Person
after person stepped on to the Bible laying on the floor and as they
"stood" on the Word of god," the pastor prayed for them. When he
began running short on people who wanted to "stand" on the Bible, he
began calling people by name. By this time, I was so mad, I was
spitting nails. I prayed he'd ask me by name to come forward and step
on the Bible. I would have punched his teeth right down his throat.
Oh, I was ready. Please, God. Let him call my name. I am not a
combative person but that day, I would have been arrested for
assaulting an idiot pastor that had lost his marbles.
The little service continued and we were down to young children
stepping on the Bible. I decided in my heart, if that man called just
one of my kids, or if one of my kids volunteered, I would have spoken
and condemn this hideous and unholy practice for the evil it was, and
walk out of the place with my family. Thank God, the pastor never
called on my kids nor did my kids volunteer because they knew better.
Do you?
Now, let me focus clearly on the subject. You surely know that
the thing we call "The Bible" is just a bunch of paper and ink and
leather, or simulated leather, and it is just a book. Right? Yes, I
know it says Holy Bible on the cover and so it should, but it ain't
the cover that's holy, if you get my drift. It isn't the paper and it
is not the ink on the paper. I know; I know. It says "Holy Bible" on
the cover but it isn't the material thing that is holy, it is the
words of God inside. Correct me if I'm wrong. No, forget what I just
said. I don't need any correction; I know what I said is true.
However, the symbolism that material book represents transcends all
human understanding. If you don't believe that, you best find another
book to read. Regardless, I am simply trying to point out how
important symbolism is and that symbolism carries with it, tremendous
meaning. In the case of the Bible, it carries meaning that can
literally change a life.
So where do we go from here? That's up to you and the Lord. I
know where I stand. The Word of God is in my heart and mind and I
stand upon its authority. To physically stand upon it is dumb. No,
forget that. It isn't dumb, it is ungodly and I hope god strikes you
dead if you ever do it.
Now, think about spiritual symbolism. No, not everything in the
Bible is symbolic. I know that and you know that. Yet, some things
are symbolic. I'm not hear to clear up all your screwed up theology
in order to make you believe like me. I do want you to think about
the importance of symbolism.
Now, I was recently feeling around on top of our entertainment center,
that's what they call an overgrown bookshelf which stores your TV and
other electronics, for a place to put something down. I think it was
the cordless phone but I don't recall for sure. Anyhow, as I said, I
was feeling around on top of this thing for a place to sit something
down. Feeling? Yes, when you are blind, it works better that way.
What am I doing as a blind person with a TV in my living room?
Watching it, of course. Do you know how much junk ends up on top of
your entertainment center? We have church in our home every Sunday so
often Bibles are forgotten when church is over, I wonder what they
read during the week when their Bible is in my house, and they somehow
end up on the entertainment center, or on one of the end tables, but
eventually, somebody puts it on the entertainment center. So, here I
am, trying to find a place to sit the phone down, or maybe it was the
remote, and my hand finds a Bible. For one split second, I almost sat
what I had in my hand down on top of the Bible. then I stopped and
said, "Nope. I won't even do it now," and I didn't. Nor should you.
Why? It is called symbolism. It is the same when the American flag
passes by during the parade and off comes the hat or up goes the hand
over your heart. "Oh," you say, "it is just cloth," or, "the Bible is
just paper and real simulated leather covers." You can go climb a
long rope, too, for even thinking that. Didn't you learn anything
from going to Sunday school as a kid? Come on! I suppose you have
the same nonchalant attitude about the symbol of a cross, too? It
figures. No, silly. We aren't worshiping the Bible or the flag or
the cross; we are worshiping Jesus. Well, at least I am. Did you
forget Jesus said He was the Word? Yeah, you did forget that one,
didn't you? There is something to be said, however, about respect and
what is to be said about respect is symbolism. Stop and think about
it or get off the bus. Church is over. It is time to live what
you've learned. If you don't know Jesus by now, you've been listening
to the wrong screwed up TV evangelist. Speaking of which, I hope the
government outlaws Christian radio and television pretty soon. Then
maybe you'll go back to church and stop horsing around on Sundays.
You know what I mean, Vern?
Safe Place Fellowship
Phil Scovell
Denver, Colorado
Mountain Time Zone
Phone: 303-507-5175
WWW.SafePlaceFellowship.COM
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