A close relative pointed his finger towards me the other day and said: “Are you –referring to the Palestinian Bible Society - the ones distributing these Bible packages in Jerusalem?” I said: “No”. Again pointing his finger: “No, I am sure it is you…” and with grief and disgust in his eyes he said: “Shame on you! Go and see how people are throwing them out in the streets”.I decided to go and see for myself. Walking down near the garden tomb, I could see white paper with small dark Arabic writing covering the street, going closer towards Damascus gate, I could actually see footstep marks on clean fresh paper. Up in an alley on the way to new gate, I could see a number of Bibles piled up in a corner. Then I walk through new gate, I cannot help but pick up a brand new Bible torn in half, and while doing so, an old Christian man, whom has been committed to the Greek Orthodox Church in the old city, says: “It is the crazy Motajadideen” (“Born Again” in Arabic). “They have no respect to the Bible; they think they can give a Bible to any passerby”.
While tears almost ran this old man’s face, I could see little boys tearing up another Bible page by page and making sudden loud one worded jokes about the “Book of the Infidels”!
A Christian Evangelical Ministry was proud that they distributed more than 5,000 Bibles in one day in the wonderful bright streets of East Jerusalem. They were excited to share:”… some 50,000 Arab Muslims and nominal Christians … have been reached with the Gospel”
Unfortunately, like many other Evangelical Christian Churches and Ministries in the Holy Land, the numbers are exaggerated, the facts are not precise, and there is a “fake joy” component to every event that takes place. And I observe how some of these churches have become project based Churches and Ministries, where you carefully walk through the project cycle process, and make sure to match your results with your goals in order to get better funding for your next event.
Today as I walk in between the Greek Orthodox Church and the Evangelical Church, I cannot but have these feelings. The first Church has so well preserved the word of God, that itself has become so protective, leaving the youth hungry and ignorant towards their own Bible. From the other hand, some Evangelical Churches that have hardly any respect for the Bible, even though The Word of God is not in the paper and ink but in the meaning, nevertheless it is important not to waste time and effort and not to give a bad example to people that put their faith in paper and ink.
When I walk and find scribbles over verses, and green blue yellow marker remains over chapters, and I look down at the torn pages of Bible covering the streets of Jerusalem, and then I realize… this is the body of Christ, torn in Jerusalem as a result of our differences, our own agendas, and our pride.
RSS
Is this the opinion of Bible Society???? I am sure NOT..Most of the Bibles (if not all) that are distributed in these campaigns are bought from your organization (or with their approval), while your people know exactly why these Bibles were bought!!!
Since you started this discussion I will not leave it without answering your point:
When you distribute thousands of Bibles or Christian material, there will be always 10 - 20% loss.. and people who work in this field are aware of this… but we know that 80-90% have reached their target audience…. So does it worth it????? OF COURSE, it does.
Distribution is not the only way we need to use to reach people, but it is one way to plant the seeds. I urge you to talk to your brothers and sisters personally about this - even with those who have different agenda or you have difference with -and together we can always find creative ways to reach the lost.
Thank you "SS" for responding to this article so well. You are correct. The writing is not helpful or edifying. The bitterness and judgmental spirit expressed through the tone of the writer demonstrates an ignorance of the real facts, making it not hepful to anyone, including the Orthodox, the Evangelical, the Bible Society and the unbeliever. Your challenge to the writer to speak face-to-face with those he is criticizing is right-on, but it must only be done sincerely in a loving and teachable and edifying manner. I sense he is not prepared to do this at this time. Until he is, he should wait until his mind and spirit are under the control of the Holy Spirit, enabling him to learn from the response he may receive in return.
It is obvious that you are offended by what my brother Simon has written but have not shown the same offense to the Holy Bible being torn and treated in such a disgraceful manner. We live in a culture were Muslims treat their Quran with the utmost respect and any rumor pertaining otherwise would start a riot among the Muslims. Although I am not arguing that we should take the same approach as Muslims; I do believe we should show more respect to the Bible as it would be a greater testimony to my Muslim brothers and sisters and other traditional churches in this region. As for Simon’s mention of exaggeration by some organizations to meet quotas and receive more financial support, It might offend you to realize the truth about some of our churches and missionary organizations today but it is fact and there is no reason not to expose it in a respectful article. This article does serve us as a reminder, too bad you chose to selectively read it.
Thank you Simon for writing this.
I just read your article in "Come and See" and found it quite remarkable. I could also imagine a continuation of it, in the direction of how then the Bible could wisely or best be used in evangelistic conversations. Thank you for writing the article!
May our Lord bless you in all you do in His name!
This is blatantly false.
www.orthodoxforchrist.com
Figures from Bibles distributed are no exaggerated, but entirely right.
The Word of God is Jesus Christ himself, in the gospel of John it says: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
An expression of the Word inspired by the Holy Spirit is the Holy Bible in both the Old and New Testament which reflects God's desire to establish a relation with us and to reveal his love to all human being.
The Bible Society's mission is to make the Bible available to all people regardless of their background. The Bible Society partners with local organizations in order to fulfill this mission and shed light over the darkness of the World using the light of the Word.
The means and ways of doing this work could vary a lot, I can agree with someone on the way to physically distribute the Bible and disagree with others. As long as the mission is fulfilled and goal is reached, we consider the method as a secondary issue that we have the freedom to have our differences.
The Bible Society will always be a place for people to receive the written word and will always work with all those who live it, share it, serve and proclaim it.
A Word's servant and lover,