I have several Bibles in my office, and I use them in various ways. Two of my favorites happen to be the lightest Bible that I own, and the heaviest. The least weighty Bible on my shelf is a super-slim, pocket-size Bible that I take on hospital calls and home visits. It only contains the New Testament and the Psalms, but it’s the perfect size for “ministry on the go.” The other Bible is one that weighs several pounds. It’s a two-volume facsimile version of Martin Luther’s 1534 German Bible, printed in “illustrated manuscript” fashion. I don’t even read German, but I enjoy keeping these volumes in my office, to remind me of the tremendously-important place of the Scriptures in our Lutheran heritage, and in our modern-day congregational life. One Bible is very light, and the other extremely heavy.

How weighty are the Scriptures, in your personal experience? Of course, it’s not really important how much our personal Bibles actually weigh. It is extremely significant, though, to measure just how much heft and influence we give to the Word of God. For each of us, as individual Christians, and for our life together in the church, the weight of Scripture is a vital, substantive issue.

It’s one thing for Christians to affirm, “Yes, the Bible is God’s holy Word.” It’s another thing entirely to humbly accept the authority of Scripture, and yield faithfully to the Lord’s admonitions, when it comes to the everyday decisions and lifestyle choices that we make in this world. Do you allow the Scriptures to have much weight in your daily walk, as a disciple of Christ living in a challenging world? Does the Bible have much clout, when it comes to your family life, vocational life, social life?

What about here at Hope Lutheran Church? How much weight do we give to the Scriptures? We provide a prominent place for the Word of God in our worship services, and teach Bible stories to the kids. Study classes for youth and adults explore the Bible, and small groups discuss the Scriptures on a regular basis in our church. All of this ongoing Bible emphasis is healthy and constructive for our congregation. But it’s definitely a continual challenge for churches like ours to maintain a high view of the authority of Scripture in this day and age. Back in his day, Luther famously stressed the need to base the doctrines and practices of the church on the Bible, above all other human considerations. As the people of Hope carry on with our God-given mission, let’s recommit to allowing Scripture its proper weight. God calls us to consistently honor his Words, to cherish their significance, and to give them credence above any personal agendas, matters of convenience, competing issues, or cultural trends.

How weighty are the Scriptures? For you and me in our personal lives, and for our life together in the church, that’s a heavy, crucial question!

In Christ,

Pastor Wayne Puls