Throwing away Bibles that have seen their day

Or laying them to rest. Or something. I guess I've done it before but now have two Bibles that have seen their day and are falling apart and have shredded pages and the pages separate and tend to fall out when I am trying to turn them. So it's time to go. But when I think of simply placing them in the trash this feeling comes over me. Why this feeling? I guess I'm feeling that is wrong to do with the word of God but how else do you dispose of a Bible that has seen its day? I've had one of these Bibles since the early 80s so it has defintely seen its day. It is in such shape that it can't be donated. You're probably laughing. I sort of am laughing also and it's late and I'm tired but I guess I will just put them with the rest of the stuff that's going out. Why do I get "religious" when trying to determine how to dispose of them?

Sane here. Just wondering.

I hear you David,

It shows the profound respect and love we have for the Bible because we know these are not just normal words but the revelation of God's will for us and His words to us.

I have quite a few of those still stored away in my home

What to do....? :)

LOL! Good one, Julius :)

The very first leather bound Bible I bought in 1978 was a large print King James and I couldn't bear to throw it away either so I had it rebound. I kept the leather because it was still excellent condition but had them reglue and tighten everything up and it cost $95.00 three years ago! After I could breathe again from paying for it; I have so many notes written in the margins from over the years, it was still worth it!!

I also recommend Edwin L. Hodges Ministry at ELHM dot org.

The physical paper with physical ink is not the word of God per se. You can memorize the Bible as a book, word for word, and still be as lost as any other sinner. It is the engrafted word received with meekness that contains the power of God. It is when we plant it in our heart with the expectation of harvest that the power of the Spirit of God breaths life through and to the written word. His words are Spirit and they are Life.

So, if the book itself has become work to the point that you need to replace it with a new copy, and if the book itself is not suitable to give to another person due to wear, then there is nothing bad about simply throwing it away and getting another copy.

I have heard of people who revered the family Bible, kept it prominently displayed, would have been offended if you touched it irreverently, yet never opened it and hid it in their own hearts. They were as carnal as can by, but they revered the physical book. Not at all what God intended I think.

If you are artistically inclined there might be something you can do with some of the pages- particularly those containing the passages that are special to you.

You could do a google search and I bet you could find some good ideas.

My first Bible is bound with duct tape. I like looking back at the notes I wrote as a teenager and see how many of my ideas have changed over years.

A puppy ate the bottom of a page out of it one night and the part she consumed was the part where Jesus said, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me shall never hunger." That part was always missing from then on.

She still hungered in a way though because she still liked to eat you know. Ha! Someobody said maybe she is a holy puppy now!

Not sure what you mean? Why would I throw away a Bible, or why would I fail to hide the word in my heart?

Paper is nothing, ink is nothing, but the living word of God planted in my heart and transforming my life is everything. If a copy of the Bible can be used by someone else, I would by all means give it away. I don't want to waste a copy if it can be used by someone else. But if the physical copy is beyond repair and cannot be used by anyone, I see no need to keep it around.

By the way, the story would be MUCH different if Bibles were hard to come by. In a country where Bibles were outlawed and every single page precious, I would never advocate throwing a Bible away.

Hope that clears it up.

I have a family bible that is older than the United States. Shame that none of my ancestors bothered to read it. Some pages seem untouched and look as they were fresh from the press.