Signing Bibles
 

What do you think about having people sign your Bible? Why do we do that? I don't like signing Bibles, probably because I just don't understand it (although I've done it so as to not offend someone). I've never had an urge to get someone to sign my Bible. If you have people sign your Bible, why do you do it? If you sign people's Bibles, why do you do it? I'm not picking a fight about it. I just don't understand it.

The only person I'd want to sign a book is the author. I have autographed books, and I have autographed head shots of science fiction actors. The Lord is too busy preparing a place for me to come down and sign his book for me.

There's no way I'd let a man sign my Bible.

Just my opinion. :)

Re: "Signing Bibles"
 

Aloha brother,

If you feel uncomfortable about this (signing Bibles), it's probably because God the Holy Spirit is trying to tell you something.

In 50 years of being a Christian, there have been a couple of men who helped me in my study of the Bible - I never once ever thought of asking them to "sign" my Bible.

I believe that this stems from our carnal "Culture" and the elevating of "Christian celebrities" as if they were Football, Baseball, or Basketball stars; or as if they were popular or famous "politicians" or "actors" (which some of them are!)

I go along with Brandon - the only person I would ever want to sign my Bible would be my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

George, you mean...you don't want me, the Bone-Dry Heretic Of The 21st Century, to sign your Bible? Woe is me, woe we, Jesus wept...:D

Alright, here comes Tony, always has to be different, always has to...

Friends, I found a center in myself a long, long time ago, and found the difference between words on a page of a book that can let a God breath through them and give eternal life, can make dead things live, and sheaves of reconstituted wood pulp bound between a piece of leather.

I got a Bible around here somewhere that Pastor Richard Jordan signed is my only one, I had, and might still have a KJV dated 1869 that was bound in leather-covered wood that I stood in line for 40 minutes to sign but the bodyguards for the Bearing Precious Seed Spanish NT scam would not let us get close enough to Dr. Ruckman for him to sign for me since the pastor we were under at the time also wanted to speak with Dr. Ruckman and ask that these people stop promoting a "KJV In Spanish" when it was I think a 1909 Valera that had been Westcott-Hortized.

Oh well, I'l sign your Bibles brothers if we ever meet, but always remember...

"Dont you listen to him Dan
He's a devil, not a man...
...cooooooool water..."

Tony Bonez

I have given away hundreds of Bibles. and occasionally someone I have given one to will ask me to sign it. so all I do is write them my prayer they will give themselves to the study of God's word and sign my name.

I don't think there is anything wrong with that.

but there is the practice of some just to get certain well known preachers to sign their Bibles. I think it is a pride issue as then they can show off who they heard and show off their signature. that motive would be wrong.

I had a pocket Bible which I had signed by Sam Gipp, Tim Cruse and Greg Locke. I lost it.

I got my own name embossed on the front of one of my Bibles, the feature was offered at no extra cost. Does that make me a humanist and my own final authority? :rolleyes:

Whenever I give a Bible to someone, I always write in those little To: and From: fields that it was from God to the person, and hopefully the date of their salvation.

As for famous preachers signing Bibles, I think its very distastefull. If I did spend the day with Sam Gipp, Kent Hovind or the like, I'd ask them to sign my copy of their book, or better just have a picture taken.
Living up in Quebec, we rarely get to see any famous preachers come through here. Apparently the Doc came to my church once before I got there.

I suppose if I was ever at some publicity event for a new MV (as if!), I'd ask one of them to sign it, and if they asked why, I'd say because they're your words, not Gods!

I should add:

My name is embossed on the front of my Allan PM1. That's not having my Bible autographed.

When my son was very young, I bought him a Bible and wrote a message on the front page of it and signed it. That's not an "autographed Bible" either.

Like many things, "I know it when I see it." Giving my Bible to somebody and asking them to scribble on it for me just isn't gonna happen. ;)

ChaplainPaul, as I understand it from your post above, you have actually signed Bibles yourself. So why not ask the people who are asking you to sign them? I have a feeling it's because they admire you and associate you with helping them understand the Bible in some way, but that's just a guess. The only men who have ever signed my old Bible are old preachers who have made an unwavering effort over many years to defend the KJV without apology. :)

It's only happened to me once. I was so stunned by such a request I didn't know what to do, so I wrote a reference to John 4:34. It was very flattering and made me feel prideful. I'm prepared now for such requests, and know how to kindly decline or redirect. Personally, I won't sign as a celebrity (which I'm certainly not!). I just don't feel good about it. I don't mind writing something if I'm giving a gift,though. I could see where having a short note from a godly man inside your Bible might be an encouragement. Only stay humble!

I never did see the point in having someone sign my Bible. It's God's Book; what I personally write in it is a record of the way the Holy Spirit has worked on me. To get a man to autograph it seems almost sacrilegious.

Re: "Signing Bibles"
 

Aloha brother,

And a hearty :amen: to all that you have written. No harm in having your name embossed on your Bible, and no harm in writing a word of encouragement with a Scripture on the front of a believer's Bible.

Signing it, like a "celebrity", is what bothers me, and I'm extremely pleased that you see that. :)

Our whole emphasis should be on the Person of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ; and upon His Holy word.

John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

Hummm,I guess that has never come up?! I have my grandmother's old family Bible, and she wrote a poem on the front ,signed,dated it. Its a precious memory for all the family..but to actually ASK or have someone sign their name in my Bible..it has never come up. I would'nt want that :tsk:..its private,personal, just sort of 'not done'.

Thats right Sister, to give a Bible to someone is one of the best heartfelt gifts we could give anyone, or receive (except the Gift of salvation of course :D ), nothing at all wrong with marking it. When I led my little niece to Christ I gave her a small KJB and wrote in the date of her salvation and a Psalm and a little note from myself on how delighted I was for her. I have my grandfathers old Bible, with notes from my grandmother when she bought it for him, like you said precious memories. I would never think of asking any pastor or preacher to sign my Bible like a rock star would sign their album, it just dosent sit well. Sure if they wrote a book and signed it that would be no problem. My Bible is signed with Christs Blood, it testifys of Christs blood and contains the words of everlasting life. What man could ever top that ;)

Would I have someone sign my Bible?
 

NO! I'm a new Christian (I been saved for a year), and I don't see the point of having someone sign my Bible. It's not like they authored the Book. I don't remember reading about the Prophets and Apostles that the LORD God used to put His Words into writing, giving autographs everywhere they went. Don't get me wrong, I am thankful to the LORD God for great men of God like Jack Hyles, Peter Ruckman, Kent Hovind, etc. I admire their courage and their willingness to let God use them, but I try not to see them as Hollywood stars (LORD knows we already have a enough of those out in the world). I find it distasteful every time I see one of my brethren going towards a famous preacher to have their Bibles signed. I would probably avoid anyone writing in my Bible to begin with, but, I agree that if you write a poem, psalm, or encouraging note on one the blank pages of my Bible, I wouldn't stop from you signing, but just signing my Bible because you‘re famous I‘m completely against! However, like some of you said earlier, I wouldn't mind having them (men of God) sign a book they did authored or taking a picture with them, but no Bible signing!
:amen:

Hello Chaplain Paul,

I must admit, when I first read the topic, "Signing Bibles" - the picture in my mind was quite different. Being DEAF, I thought that it related to putting the Bible into Sign Language for Deaf brethren!

Sister Jassy