The Bible as a “Prop” by Dr. Johnny O. Trail, LMFT
Many in the Middle Tennessee area have been following the road rage murder of a nurse. Caitlyn Kaufman was on her way to work when two assailants peppered the vehicle she was driving with six bullet holes. One of the rounds stuck Ms. Kaufman, and she died from the wound.
As the events of the trial have unfolded, the prosecution has lodged a somewhat odd objection to what one of the defendants was doing. WKRN News reported “Before jurors come in prosecutors object to James Cowan “having his prop.” Judge Dalton says he has to keep the Bible on the table.”
It is disturbing to think that one on trial for murder would use the Bible as a means of gaining sympathy from the jury. If it had been read instead of merely used as "window decoration,” many lives would have been changed for the better and much less heartache would have been experienced by those who are mourning the loss of a fellow human being.
While this is an extreme example, it got me to thinking about how numerous people are merely using the Bible as a prop. Many of the ceremonies we see in public have a touch of religion in them by introduction of the Bible. In these ceremonies, the Bible is little more than an item produced for show with little or no understanding of what it teaches.
People take an oath on the Bible when being “sworn in” to offer testimony in a court case. It is not unheard of for people to lie or perjure themselves while offering sworn testimony. Never mind the fact that they have sworn to tell the “truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God.” Still, bearing false witness does not cause many to stumble with a lie on the way to offer testimony (Exodus 20:16)
Presidents of the United States place their hands upon the Bible while swearing to uphold the Constitution of our great nation. These same presidents (Democrat and Republican) lie and violate portions of the law they are sworn to uphold. Sadly, their character is not always reflective of the holy writ they place their hands upon while being sworn into office.
Marriage ceremonies often include Bibles and many times the one presiding will reference things found in scripture as a part of the ceremony. Sadly, this same Bible is used in same sex marriages and ceremonies that are sometimes performed by gay, lesbian, or bisexual individuals. If they opened the word of God, they would read of the need for immediate repentance (Romans 1:20-28).
These same marriage ceremonies where the Bible is used as a “prop” have people saying “vows” to one another that they have no real intentions of honoring. They do not intend to live as husband and wife for the remainder of their lives (Matthew 19:1-12). The average lifespan of a marriage in the United States is eight years while God intends for it to be lifelong (Romans 7:3-4).
In marriages where the Bible is merely a “prop,” there is no real respect for marriage that is intended by God to be heterosexual in nature. The Obergefell v. Hodges decision made same sex marriage the rule of the land and perverted God’s plan for marriage and the family. In the beginning, God designed marriage to be heterosexual and monogamous in nature (Genesis 2:20-25).
Coffee tables around our great nation sometimes have large “heirloom” Bibles as a centerpiece. Instead of being the cornerstone of many families, it is a book that goes unheeded in establishing and raising successful homes. It is just for show and no real direction is followed from God’s holy writ.
Just like the large heirloom Bibles, many have Bibles on their shelves that were purchased or handed down through families. They are just collecting dust with no real guidance to offer, because they are not studied and followed in any meaningful way. If we truly want to bring about positive change in our world, people will dust off their Bibles and seek God’s direction while He may be found (Matthew 6:33).
Until the Bible becomes more than a “prop” in one’s life, it has no real ability to effectuate change or better the world in which we live. One day, this “prop” will be the standard by which judgment will be rendered. John 12:47-48 says, “And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.”
