What to do with old Bibles

[mnorian]

I'm wonder what a person should do with old tattered Bibles. As I didn't think they should be just thrown out with the trash, I used to say they should be burned, but now with this Pastor Terry Jones getting in trouble burning other books it made me stop and think; is there a better way of disposing of them? What's your thoughts?

 

[Max Shade]

Usually when mine get tattered to a certain point I "retire" them. They take up shelf space, sure, but they have sentimental value as reminding me of my walk and this or that decade . . . what was going on, where all I carried it. I have all of mine from the first.

Apart from sentimental value, they are a book like any other. The words are what sets it apart as special. Early Irish Christians inadvertently destroyed many Bibles because they tried to make tea out of the Bibles to cure their sick. That is superstition and it may seem silly now, but fretting about how to dispose of old Bibles isn't a whole lot different when ya stop and think about it.

So, keep 'em for sentimental value, trash them, use them to stoke a fire for a bbq you do in a park to feed the homeless (That'd honor God) or to provide warmth for your family . . . it is all good. Good sign to be wearing out Bibles though . . . if they stay too neat for too long it means they aren't being opened enough.

 

[CounselorForChrist]

Never though of this question before. Its a good one. Its like asking what to do with a torn apart american flag. I know I still have my childrens bible in my room in storage. I don't want to throw it away or anything. It holds so much value to me. My teen bible I don't care about as much though. I think I did give that one away or threw it out.

 

[mnorian]

My family in the past knew I didn't believe in throwing out Bibles so they gave me their old ones and any we found (in used cars and a house we moved in to) so I had quite a stack of them (boxes full). As we lived in town there was no burning and no place to bury them. So as they do with old flags burning seemed the more dignified solution and was looking for a place to do so but now we are separated and my wife has them. Somebody once said there was an organization that will take old Bibles an distribute them overseas, but some of these were in such bad shape i would have been embarrassed to send them; would have rather sent new ones

 

[theophilus40]

I'm wonder what a person should do with old tattered Bibles. As I didn't think they should be just thrown out with the trash, I used to say they should be burned, but now with this Pastor Terry Jones getting in trouble burning other books it made me stop and think; is there a better way of disposing of them? What's your thoughts?

Is this the Terry Jones you are referring to?

Terry Jones (pastor) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

If so, it has nothing to do with your question. His motivation for burning books was completely different from yours.

Here is what the U. S. Flag Code says about flags. [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]"The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning". It would be appropriate to do the same thing with Bibles that are too worn to be of any more use. [/FONT]

 

[PaladinValer]

I'm wonder what a person should do with old tattered Bibles. As I didn't think they should be just thrown out with the trash, I used to say they should be burned, but now with this Pastor Terry Jones getting in trouble burning other books it made me stop and think; is there a better way of disposing of them? What's your thoughts?

Typically, Bibles are buried in holy ground if they are in a state that cannot be repaired.

If they can repair it, attempt it. My dad had a old German Bible repaired and rebound and it looks fantastic now.

 

[Inkachu]

If it's something sentimental, or a family heirloom, just keep it.

If it's not particularly special to you in a personal way, and it's still useable, donate it to a local thrift store or library.

If it's falling apart and can't be used anymore, I guess I'd recycle it. The message is what's holy and sacred, not the physical materials of the book.

 

[ValleyGal]

You can do a lot of things if you don't have the space or sentiment to keep it. Donate to a goodwill or used bookstore, give it to a homeless person who would like to have one, donate it to a prison for inmates to access or receive, pass it to your children (if it's an appropriate heirloom), if it's small enough it can be smuggled into believers who live in communist or other countries where there is persecution....

At one point I had one where pages started falling out. It was a small and inexpensive one that I used to take to churches and typically left in my handbag. I didn't mind losing a page here and there, but when the binding broke into about four or five chunks, nothing could rescue it, so I did throw it out - after I bought a new one and made note of all the verses I had underlined or marked. What made it okay for me to throw out was my love and care for my new one. The new one held together very well, and lasted until even reading glasses would not permit me to see the tiny print. I still have it, but once I transfer my underlining to my new standard-print, I will likely donate it to Bibles for Missions.

 

[parsley]

Salvation Army/Goodwill/VOA, homeless shelters, churches, Christian schools, Christian artists who use collage methods with book pages, missionaries in countries that don't allow full Bibles. How bad is bad?

 

[jsimms615]

I would recycle it since the paper can be used again.

 

[znr]

Too much drama...I throw them away. Burning them is too much drama. I throw them in the trash because the bible itself is not holy. Now, if you throw yourself into the trash and Gods word is written in your heart, I think that would be wrong.

 

[DiscipleHeLovesToo]

I'm wonder what a person should do with old tattered Bibles. As I didn't think they should be just thrown out with the trash, I used to say they should be burned, but now with this Pastor Terry Jones getting in trouble burning other books it made me stop and think; is there a better way of disposing of them? What's your thoughts?

donate them to homeless shelters, put them in ziplock baggies and leave them near bridges where homeless people sleep at night (be careful!), or in parks near soup kitchens, emergency rooms, benches outside of courthouses, etc. - places where desperate people might find them - they won't care what condition the Bibles are in

 

[Bobby64]

If it's something sentimental, or a family heirloom, just keep it.

If it's not particularly special to you in a personal way, and it's still useable, donate it to a local thrift store or library.

If it's falling apart and can't be used anymore, I guess I'd recycle it. The message is what's holy and sacred, not the physical materials of the book.

I agree entirely. Rather than burn it or throw it away if it's falling apart, use it to help the environment.

 

[HisH0lyServant]

I have cut out my favorite verses and then glue them onto placks and stuff around my house. I use to glue them into my kids school folders and pencil boxes. They can't take prayer and Jesus away from MY kids. U can cut out favorite verses and put them on anything an use some clear spray paint or craft paint to seal it before donating it to homeless or Salvation Army to make sure it get a Blessing and only a real Christian keep uses it. Threw the Lord it might be just what a person needs to see, u never knoe.