Public Display of Scripture
After five hours of driving, I was feeling tired as one field blended into another. The scenery was the same except for the different billboards that lined the side of the motorway. As I whizzed past the signs, I noticed one that was different to all the rest; this one was in blue and was mostly in an Arabic script. It was hard to read all the details, but as I went by, I was able to read enough to see that it was a public declaration about the wonders of Islam and Muhammad. Here on the M6 just north of Birmingham, Muslims thought it worthwhile enough to erect a huge sign in the praise of their false religion.
For the rest of the drive, I considered the sign; then as I passed it again the next day, I began to wonder why I hadn’t seen Scripture signs on the side of the motorway. The Muslims near Birmingham were passionate enough about their beliefs to ensure that the thousands of motorists passing each day would be exposed to Islamic teaching, yet there were no Christian signs proclaiming the truth.
As I thought about the lack of Scripture in public, I began to wonder if the reason we don’t post Scripture texts openly is because we are embarrassed by the Bible, or is it because we no longer believe that God uses His Word to save the lost? I know the public display of Scripture doesn’t fit well with the latest missional thinking, or the exhortation that we should just be quiet and ‘lose well’, but I am convinced that if we were to spend more time spreading the Word of God, then we would see more Christians.
I remember hearing a testimony from a man who said that he was saved while sitting at a train station. He stated that his train was delayed, so as he sat in the carriage, he noticed a Scripture poster on the wall saying, “Seek ye the Lord!” (Isaiah 55:6-7). At first, he scoffed at this poster, but as he did so he began to think – “Why do I need to seek the Lord?” As he pondered the words on the poster, God gave Him spiritual light to see the truth and to believe in Christ.
These kinds of testimonies shouldn’t surprise us as Psalm 119:130 declares, “The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” Moreover, God has promised that He will use His Word to bring about saving faith with Romans 10:17 saying, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
We live in a day of great spiritual darkness, so I truly believe it is time for us to turn on the light of God’s Word. If we want to see people come from the darkness of sin, and come to know the Lord Jesus Christ, then we need to unleash God’s Word. If we hide away the Bible, how can we ever expect anyone to be saved?
As a student of history, I stand amazed at all the Lord did during the Protestant Reformation. Even though there were many aspects to the Reformation, something that was common throughout was the need to put the Bible into the public arena in a language the people could understand. Luther translated the Bible into German, and the truth spread. Tyndale translated the Bible from Greek to English, and the nation was transformed. As people took up the Word of God, they began to see the truth of the gospel, and the Lord worked faith in their hearts.
Today, God still promises to use His Word to save the lost; so, let’s ensure that we are about the business of spreading the Scripture. If we do not put the Scripture up in public, then there are many people in our communities who will never hear the truth. If we wait for the lost to come to Church in order to sit under the sound of God’s Word, then there are millions who will never hear a single line of God’s Voice! However, if we display the Scripture in public, then people will be exposed to the light at all times. Scriptures displayed in public are the silent witness that constantly shine the light into the darkness.
Like many chapels, we at Newquay Baptist Church have a Scripture sign on our front gate. I have noticed non-Christians from our community stop to read the Word of God. When a new sign is put up, the people again stop to read it. These people don’t come to our chapel; they haven’t stopped to talk about the gospel, but they have stopped to read a verse of Scripture. The light is penetrating the darkness.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, my good friend, Nigel Williams (Xpand Christianity) produced a free Scripture poster for people to put up in their windows. Houses throughout this nation became little lighthouses shining into the darkness. As people walked by or as the postman came to the door, there was the light of Scripture shining brightly.
I would love to have the finances to be able to put up Scripture billboards throughout Cornwall, and indeed throughout the UK; as I am firmly convinced that we need to take the Word of God and once again bring it into the public arena. People should constantly be exposed to God’s Truth wherever they go. Just like creation constantly shouts to all people that God exists, so we should have the special revelation, the Bible, constantly displayed so that people cannot escape the sound of God’s voice.
Let me finish by encouraging you to display God’s Word in the windows of your home, on your church buildings, on social media, on billboards, at train stations, at bus stops and wherever else you can. Let’s once again pierce the darkness with the Bible.
Helpful resources which will enable you to display God’s Word:
Gospels for Distribution – Pocket Testament League UK (check your country to see if there is a local office).
If you can’t find anything you like at the above links, then feel free to print Bible verses on your home printer. Together we can make much of Jesus by spreading His Word.