The Bible is the holiest book in the Christian religion. For this reason, many practicing Christians (but also non-believers) are reluctant to throw out a Bible in the same way they do everyday trash. Generally, Christian churches have very few rules on this matter - the biggest concerns are that the book is treated with respect and, if possible, used in the service of God's will.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Reuse an Old Bible
Step 1. Donate it
If the Bible is in acceptable condition, consider donating it to a person or charity that can use it. This will allow others to know the word of God when, otherwise, they would not have had the opportunity. Here are some ideas about who you could donate your Bible to:
- He asked, who could then give the book to the needy as a gift.
- Libraries, which may lend the book or sell it to a fundraiser.
- Used charity shops, which can offer the book at an affordable price to someone who may need it.
- Christian hospices for the homeless, many of which organize prayer groups and Bible study courses.
- The Gideons (Gideons International), which are a Christian group that distributes the Bibba for free all over the world.
- Another charity that distributes the Bible. For example, some organizations will send Bibles to countries where people are persecuted for reading the Bible.
Step 2. Get your Bible repaired
Just because a Bible is old and worn doesn't necessarily mean it has to stay in that condition. Professional Book Recovery Services offer the ability to return older or damaged books to a high level of quality (for a fee). Some of these services also allow you to ship your books directly to the repair shop.
This type of service is an excellent choice if your Bible has a strong emotional value. However, due to the fact that recovery costs can be quite high, this choice may not make sense for ordinary Bibles
Step 3. Keep the Bible
Alternatively, you could keep the Bible, keeping it safe, so that its condition cannot worsen further. Even if the Bible will not be used daily, it could serve as a family heirloom to pass on to your children.
This option is a good choice when your Bible has some emotional value and its repair is too expensive or difficult
Method 2 of 3: Respectfully destroy the Bible
Step 1. Show respect for the Bible
The Bible, within it, does not contain specific instructions for its elimination. Even though the Word of God is regarded by Christians as sacred and eternal, the physical document that contains the Word is not recognized as such. However, with its millennial history, its billions of faithful and its rich spiritual tradition, it is important to show the Bible due respect, even if you are not a Christian. In theory, any reasonable method of disposing of a Bible is appropriate, as long as it is carried out with virtuous intentions and extreme respect.
- To show your respect, as you throw away or destroy the Bible, you may want to say one or more prayers that have special meaning for you, although it is not necessary.
- Never destroy a Bible using a deliberately disrespectful method. While it is not a sin to treat an object made of paper and ink in a disrespectful way, it "is" a sin to denigrate God on purpose.
Step 2. Bury the Bible
One way to dispose of an old Bible is to return it to the earth with a respectful burial. The burial can be as "heartfelt" as you wish (within the limits of reason), although a humble burial is as valid as a more pompous one. Here are some ideas you might consider for your burial ceremony:
- Gathering with family members for a moment of recollection
- Say a prayer while the Bible is buried
- Ask for the help of a priest to bless the Bible
- Mark the burial site of the Bible with a small sign
Step 3. Burn the Bible
Another way to dispose of a Bible is to respectfully cremate it (similar to what is done with national flags). While those who want to disrespect God's word do so by burning it, there is nothing wrong with burning the Bible itself when observing the required solemnity and respect. Generally, burning a Bible means setting up a bonfire or pyre large enough to completely burn the book, then carefully placing the Bible in the fire and respectfully watching it burn.
As above, during the cremation of the Bible, you might consider reciting a prayer, silent reflection, and so on
Step 4. Recycle the Bible
Eventually, since the Bible is made of paper, you may want to dispose of it by recycling it. This is a particularly good choice if you are interested in serving God by preserving the natural beauty of His Land, as recycling reduces the need to cut trees to produce new paper.
However, for many, "throwing away" the Bible in the same way that ordinary paper is thrown away may appear wrong, regardless of the intent of the act. In this case, you could make a special container for the Bible, to separate it from the rest of the garbage, by putting it in its bag or box
Step 5. In special cases, refer to the advice of your priest or reverend
While many Christian churches will accept virtually any method of disposing of a Bible if conducted with good intentions and due respect, some Christian churches may argue that it is a sin to destroy the physical symbol of God's word, no matter how or what it is. reasons. If you join one of these churches, you should probably consult a member of the clergy to ensure that the disposal of the Bible is done in accordance with your church's rules.
In this case, follow the advice in the rest of the article only after receiving confirmation from a qualified member of your Church
Method 3 of 3: Burial or Cremation of a Bible
Step 1. Leave specific instructions in your will regarding the disposal of your Bible
Make sure your family knows where they can find these instructions.
If you have a plan already set up for your funeral, make sure the undertaker knows of your willingness to have the Bible buried or cremated with you
Step 2. Be sure to indicate where the Bible in question is usually located in your home
This is especially important if you have more than one Bible.
Step 3. Have the deceased keep the Bible in the coffin so they can see it
Step 4. Have the Bible buried (or cremated) with you at the funeral
Advice
- Many Christians think that it is the content of the Bible that makes it sacred, not the paper and ink, and therefore the disposal of the Bible can be done like any other book.
- If you don't want that Bible anymore, why not give it to someone who wants it, or maybe a church or other religious organization? If you don't know any, try to find a local recycling group and contact them to arrange for them to come and pick you up.
- Before disposing of your Bible, take a moment to quickly browse through it, check your notes, or find something about your family. Many people have noted significant family events, such as births, marriages, and deaths in their family Bible, and you may want to keep this information if it is your case.
- Some believe the Bible should be disposed of with the same honors as a national flag.
- Jacquelyn Sapiie, Library Services Supervisor of the American Bible Society gave this advice, “There is no Christian ceremony or procedure for disposing of an old and worn Bible. While everyone agrees that if a book is worn out and no longer usable, it must be thrown away, throwing away a Bible is a difficult action for many people … It might be a good thing to make it useful, and a way to do this is by recycling it. Recycling is an honorable act, appropriate for a book like the Bible. " Source
Warnings
- Remember not to start worshiping the Bible, God is the only one you should worship (if you are a Christian, that is).
- The Holy Bible is a very sacred book to millions of people and they may be offended by any method you use to dispose of it.
