The Only Bible Some People Will Ever Read

This is a story about a college student named Bill who became a Christian while attending university in a small New England town. Bill was kind of esoteric yet a very bright young man. Across the street from the college was a well-established conservative church with magnificent Tiffany stain-glass windows, appealing red carpet, and handsome wood carvings. The members of that congregation wanted to develop a ministry for the students but were not sure how to go about it.

One Sunday morning, Bill decided he would attend the church. He walked in with open-toed sandals, wild hair, jeans, and a shirt complete with holes. The service had already begun. Bill walked down the center aisle trying to find a place to sit. The church that morning was completely full, no seats were available, and no one seemed willing to share a seat with the colorful visitor. By now, of course, some in the church had begun to stir. Bill kept getting closer to the altar and finally sat down on the floor in front of the first pew. Although this was perfect behavior at the mid-week college fellowship, this had never happened in this congregation before.

The folks in the pews were quite uptight by this point and tension began to fill the air. The priest realized that from the back of the church a member of the vestry was slowly making his way towards Bill. Now the man was in his eighties, had silver hair, and wore a distinguished three-piece suit. A godly man, very elegant and very dignified. He walked slowly with the assistance of a cane. What would this man do when he got to Bill?

It seemed like an eternity for the aging man to reach the young man. The church was utterly silent all focused on the older man as he made his way slowly down the main aisle. The priest did not begin his sermon until the man had finished what he had begun to do. When the man got to Bill, he dropped his cane, lowered himself to the floor with great difficulty, sat down next to Bill and worshipped with him so that he would not be alone.

No one uttered a word as the entire congregation sat in complete and reflective silence.

Finally, the priest stepped into the pulpit and said quite simply, “What you have seen this morning, you will never forget. Be careful how you live. You may be the only Bible some people will ever read.”

~ Anonymous

William Thoms is credited for writing, “You may be the only Bible some people will ever read.”