Have you ever been so focused on guarding something that you forgot why it mattered in the first place? That’s the idea that hit me square between the eyes while watching The Book of Eli.
Now, I won’t spoil the whole movie for you (because if you haven’t seen it, you really should), but here’s the gist: Eli, played by Denzel Washington, is a lone traveler in a post-apocalyptic United States, tasked with carrying and protecting what may be the last remaining Bible. He’s spent decades fighting off those who would steal or destroy it, trekking across the wasteland with a singular mission. But at one point, he says something that stuck with me:
“In all these years I’ve been carrying it and reading it every day, I got so caught up in keeping it safe that I forgot to live by what I learned from it.”
In the movie, this line has a specific meaning, but let’s be real—it could apply to a whole lot of us Christians.
Are We Protecting the Bible… or Forgetting to Live It?
We love the Word of God. We fight to keep it in schools, in government, in culture. We debate translations, argue doctrine, and defend it against those who try to discredit it. And while protecting the Bible is good, there’s a danger in being so caught up in defending it that we forget to live it.
It’s easy to get so focused on proving we’re right that we stop showing the love and grace the Word actually teaches. We fight to keep crosses on courthouses while ignoring the person who needs Jesus right in front of us. We rail against the immorality of the world but struggle to be kind to the guy who cut us off in traffic. We know every verse about sin but forget the ones about patience, love, and humility.
📖 “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 1:22)
If we’re clutching the Bible so tightly that we never open it to actually apply it, what good is our defense of it?
The Church Hurt We Don’t Talk About
You’ve heard the term “church hurt” before. It’s what happens when the very people who are supposed to welcome the broken instead break them further. It’s when someone finally works up the courage to walk into a church, only to be met with judgmental stares and whispered gossip.
It’s the pastor who gatekeeps grace, deciding who’s worthy to sit in the pews. It’s the church ladies who clutch their pearls when someone walks in looking different. It’s the men who refuse to welcome new faces because “we don’t want those kinds here.”
We do it because we think we’re protecting the church. But in doing so, we’ve forgotten that the church isn’t ours to protect—it’s Jesus’ to build.
📖 “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mark 2:17)
Imagine a hospital that turned away the injured because they were too hurt. That’s what some churches have become. And the worst part? It’s done in the name of protection.
God Never Asked Us to Protect Him
Let’s get one thing straight: God doesn’t need our protection. Neither does Jesus. Neither does the church.
God commanded us to go and make disciples (Matthew 28:19). Not defend His reputation. Not weed out the “wrong” kind of people. Not keep the church safe by keeping it small and exclusive.
In fact, Jesus warned us that safety was never guaranteed—for us or for the church.
📖 “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
The early church didn’t grow because they played it safe—it grew because they were willing to lay everything on the line for the Gospel. And many of them did lay down their lives.
- Peter was crucified upside down because he refused to deny Christ.
- Paul was beheaded in Rome for preaching the Gospel to the Gentiles.
- James (the brother of Jesus) was thrown from the temple and beaten to death for proclaiming Jesus as Lord.
- Stephen was stoned to death for boldly preaching in the name of Christ (Acts 7:54-60).
- Ignatius of Antioch was torn apart by wild beasts in the Colosseum for refusing to renounce his faith.
Not one of them was focused on protecting the church’s image. They weren’t debating the best translation or arguing over who deserved a seat at the table. They were too busy spreading the Gospel, no matter the cost.
They didn’t build walls to keep people out—they broke down barriers to bring people in.
What Are We Really Protecting?
So, should we fight to keep the Bible in public life? Absolutely. Should we work to keep the church strong and doctrinally sound? Of course. But if we’re so busy guarding the Word that we forget to share it, we’ve already lost the battle.
✅ Defend the Bible, but live it first.
✅ Protect the church, but open the doors wide.
✅ Share the message, not just the rules.
📖 “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)
Because at the end of the day, a Bible locked in a vault helps no one. It’s meant to be read, lived, and shared.
Closing Prayer
Lord, forgive us for the times we’ve held onto Your Word so tightly that we forgot to live by it. Help us to love as You love, to welcome as You welcome, and to trust that You are more than capable of defending Yourself. May we never be so busy protecting the church that we forget to be the church. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Call to Action
If this post hit home, share it—not to protect the message, but to spread it. And if you see someone new at church this Sunday, maybe shake their hand instead of sizing them up. You never know if you’re their first real encounter with a Christian. Let’s make it a good one.
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