The Bible Society, formed on the 7^th March 2017 at Australia’s first Government House (todays Museum of Sydney), has been operating longer on these shores than any other organisation.

Much has changed over the course of two hundred years. Back then, the Bible was widely viewed as the bread of life and essential spiritual sustenance that contributed to both the private and public good. Today, many disregard the Bible. Some consider it’s teaching to be primitive and dangerous.

Furthermore, the Bible’s place in public consciousness has changed dramatically. Today less than half of all Australian’s (45%) and less than one in three Generation Y’s (32%) own a Bible. And, of all Australian’s who identified their religion as Christianity on the census, only 3 out of 4 own a Bible, and only 1 in 4 attend church at least once per month.

What do we do given the Bible’s ‘weakened condition’? Nothing. We stick to the knitting. Same old, same old. God’s Word hasn’t changed and our responsibility to share it hasn’t changed. It is still the bread of life and essential spiritual substance that contributes to both the private and public good. So, 200 years later, the Bible Society is still involved in the translation, publishing, and distribution of the Christian Bible. That’s something worth celebrating.

God’s Word is doing just fine. The Bible remains the world’s best-selling book with more than five billion copies printed. C.H. Spurgeon once said,‘Defend the Bible? I’d would as soon defend a lion! Unchain it and it will defend itself.’ Don’t defend, simply, “Hear, Believe, and Obey” God’s Word.