Comments on: The Evangelical Liturgy 8: The Public Reading of Scripture http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/the-evangelical-liturgy-8-the-public-reading-of-scripture ...dispatches from the post-evangelical wilderness Sun, 12 Feb 2012 12:47:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: BJ Buracker http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/the-evangelical-liturgy-8-the-public-reading-of-scripture/comment-page-1#comment-510452 BJ Buracker Wed, 09 Sep 2009 21:37:59 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=4410#comment-510452 Pastor Spencer, Once again you nail it on the head! It makes no sense why a <i>Sola Scriptura</i> adhering church would shun/avoid/neglect/forget the public reading of Scripture! Hence your phrase, "the Bible-waving, but not Bible reading evangelical church," is all the more apropos and shocking. If we really believe that it is God's Word, that it is life-changing, and that is the ONLY basis for our doctrine(s), why in the world wouldn't we read it regularly? The Catholics certainly put us to shame here. A Bible-neglecting <i>Sola Scripturist</i>...? A true oxymoron, indeed. BJ Pastor Spencer,

Once again you nail it on the head! It makes no sense why a Sola Scriptura adhering church would shun/avoid/neglect/forget the public reading of Scripture! Hence your phrase, “the Bible-waving, but not Bible reading evangelical church,” is all the more apropos and shocking. If we really believe that it is God’s Word, that it is life-changing, and that is the ONLY basis for our doctrine(s), why in the world wouldn’t we read it regularly? The Catholics certainly put us to shame here.

A Bible-neglecting Sola Scripturist…? A true oxymoron, indeed.

BJ

]]> By: Dave N. http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/the-evangelical-liturgy-8-the-public-reading-of-scripture/comment-page-1#comment-510447 Dave N. Wed, 09 Sep 2009 20:26:21 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=4410#comment-510447 Also see Luke chapter 4. The lectionary helps ensure that the pastor doesn't end up preaching all his sermons on Romans (or whatever scattered Bible classes he took in seminary), or doesn't simply use the Bible as a chain of prooftexts for whatever theological agenda he's promoting--or in other words I've found that lectionary-based preaching tends to derive theology from the Bible, rather than the other way around. Not foolproof, but better imho. And of course there is the sense of worship as continuity with the early church, which I know is important for some people and unimportant for others. I've quoted here before from Justin Martyr, 150 AD: "On Sunday we have a common assembly of all our members, whether they live in the city or the outlying districts. The recollections of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as there is time...." Also see Luke chapter 4. The lectionary helps ensure that the pastor doesn’t end up preaching all his sermons on Romans (or whatever scattered Bible classes he took in seminary), or doesn’t simply use the Bible as a chain of prooftexts for whatever theological agenda he’s promoting–or in other words I’ve found that lectionary-based preaching tends to derive theology from the Bible, rather than the other way around. Not foolproof, but better imho.

And of course there is the sense of worship as continuity with the early church, which I know is important for some people and unimportant for others. I’ve quoted here before from Justin Martyr, 150 AD: “On Sunday we have a common assembly of all our members, whether they live in the city or the outlying districts. The recollections of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as there is time….”

]]> By: Sensus Divinitatis News http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/the-evangelical-liturgy-8-the-public-reading-of-scripture/comment-page-1#comment-510387 Sensus Divinitatis News Wed, 09 Sep 2009 13:20:32 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=4410#comment-510387 <strong>Are Theologians Useless?...</strong> This post was chosen as newsworthy at Sensus Divinitatis News.... Are Theologians Useless?…

This post was chosen as newsworthy at Sensus Divinitatis News….

]]> By: Jerry http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/the-evangelical-liturgy-8-the-public-reading-of-scripture/comment-page-1#comment-510380 Jerry Wed, 09 Sep 2009 13:02:21 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=4410#comment-510380 Interestingly, the reading of Scripture is one thing also commended in the book of the revelation (1:3). There we learn that the public reading of Scripture blesses both the listener and the reader. At my former congregation, we took to reading 3 to 4 of the lessons each week. I involved a variety of the members to participate--men, women, sometimes older children. It was truly a blessing to hear from all parts of God's word--and is one reason why now I have been attending an Anglican church on Sundays. That said, after my former congregation forced me to resign, they reduced the number of readings being done each Sunday from 3-4 to 1--at the beginning, and not necessarily from the Lectionary. Instead, they choose the happy Scriptures that make them feel good about themselves. I suppose at least they are reading one. Anyhow, good job. I whole-heartedly support the public reading of Scripture and believe more congregations ought to celebrate God's word by doing so because in this celebration (reading) is also submission. And Lord knows if we need anything we need submission to the Scripture. Interestingly, the reading of Scripture is one thing also commended in the book of the revelation (1:3). There we learn that the public reading of Scripture blesses both the listener and the reader.

At my former congregation, we took to reading 3 to 4 of the lessons each week. I involved a variety of the members to participate–men, women, sometimes older children. It was truly a blessing to hear from all parts of God’s word–and is one reason why now I have been attending an Anglican church on Sundays.

That said, after my former congregation forced me to resign, they reduced the number of readings being done each Sunday from 3-4 to 1–at the beginning, and not necessarily from the Lectionary. Instead, they choose the happy Scriptures that make them feel good about themselves. I suppose at least they are reading one.

Anyhow, good job. I whole-heartedly support the public reading of Scripture and believe more congregations ought to celebrate God’s word by doing so because in this celebration (reading) is also submission. And Lord knows if we need anything we need submission to the Scripture.

]]> By: David Bates http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/the-evangelical-liturgy-8-the-public-reading-of-scripture/comment-page-1#comment-510368 David Bates Wed, 09 Sep 2009 11:07:42 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=4410#comment-510368 Spot on. I think the idea of the public reading scripture as a way to "convey information" is the source of the problem here. I "know" the parable of the prodigal son pretty much off by heart, but God's Word needs to be *proclaimed* in the place of worship, digested and then expounded. Spot on. I think the idea of the public reading scripture as a way to “convey information” is the source of the problem here. I “know” the parable of the prodigal son pretty much off by heart, but God’s Word needs to be *proclaimed* in the place of worship, digested and then expounded.

]]> By: David Bates http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/the-evangelical-liturgy-8-the-public-reading-of-scripture/comment-page-1#comment-510366 David Bates Wed, 09 Sep 2009 10:58:00 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=4410#comment-510366 Very good point. Anyone who goes to a church which does "Passion" readings over the Easter period will see this very clearly as the reading is split between: the narrator, Jesus, "other speaking parts" and the crowd. I always find it a strange experience calling out "Crucify him! Crucify him!" in church :-/ I do wonder whether or not whether this style of reading could be used more often in church... Very good point. Anyone who goes to a church which does “Passion” readings over the Easter period will see this very clearly as the reading is split between: the narrator, Jesus, “other speaking parts” and the crowd.

I always find it a strange experience calling out “Crucify him! Crucify him!” in church :-/

I do wonder whether or not whether this style of reading could be used more often in church…

]]> By: Kelly http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/the-evangelical-liturgy-8-the-public-reading-of-scripture/comment-page-1#comment-510360 Kelly Wed, 09 Sep 2009 06:15:53 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=4410#comment-510360 It does seem a little on the ironic side to think how, growing up, we would not hear much in the way of the public reading of Scripture, but we were of an evangelical tradition where everybody brings their Bible to church (for the worship service). Looking back, I'm not sure why we ought to have bothered... so we could look up the handful of proof texts that the pastor was using for his sermon? So much can be gained from listening to the Word. Yes, and listening to the pastor's sermon, too, instead of spending his whole sermon flipping pages as though we utterly distrusted his references and what he was telling us. There's a place for private study of God's Word, and I'm not sure that a public worship service is it. I was a member of a church in which the pastor found out at one point that I had memorized the book of Philippians. He asked if I would recite it for the congregation from memory one Sunday. This was the closest thing we'd ever done to the extensive public reading of the Scriptures. When I was done, people applauded. I was mortified and vowed to never do it again. What had happened had become another show, a performance. (And quite a novelty at that; all that Scripture!) I seriously doubt that what they were applauding was the content of God's holy Word. More like the appreciation of a neat and pious memory trick. It does seem a little on the ironic side to think how, growing up, we would not hear much in the way of the public reading of Scripture, but we were of an evangelical tradition where everybody brings their Bible to church (for the worship service). Looking back, I’m not sure why we ought to have bothered… so we could look up the handful of proof texts that the pastor was using for his sermon? So much can be gained from listening to the Word. Yes, and listening to the pastor’s sermon, too, instead of spending his whole sermon flipping pages as though we utterly distrusted his references and what he was telling us. There’s a place for private study of God’s Word, and I’m not sure that a public worship service is it.

I was a member of a church in which the pastor found out at one point that I had memorized the book of Philippians. He asked if I would recite it for the congregation from memory one Sunday. This was the closest thing we’d ever done to the extensive public reading of the Scriptures. When I was done, people applauded. I was mortified and vowed to never do it again. What had happened had become another show, a performance. (And quite a novelty at that; all that Scripture!) I seriously doubt that what they were applauding was the content of God’s holy Word. More like the appreciation of a neat and pious memory trick.

]]> By: aldenswan.com » Blog Archive » Evangelical Liturgy http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/the-evangelical-liturgy-8-the-public-reading-of-scripture/comment-page-1#comment-510340 aldenswan.com » Blog Archive » Evangelical Liturgy Wed, 09 Sep 2009 02:32:02 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=4410#comment-510340 [...] at various forms of liturgy in use in churches we normally think of as non-liturgical.  From #8 in the series: In many evangelical churches, particularly those of a more contemporary flavor, [...] [...] at various forms of liturgy in use in churches we normally think of as non-liturgical.  From #8 in the series: In many evangelical churches, particularly those of a more contemporary flavor, [...]

]]> By: Anna A http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/the-evangelical-liturgy-8-the-public-reading-of-scripture/comment-page-1#comment-510329 Anna A Wed, 09 Sep 2009 00:38:36 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=4410#comment-510329 When I was teaching children, I noticed one thing. A whole lot of Scriptures are already in drama form. All I had to do is some editing and seeing who wanted to read what part. Makes you wonder, if they were dramas when written. I think that John's Gospel has the majority of them. When I was teaching children, I noticed one thing. A whole lot of Scriptures are already in drama form. All I had to do is some editing and seeing who wanted to read what part. Makes you wonder, if they were dramas when written. I think that John’s Gospel has the majority of them.

]]> By: Susan http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/the-evangelical-liturgy-8-the-public-reading-of-scripture/comment-page-1#comment-510326 Susan Tue, 08 Sep 2009 23:41:15 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=4410#comment-510326 Our church secretary makes sure to send out the scripture readings to the people who will be reading on any given week. We are encouraged to read them over out loud several times before Sunday--that helps. Our church secretary makes sure to send out the scripture readings to the people who will be reading on any given week. We are encouraged to read them over out loud several times before Sunday–that helps.

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