The Lectionary.
A lectionary is a list of readings. As a spiritual discipline, a person may simply open The Bible at the beginning, and start reading. They might read a chapter or more each day. The weakness of this kind of reading is that it is the reading style of our time, the method for reading a novel, or even a text book. It assumes a narrative thread from beginning to end. However, a text book is often not read from cover to cover. It may be designed as a resource with discrete sections to be consulted at appropriate times.
The Bible is even less novel-like. With 39 "books" in the Hebrew Scriptures, and 27 in the Christian Scriptures, there are multiple authors, times, geographic locations, and theological perspectives represented. This considers only the main collection (Canon) of the books common to most Christian traditions. There are also the books not present in the Hebrew Scriptures or "Old Testament" which are often known as the deutero-canonical books. How does one read all this and make sense of it?
Christian groups have traditionally created lists of texts that are considered important to read. They sketch out some of the key planks of that group's tradition, and its understanding of the Christian faith.
One well known modern lectionary is the Revised Common Lectionary, which is used by many churches world wide. It divides the bible over a three year period, based around the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. The readings are chosen to reflect the cycle of church year as it progresses from the hope for a Messiah (Advent), through Christmas, and on to Easter. Each week also has a reading from the Hebrew Scriptures, the Psalms, and from the letters of the New Testament. The Gospel of John is used in each year around the times of the major festivals. There are often readings assigned for special days which do not occur on a Sunday.
Many ministers preach from a lectionary. It provides a discipline which works against the temptation to avoid uncomfortable subjects and concentrate on favourite themes.
A lectionary provides an overview of the Christian tradition. Unfortunately, it also represents a particular theological and historical outlook. Some people point out, for example, that women's stories, often already marginalised in Scripture are further submerged by the RCL . The lectionary is also constructed of short readings, excerpts from the whole, so that some parts of the bible will never be read in public worship under this scheme. It also means that the wider flow of a narrative is interrupted, and perhaps divided in ways never anticipated by the authors. In their own devotions, many people will at least read from the end of the previous week's readings to the end of the designated readings of the current week, in some attempt to overcome this disintegration of the narrative.
Living in a divided world
Recently I received a concerned letter about a post I made to an internet discussion forum. It was polite and compassionate. I was surprised by the warmth I felt from a person whose position is very different from my own!
I've posted my reply here, as the issue we were discussing is important and current. What do you think? You are able to comment at the end of this article. (I've only included my part of the exchange, and left out a couple of identifying details.)
Dear ......,
thank you for your interest and concern.
I cannot agree with your assessment of the situation concerning Islam.
There is no doubt we have a huge problem in today's world with militant Islam. However, I find that the attitudes expressed by even the most extreme Muslims, are little different than those expressed by the militant conservative US and Australian Christians I read, and also by some followers of Judaism. It suits our media to highlight and report the atrocities of Islam, and its extremist attitudes. Yet I find that many of those same attitudes are expressed in Christian sermons and conversations in my own city, but remain unpublished. Or, they are spouted in newsgroup discussions, but not treated with the same (appropriate) outrage that would be accorded similar sentiments from a Muslim. Indeed, the most offensive material I have ever read was in a Christian newsgroup. In [the discussions on the internet forum we belong to], the Christians are depressingly often bitter and bigoted and use violent language at a level which matches the worst of the atheists/secularists, or how ever we want to describe them.
Likewise, Christian and Jewish terrorism, such as in Serbia, Northern Ireland and Gaza etc, is not reported in the same way as that in Muslim countries, and regarded as a perversion of the faith, and somehow different from the Islamic barbarity. There is much done by Palestinians which is reprehensible and indefensible. But much of the response of Israel, over decades, is in the same league. Before Serbia and Northern Ireland, there is a long history of Christian atrocity which is conveniently ignored in our criticism of Islam.
By contrast, the piety and spirituality of two of my Muslim friends has been an inspiration to me.
Their gentleness, coming out of a war torn country is an indictment upon much of our lukewarm Christianity.
Their spirituality is part of what moved me to come back to full time ministry in the church.
As they talk of their experience of Allah, I realise we are speaking of the same God, meeting us through the filters of different history and culture.
I cannot subscribe to "Muslim bad, Christian good." Jesus says we will know people by their fruits...
Whilst you and I may feel that Islam is not the best way to seek after the one true God of our father Abraham, some of its followers show more fruit of the Spirit than many Christians.
I think we are better to seek to dialogue with, and understand, and pray with those who truly seek God, than to write off people as wrong because they are Islamic. That dialogue and prayer will include challenging some of the shortcomings we see in their religious path, but also include being challenged about our own.
I know well that the Koran, and the Islamic tradition, has sayings in it which we find offensive, and which are not acceptable attitudes for civilised humanity. But the same is true of our Hebrew scriptures. Indeed, some of the New Testament is not exactly enlightening in its attitudes. Will we cherry pick the shortcomings of other faiths to build up our own position? Will we be bound by books and old boundaries, or will we trust that the Spirit will engage us and guide us, as we struggle with our scriptures, our understanding each other, and our various religious paths?
Jesus said the Spirit will lead us into the truth...
Shalom
Andrew
ps May I say how much I appreciate your politeness and civility. You have maintained this whilst being quite clear about your own position. Such grace is sadly lacking in much online discussion! Andrew
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