Reading the Bible After Christendom

This the title of a book by Lloyd Peitersen. Sad, depressing read about the downside of Christendom and its dominance of the Christian message and understanding.
His focus is on the place of the Anabaptist in the life of the church and its way of reading the Bible. Indicating his indebtedness to them he writes: "I shall advocate that reading the Bible after Christendom requires an approach that is Jesus-centered, rooted in Community reading, open to the Spirit and orientated to Obedience. .... I depart from them on their refusal to accept ambiguity in the text and their approach to the two testaments." ( pp 65 -66) The Anabaptist insistence on Obedience as an integral part of reading the Bible is I believe essential given what we understand the Bible to be.
In Part 2 of his book he commences with a chapter on "Jesus as the Centre of Biblical Interpretation" He writes in part: "First, Jesus exemplifies what the Old Testament means by loving God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might and loving your neighbour as your self (Deut 6:5, Lev 19:18) which He states are at the heart of the Old Testament (Matt 22:40) Second, Jesus expands on this by speaking of "justice and mercy and faith" as the weightier matters of the law" (Matt 22:23) So any reading of Scripture which claims to be Christocentric should enhance our love of God and neighbour and contribute to human flourishing in terms of justice, mercy and faithfulness .... This brings ethics and praxis to the fore front of biblical interpretation.
Finally reflection of the person of Jesus can provide us with particular lenses with which to read the Bible .... customary to see this through Christ as Prophet, priest and king. These are too connected to Christendom ... so I propose to use Prophet, Pastor and Poet as angles of vision with which to view the Biblical text" ( p 69 - 70 ) and so he proceeds.
I find this framework to read scripture very persuasive. Echoes of Walter Brueggemann sound as I read this. It is not surprising that the same Walter Brueggemann writes a Foreword to this book. You will note that this post appears under the general label of Narrative Explored which gives a hint of the influence of Bishop Tom Wright as well.
It is to be noted that I now view the first chapter of Genesis to be a declaration contra Idolatry and false religion. That Light is declared to be independent of the Sun and Moon is critical to this. They appear on Day 4, yet light is provided on Day 1

ADVENT CALLS

The ritual embraces an annual event. 'Prepare for His Coming' yet He has already Come. So what does that mean?
Why the ritualising this Coming which as the New Testament informs us is a total "Birth, Life, Story, Death, Resurrection and Ascension" event. The implication is that the Day of Resurrection is The Significant Day One for us and all humankind.

Two films on ABC TV tonight - 25th December raises personal and national questions to address. "Easy Virtue" based on a play by Noel Coward. The father who returned to the village after WW1 without the villagers who had signed up with him for the King's shilling but who had all died. He returned with a shattered view of the world. This was not the main plot but a stream of real experience which was not going to be addressed nor relieved ... except? The American woman's tragedy and the Love which dammed her even by her new husband brought these two people together.


Then the second film "Joyeux Noel" the western front in December 1914. Scottish, French and German soldiers. I have,
since learning of this story a number of years ago felt repulsed by the response to what happened at several points along the battle front that Christmas Eve. The response of the High Commands and the response of the Bishop.

There was a discussion on the way to our friends place for lunch on ABC Radio National about Handel's Messiah. More
appropriate for Easter, yet has become a common place for Christmas. This comes back to the earlier notion of what Advent might actually mean. Certainly Advent as presented shows an inordinate pre-occupation with Mary.

What have we done to this News of the One who has come ... yet we live as if ...... we have joined pagan notions of annual religious ceremonies which have a life of their own. We do not Live because of Christmas, we live because we have a Risen Saviour who is Messiah and Lord. Who now sits as the True Adam, The True Israel, the True New Man at the Right Hand of the Father.

FAITH and TRUST CHALLENGED

Do Not Worry

He said to his disciples, ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not keep striving for what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. For it is the nations of the world that strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, strive for his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

‘Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. LUKE 12:22 - 31

A wonderful passage and for me who wakes each morning with the knowledge that I will ! have three meals that day and more food in between. Yes, I can affirm these words. But suppose I was among the 75+ % of the world population without such an expectation? How would these words comfort me, rather would be an urgent test of faith. ... a desperate cry for this to happen.

Maybe like so much of the Gospel this is a word of judgement also. That even though there is sufficient food for all in the world, yes, even 6000000000 of us the great majority of the world goes hungry and remain permanently hungry.
Food is one matter of concern, money is another. When it is in short supply in a money economy like Australia how does one live by faith ... trusting in God and being satisfied, calm, free from fear.
What place depression in this Faith and Trust way of living? The perception of necessity must needs be reviewed as a matter of urgency. How shall we live in a world of false demands and necessity?

The General Confession of the Prayer Book notes ... and there is no health in us. This is an acknowledgment that as individuals and as community groups we have no answer to this wicked reality. And too often we have the temerity to blame the hungry for their predicament.
That statement by the Sudanese gentleman: I thank God, that my family is alive, that I have one meal a day and that my children can go to school ... is a rebuke as well as a powerful confession.