I got really cross this morning
I don't often rant on this blog, but I need somewhere to let off steam. Something that clergy promise to do when they get ordained is to pray and read their Bible every day. To help us with this there are set readings for each day, which take you through the Bible. One of this morning's readings was Leviticus 19.1-18, 30-end. This means that whoever had compiled this set of readings had thought that for some reason we didn't ought to read verses 19-29.
Now, if you look at them, they are difficult verses. No question about it, they could be discussed and chewed over for many hours before we might get even close to working out what on earth they are doing in the Bible. What we have absolutely no mandate for doing is to pretend that they aren't there. If we are to have any integrity in saying people need to take the things in the surrounding verses seriously, then we need to do the tough work of wrestling with the bits we would rather weren't there. Copping out and not even reading them is not wrestling, it's cowardice.
posted by Carter Clan at 9:22 pm
2 Comments:
Don't forget that the list of readings is not just for professional clergy; it also serves for all choose to use it for daily readings.
Those who compiled it had a fine balancing act to perform in order to provide a list of readings that are both challenging and edifying.
There are many parts of the OT that are challenging but not necessarily edifying and this, I think, is one of them.
There is nothing stopping you from reading the cut verses yourself, as you did, and chewing them over at your pleasure, but I think that your anger as expressed is a bit over the top.
No, I still disagree. I think that the message that chopping bits out sends to all who read it is extremely unhelpful.
Furthermore, particularly with these verses, it lets down those who put their trust in the compilers. These verses are often used in debates around human sexuality, and if those who use the lectionary have been robbed of the opportunity to engage with them, then they are less well equipped to understand their place in the debate.
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