Let the word…
Reflections for Bible Sunday, 2020
I want to start by asking “what’s your relationship with the Bible?” Your immediate answer to that question will be revealing. What do you think and how do you feel about the Bible? I think it is fair to say that as a society our relationship to the Bible has changed over time – and it doesn’t take much research to suggest that, in the UK, people generally know less about this book than their parents or their grandparents did. But, rather than generalising, let me ask you again, what’s your relationships with the Bible?
Of course, the Bible is not one thing but a set of documents collected over an extended period of time. It is divided between the Hebrew scriptures, which are also sacred in Judaism, and the 27 books of the New Testament, which is written in Greek. The Bible includes historical narratives – but like all accounts of history, these also include interpretation; books of law, setting out God’s expectations for his people; and prophetic books, which call people back to God when they wander from his ways. The Bible includes the wonderful poetry of the psalms, in which writers wrestle with the challenges of life in general and, specifically, the challenge of faith; and other poetic writings and stories which illustrate God’s invitation to work with him now and also anticipate a time when all we know now will come an end, to make way for a greater reality. We read in the Bible of the coming of God’s son to live with us and to die for us, in short books that we know as ‘gospel’, or good news; and we witness Jesus’s first followers putting their faith into action and taking this good news out into the known world.
The Bible originally included texts in Hebrew and Greek, with a little Aramaic, so, unless we can read all of these languages, we have to remember that we are reading a translation – and, therefore, an interpretation. Some translations are regarded as closer to the original texts, but others may be easier to read or give us fresh insight; it can be quite illuminating to compare one translation with another. I discovered that, in the famous introduction to John’s gospel, ‘the word’ – logos, in Greek - is normally translated in French as “la parole”, but in a church in France I saw it rendered as “le verbe”. For me, that was so powerful because, of course, I was always taught that a verb is a doing word! The word is alive, and active, and at work in the world.
For me, this is why ‘the word of the Lord’ is a much broader thing than the words of the Bible – but the Bible is always my starting place when I want to know what God is saying to us. The Bible is a hugely rich and varied source book that can inspire us in our daily lives; it introduces us to the God of creation, invites us to walk closely with God in the same way as Abraham, Moses, Elijah the prophet, Ruth, King David, Mary and many others, and it brings the person and the teaching of Jesus vividly to life. The Bible is everything I have said – and so much more. What is your relationship to the Bible?
In our normal services, the words of the Bible are not only read directly as the appointed readings for each Sunday, or mid-week, but also shape the words that we use in our worship. Morning Prayer, in the Anglican tradition, is a veritable feast of Biblical ideas. Sometimes it is good to have a feast but at other times it is better to focus on one small meal and really enjoy that. I hope that today’s service doesn’t give you indigestion but that by using various parts of the Bible we can really notice their power and their influence on us. May God bless to us the reading of his word!
Nehemiah 8.1-4a, 5-6, 8-12
I have to admit, reading from Nehemiah had me reaching for my commentary! Bible commentaries help us to understand what we have just read – and mine reminds me that these events took place when some of the Israelites had returned to Jerusalem from exile, in the fifth century before Christ. Ezra and Nehemiah worked to re-establish the worship of God in Jerusalem, and here we see the people assembling for what appears to be an outdoor service.
On this Bible Sunday, we might notice that “the book of the law”, which was probably the first five books of our Old Testament, is at the centre of their act of worship. Sometimes the Bible is compared to a compass – as the compass guides us back to magnetic north when we lose our way, so the Bible guides us back, not just with rules for good living, which is what we may think of as “law”, but also with inspirational stories and poetry, as I suggested at the beginning of our service. Notice that all those who can understand are called to listen to the law – men, women and children. The Bible is for everyone! But it is also important that we understand – the reading is given, with interpretation.
Interpretation is part of the role of the preacher and teacher, and so on Bible Sunday we pray for those who are called to these roles in the church and community. But today there are great resources out there for anyone who wants to understand more of what the Bible teaches – and this seems particularly relevant in this time of pandemic when so much of our world is on-line. I’ve already mentioned Bible commentaries and the Tom Wright series “…for everyone” is a great starting place if you want to wrestle with particular books in the New Testament; my college principal, John Goldingay, has written a parallel series on the Old Testament. Some people use Bible study notes and both the Bible Reading Fellowship and Scripture Union produce a whole series of these, which you can browse online but also buy as magazine style publications on subscription. Don’t forget after lockdown that we also have a local Christian bookshop in Wrexham.
Reading the Bible can make a real difference to our lives – and if it isn’t part of your routine to do so, it’s a good habit to take up. I love the fact that in this reading we see people both weeping and rejoicing because of what they had heard. Can you remember the last time you felt stirred up by what the Bible has to say?
Colossians 3.12-17
Paul’s words to the church at Colosse, in one of the letters from him that are preserved in our Bibles today, are wonderful words about living together as Christ’s followers. The faith that has been passed on to us, and which the Bible inspires us to follow, should make a difference to every part of our lives – and Paul here uses the metaphor of clothing to encourage his readers to exhibit some beautiful qualities. Sometimes we read this passage at weddings – and you can see why. Like Paul’s much longer hymn to love in 1 Corinthians 13 it reminds us that in a good relationship we will experience compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience. Just as the wedding couple put on special clothes for their wedding day, so we must all put on these special characteristics – but not just on one day. We should be in our best suit or dress every day, as we exhibit compassion, show forgiveness and – as Paul says here – “Above all, clothe yourselves with love…”
We may wonder how this could ever be possible; but Paul’s language here definitely implies that it is a choice we make. We can clothe ourselves with all kinds of things – work-a-day grumpiness, scruffy unforgiveness, outrageous anger – or we can choose humility, patience and peace. And if we’re not sure how, then Paul gives us a very strong clue in this text: “Let the word of Christ dwell in your richly…”
Allowing the teaching and the example of Jesus to dwell, to live, within us, is a choice that we make when we take up our Bibles to read them, when we come to God in prayer, and when we worship together – as Paul says here, with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. What makes a difference to your mood, when you are feeling low? Exercise can help, and the company of others. Spiritually, we need the exercise of reading the Bible, listening to words of scripture read to us or sung in hymns and songs which we can access in so many ways today. And when we do these things, we know that we are in the company of others and in the presence of God himself.
So, I’m glad that we have read from the Bible together today; I’m grateful for the way in which scripture runs as a thread through the prayers we use in our services, even here on-line; and I know that this book has made a difference in my life. What is your relationship with the Bible? Like all relationships, this is worth working at – and God will bless you as you read, mark, learn and inwardly digest all that the scriptures have to say.