Most people take it for granted that Scripture reading is a part of any Christian worship service. Beyond that assumption, one must also struggle with the specific role of the reading or readings and how much reading is enough.
Rev. Bosco Peters, a prolific contributor to online discussion about Christianity (follow him on twitter, like him on facebook, or read his blog) considered this topic in a post earlier today. He began with a challenging question designed to help readers assess their congregational practice: “How much scripture was read in your church community last Sunday?” Rather than suggesting an easy answer he holds in tension (1) the early church practice that he understands as reading as much Scripture as possible , (2) the Reformation principle that “each person had the right and obligation to listen to God through the scriptures without the need of an intermediary” and (3) current worship practices in which a pastor often decides how much or how little Scripture is read. Pastors must be careful that their selections of and limitations on what is read does not make them a functional mediary.
So What?
Congregational leaders must not assume that those who gather for worship are familiar with the major characters, stories and themes of both testaments. They must also be careful not to confuse the widespread availability of the Bible in print and digital formats with frequent reading or studying by those who gather for worship. Instead of considering the minimum amount of Scripture that is acceptable to the community or appropriate for preparing the congregation for the sermon, the leaders should consider how to incorporate as much of the Scripture of both testaments as is reasonably possible.
In Reading Scripture in Worship, Howard Vanderwell and Norma de Waal Malefyt suggest some additional questions:
- How prominent and obvious was the Word of God in this service?
- Did the sermon have exclusive right to determine which Scriptures were read?
- How many Scripture passages were read?
- How influential was Scripture in shaping the tenor of the worship service?
- Were Scriptures read engagingly and with interest?
- How many different functions did Scripture fill in these services?
- Did the reader(s) present the Scriptures in such a way that they were clearly from God’s Word?
What is your current congregational practice with regard to reading Scripture in worship? (How many Scriptures are read? How are they selected? Who reads them?)
What is your ideal congregational practice? What steps are you taking to move from your current practice toward the ideal?