9/14/21
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.
We recently read from Ezekiel's prophetic call that his work with Israel would be very difficult, since they would not receive him willingly. That sense of rejection is common in Christian circles, especially in Western nations at present.
How do we respond? Some try to capitulate to the local culture, takingo n their values. However, these values frequently depart from a historic, biblical view of reality. Church bodies that do capitulate find themselves in a race to extinction, as people flock away. Others double down on particular cultural stances, often aligning themselves with political activism which frequently but not consistently aligns slightly with their doctrinal views. These groups may perform better as far as attracting numbers, but they are open to attack whenever their doctrine is not aligned with both the political party and the Bible.
A third way appears in our Psalm selection for today. It doesn't seem like a big surprise. The Psalmist seeks understanding and allegiance to God's Word. In this way he hopes to take on God's values. He will find his identity not in himself or in what people think of him, but in how God has defined his life and relationship to the world.
There is certainly some fear involved. Not everyone will accept these biblical attitudes. Many will try to take advantage of you. You will be called naive and superstitious. And God wil work in you and through you. That is blessedness indeed.
If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.
We recently read from Ezekiel's prophetic call that his work with Israel would be very difficult, since they would not receive him willingly. That sense of rejection is common in Christian circles, especially in Western nations at present.
How do we respond? Some try to capitulate to the local culture, takingo n their values. However, these values frequently depart from a historic, biblical view of reality. Church bodies that do capitulate find themselves in a race to extinction, as people flock away. Others double down on particular cultural stances, often aligning themselves with political activism which frequently but not consistently aligns slightly with their doctrinal views. These groups may perform better as far as attracting numbers, but they are open to attack whenever their doctrine is not aligned with both the political party and the Bible.
A third way appears in our Psalm selection for today. It doesn't seem like a big surprise. The Psalmist seeks understanding and allegiance to God's Word. In this way he hopes to take on God's values. He will find his identity not in himself or in what people think of him, but in how God has defined his life and relationship to the world.
There is certainly some fear involved. Not everyone will accept these biblical attitudes. Many will try to take advantage of you. You will be called naive and superstitious. And God wil work in you and through you. That is blessedness indeed.
If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.
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