Catching a viewers attention by telling them you're not a daily reader of the Bible would be a good clickbait for a YouTube post! Many Christians would find that odd. Especially many Anglicans and Catholics who begin their mornings with the Book of Common Prayer and the Liturgy of the Hours, respectiively. Both of those brievaries consist of the Psalms, which are not so much read privately or personally, but prayed with the heart of the Church as Phoebe alluded in her post. Also, many Christians appreciate Lectio Divina, which has a personal and private focus, but its main goal is a prayerful reading of Scripture, ideally leading to worship, contemplation and tranformation. So, maybe instead of private and personal Bible reading, prayerful reading is the daily path to take. Finally, aren't we glad that St. Augustine took up and read, albeit in a personal way! Thank you, Christopher, for prompting good conversations. Have a blessed summer.
Seriously though, I like the idea of reading prayerfully. But it does raise the question of to what end? Lots of different understandings of what prayer is for. But I certainly think of prayer as attentiveness to and immersion in the life of God and in the life of creation/humanity, so I appreciate what you are describing. Thx!
It's a really interesting post, I wasn't familiar with that book by Hauerwas. I think there's probably a bunch of different ways to read scripture. The one that most evangelicals use, are familiar with, and will never go away is the devotional reading of scripture, which is probably that private or personal category. I think that devotional style is fine and maybe even necessary, but the problem is if people never graduate to other ways to read scripture, communally, or to determine ethics or theology, or from different contextual lenses, or many other ways.
This perspective on reading Scripture aligns much with Orthodox Christian teaching, which encourages the reading and study of Scripture *with the church*, even when that reading is personal.
I resonate with the distinction you make between "personal" and "private". This concept was introduced to me when, late-in-the-journey, i started worshipping with Anabaptists (BIC, Mennonites), who practice "community hermaneutic". Reminded me of Richard Foster's concept of "guidance" in Celebration of Discipline -- not a solitary thing.
True to their values, for the 500th anniversary of Anabaptists, they published a Community study Bible that "contains commentary from 593 Anabaptist study groups, representing churches from various Anabaptist traditions across the U.S. and Canada and as far away as Ethiopia and Paraguay"...
Yes, thanks Jane! I have been deeply influenced by the Anapbaptists (my mom grew up in a rural Mennonite community, and both my parents are graduates of Goshen college) and also deeply influenced by Richard Foster's work, which I discovered soon after graduating from college almost 30 years ago (The third part of COD on corporate disciplines has been the most influential for me over the last 3 decades.)
Hard to know how to respond respond to this post, seeing that I personally read it, lol!
I understand the concern about a private reading of Scripture, but if we are not to read it what exactly are we to read? I would assume nothing!!!
The problem is not personal reading of Scripture, but mainly an inability to read. Not understanding context, not understanding pre-suppositions, not understanding the difference between Biblical descriptions and Biblical admonitions, etc.
I also think much of what we see in social media is written by people who haven't read something (particularly in context), but quote a pastor or other leader whose idiosyncratic opinion is given for shock effect.
While I read scripture every day I also am reading commentaries, helps and getting other thoughts. I also interact with my church to get others opinions and am guarding my thoughts.
No personal reading of Scripture? Heaven forbid!!! Read it in context. Use the helps around you, guard against pride and idiosyncrasy. Be particularly suspicious of readings that justify your prior opinions! But read, read, read!
This doesn't replace a community of Christians, but indeed enhances community. How would I even know to have Christian community without reading?
Catching a viewers attention by telling them you're not a daily reader of the Bible would be a good clickbait for a YouTube post! Many Christians would find that odd. Especially many Anglicans and Catholics who begin their mornings with the Book of Common Prayer and the Liturgy of the Hours, respectiively. Both of those brievaries consist of the Psalms, which are not so much read privately or personally, but prayed with the heart of the Church as Phoebe alluded in her post. Also, many Christians appreciate Lectio Divina, which has a personal and private focus, but its main goal is a prayerful reading of Scripture, ideally leading to worship, contemplation and tranformation. So, maybe instead of private and personal Bible reading, prayerful reading is the daily path to take. Finally, aren't we glad that St. Augustine took up and read, albeit in a personal way! Thank you, Christopher, for prompting good conversations. Have a blessed summer.
Making a clickbait video 🤣🤣🤣
Seriously though, I like the idea of reading prayerfully. But it does raise the question of to what end? Lots of different understandings of what prayer is for. But I certainly think of prayer as attentiveness to and immersion in the life of God and in the life of creation/humanity, so I appreciate what you are describing. Thx!
It's a really interesting post, I wasn't familiar with that book by Hauerwas. I think there's probably a bunch of different ways to read scripture. The one that most evangelicals use, are familiar with, and will never go away is the devotional reading of scripture, which is probably that private or personal category. I think that devotional style is fine and maybe even necessary, but the problem is if people never graduate to other ways to read scripture, communally, or to determine ethics or theology, or from different contextual lenses, or many other ways.
This perspective on reading Scripture aligns much with Orthodox Christian teaching, which encourages the reading and study of Scripture *with the church*, even when that reading is personal.
I resonate with the distinction you make between "personal" and "private". This concept was introduced to me when, late-in-the-journey, i started worshipping with Anabaptists (BIC, Mennonites), who practice "community hermaneutic". Reminded me of Richard Foster's concept of "guidance" in Celebration of Discipline -- not a solitary thing.
True to their values, for the 500th anniversary of Anabaptists, they published a Community study Bible that "contains commentary from 593 Anabaptist study groups, representing churches from various Anabaptist traditions across the U.S. and Canada and as far away as Ethiopia and Paraguay"...
https://www.mennoniteusa.org/menno-shorts/anabaptism-at-500/
Yes, thanks Jane! I have been deeply influenced by the Anapbaptists (my mom grew up in a rural Mennonite community, and both my parents are graduates of Goshen college) and also deeply influenced by Richard Foster's work, which I discovered soon after graduating from college almost 30 years ago (The third part of COD on corporate disciplines has been the most influential for me over the last 3 decades.)
Hard to know how to respond respond to this post, seeing that I personally read it, lol!
I understand the concern about a private reading of Scripture, but if we are not to read it what exactly are we to read? I would assume nothing!!!
The problem is not personal reading of Scripture, but mainly an inability to read. Not understanding context, not understanding pre-suppositions, not understanding the difference between Biblical descriptions and Biblical admonitions, etc.
I also think much of what we see in social media is written by people who haven't read something (particularly in context), but quote a pastor or other leader whose idiosyncratic opinion is given for shock effect.
While I read scripture every day I also am reading commentaries, helps and getting other thoughts. I also interact with my church to get others opinions and am guarding my thoughts.
No personal reading of Scripture? Heaven forbid!!! Read it in context. Use the helps around you, guard against pride and idiosyncrasy. Be particularly suspicious of readings that justify your prior opinions! But read, read, read!
This doesn't replace a community of Christians, but indeed enhances community. How would I even know to have Christian community without reading?
Respectfully.