1.21 blog

Over the Christmas break (or, in light of this post, at the end of Advent and beginning of Christmas), I spent a good deal of time reflecting on Christian life and the forms it takes. I can’t put my finger on exactly what led to this realization (because I can think of a number of factors), but I came into the Christmas Season with a newfound conviction that our lives as Christians ought to be more formed by the Church, and reflect a more catholic Christianity (FYI: “catholic” [with a small c] does not mean Roman Catholic, that would be a capital C): a Christianity that spans across centuries, continents, and cultures; a Christianity that realizes that Church History didn’t begin with Billy Graham, or even Martin Luther.

So much of American Christianity is individualistic, privatized, and autonomous. But a catholic Christianity is, corporate, public, and lays a claim on you. Rather than me and my private opinions and interpretations driving things, I recognize that I’ve entered into a much larger, longer lasting conversation, which I need to learn and take seriously before dashing off and making pronouncements willy-nilly. Ultimately, we have to go with our own convictions derived from Scripture. However, to think that we can develop these convictions whilst ignoring the Great Conversation is prideful in the extreme.

So we read the Bible with the Church. One way my wife and I will be seeking to do that this year is to structure our personal reading of Scripture according to the Daily Office Lectionary found in the Book of Common Prayer. The BCP is the service book/worship manual used by the Anglican Communion, and is a treasure of Reformation era Liturgy. The Daily Office Lectionary is on a two year cycle (we’re in year 2 now, in the Christmas Season until January 6, which is Epiphany), and will take you through the Bible in great breadth (though not its entirety). Each day includes readings from Psalms, the Old Testament, the New Testament letters, and a Gospel. It’s a good way to get a lot of diversity in your Bible reading (which keeps you from getting bogged down when you reach lengthy sections that seem less interesting or “relevant,” but also doesn’t let you just choose your favorite parts).

Each day Christians all over the planet will be reading these same Scripture texts. This is a great opportunity for you to start reading the Bible with the Church, and to be formed by the Conversation already in progress. Many of you will have made resolutions to begin reading Scripture this year. I’d highly recommend that you consider using this as a tool.

If you need help navigating the lectionary, please comment, and we’ll see if we can help you out.

Posted by: Gene Schlesinger