Not a Master of the Bible but a Servant of the Word
January 5, 2012
So, keep your expectations realistic. You will never master the Bible—no one has done so yet, even though some people may sound like it. The point is not to become a master of the Bible but to be a servant to the Word.
On the other hand, don’t underestimate yourself. The Bible is not a comlex database that requires highly skilled technicians to unlock—there are no passwords or special codes to be learned. The spirit in which we approach the Bible and read and study it is far more important than our ability to use even the most sophisticated Bible study tools.
~ Halley’s Bible Handbook
I Am a Child of the King by Tracy Maunsell-Kowald
January 2, 2012
Years ago, I was privileged to be a part of a discipleship study called Sonship. There I learned the phrase, “Why do we act like orphans when we are children of the King?” It was a unique way to learn the basics of the faith and living it out in the world. As with many other Biblical truths, I filed and tucked it away for future use. The only problem is, though I know it to be very true, I rarely “believe” it, as in live in its truth. During a Wednesday night Evensong, we read from Peter about how we are of a Royal Priesthood. We are heirs to the King of Glory and we have the ability to boldly approach the throne of Grace. Yet even in this past month, I tended to recess into my comfortable orphan-like mindset, or as I like to call it, “orphanitis.” It affects my thoughts, words, and actions. I become easily offended when I am insecure about my position. It opens me up to being easily ensnared by the enemy, who would like nothing better than to destroy me. During my morning prayer recently, a Scripture from Hebrews 3 caught my eye and stopped me dead in my tracks:
12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
“Evil heart of unbelief and hardened through the deceitfulness of sin?” Was not my sin unbelief in a God I knew and know to be faithful? And yet I live as if he has done nothing or will do nothing for me. I was living and acting like an orphan. I am still doing so even in spite of past experiences that prove otherwise! The hardening of my heart is my cynical response to that which is before me instead of a response of faith. It was a message I left for my dearest of friends when I wrote, “I am feeling like an orphan,” that reminded me that God has called me to live boldly, not sheepishly. I am thankful for the Word that reveals my sin and reminds me of Christ’s forgiveness. I am also thankful for my church family. They accept me for who I am, they pray with me, they encourage me, and they hold my feet to the fire. And when the fire is too hot, they walk through it with me. The past seven months in my life have been life changing.
I am learning who I truly am in Christ, an heir to the throne of Glory, not an orphan.
Liturgy Lesson for the Circumcision of Christ: Confirmation and Communion
January 1, 2012
In orthodox Anglican practice, unconfirmed members need to be confirmed before receiving Holy Communion, although they are welcome at the rail for a blessing at the hands of the celebrant in any Holy Communion service. That being said, since our confirmations only take place once a year, our supervising bishop has granted permission for the rector to admit baptized members to Communion. This may take place for anyone who has been baptized, but not confirmed, after a simple interview to make sure the baptized person understands the gravity of the Sacrament—with the understanding they are to be trained and confirmed as soon as possible. This is so important that we deliver the Exhortation, taken from our Book of Common Prayer, to all our members three times a year—after the Prayer for the Whole State of Christ’s Church, in the Holy Communion service. It includes these words: “For as the benefit is great, if with a true penitent heart and lively faith we receive that holy Sacrament; so is the danger great [emphasis mine], if we receive the same unworthily. In the case of children, our job is to make sure they are taught and can fully grasp what the Holy Communion (and all our Christian practice) is about. Our duty as a parish (family) is to protect and teach the children, raising them up—as Scripture teaches—in the “way they should go,” to establish Godly patterns for their adult life, while protecting them from making unhealthy choices—of all kinds!
