Reasoning For Exclusion

Alexander Ring gives us a list of questions the committees asked concerning their decision of which texts belong in the Lectionary. These questions only help to prove how theology helps to influence these Lectionaries. In the ILCW in 1971:
1. "Can this passage be expounded meaningfully today, can one preach relevantly on it?
2. Do the readings as a whole reflect the whole counsel of God?
3. Is the reading exegetically defensible? Are there textual problems in the Hebrew or Greek which render the meaning of a passage uncertain?
4. Is the reading ecumenical? How widely is it used to express past usage and current practice?"

There are some rather strange problems with these questions. One would truly ask which texts of scripture must be denied. What text can not be made relevant for the world today? Each text whether it be from the Old Testament Law or Paul talking about problems in Corinth are useful today. They all have application today.

The second question brings the strange understanding that the simplest verse explains the entire counsel of God. Should I be able to use these passages to explain theological problems? All the Doctrines of God are connected.

I still have a problem with the textual problems. In the Hebrew and Greek texts there can always be textual difficulties. But the truth is that God breathed all of scripture.

The Concern to exclude certain texts over others should be inexcusable. The texts should reflect all the problems we may have with Scriptures. All the theological differences, the troubling texts should be the ones we force ourselves to deal with. The Lectionary should not be guided by this but by the Word of God. It should include texts that unite us and those which divide us. Thank you.

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