Chopping Texts

Why does the Lectionary chop texts. Many people over the years have questioned the places texts are chopped. Others complain that texts are chopped at all. I complain that texts are chopped and others are eliminated all together. One can be corrected by the preacher on Sunday morning. He simply reads the entire text instead of the chopped portions.

But there is another way. You can look to for another lectionary. Another Lectionary that does not cut texts but simply ends them. Every text or lection must eventually come to an end. Sometimes you add things to the end in order to get them in. Other times you notice things are left out, for an undetermined reason. God tells us not to add or subtract from scripture, but it is all scripture.

Why does the reading need to be under 20 verses or more than 5? Length can be a good thing, but it can also go beyond the point of the text itself. This means the preacher needs to know the text and context in order to teach his sheep.

The Lectionary does not need to make brakes but simply give the full text. Why does it do this? Sometimes it is just in good taste to eliminate the passage that says "all Israel will be saved" or "sexual immorality is an abomination." The RCL has and even other adaptations have still taken theological liberties in chopping up the Bible. Thank you.

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