Musings on the Daily Lectionary

My denomination has struggled for many years now over the issue of ordaining those who are in same sex relationships. As Presbyterians, we tend to argue the issue over how we interpret the Bible. People of deep faith have very different but sincerely held views on what Scripture says on this issue. That is not to say, however, that this issue arose because it figures so prominently in biblical texts.

Why for example, has our denomination never fought about whether or not to ordain people who are greedy. The Bible has considerably more to say about this topic. Jesus spoke on how hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom, and Old and New Testament regularly condemn greed and especially how the rich exploit the poor.

Today's reading from Ezekiel is a case in point. The prophet speaks of God judging between sheep, that is between the different people of Israel, and it is the rich who appear to be in danger. "Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture, but you must tread down with your feet the rest of your pasture?.. Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD to them: I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. Because you pushed with flank and shoulder, and butted at all the weak animals with your horns until you scattered them far and wide, I will save my flock, and they shall no longer be ravaged; and I will judge between sheep and sheep."

When it comes to the Bible, most all of us seem remarkably adept at grabbing those verses that support our positions and ignoring those which don't. And I can think of no real reason for the issue of gay ordination to become the line in the sand issue when it comes to following the Bible, except that a majority of Presbyterians feel safe that they can stay on the "correct" side of the line. But if the issue is greed or God's preferential care of the poor, that's less clear, and we dare not set up any clear cut standards on these.

An adult Sunday School class at our congregation has be reading A Year of Living Biblically, by A.J. Jacobs, which recounts a man's attempt to follow literally what the Bible says. It makes for interesting reading. And it just might make us all think about how we choose which parts of the Bible we will actually follow.

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