Hi Amelia, So true! A year or so I read someone's advice to 'saturate yourself in Scripture'. I loved the mental picture, and it prompted me to do a kids' talk a few Sundays later, where I sprinkled seed on cotton wool and asked the children - 30 or so very young ones - whether the seed would grow. 'Nooooo', they replied.... 'You need water'. So I laid a bottle of water on top of the seeds, and there was great hilarity!
I also happen to believe that our attitude to the Bible rather than homosexuality is the core issue in the UCA. But we can claim to be a Bible-based/believing church and do little to really saturate ourselves in it. When we do saturate ourselves in it... really open ourselves to what God is saying through it, we *are* challenged and surprised. Sue On Fri, 06 Aug 2004 08:51:16 +1000, you wrote: >Hi Stephen, (his post below) >I am unwilling to enter into the sexuality stuff on this list - it has >certainly not proved to be a safe place - but I would like to comment on the >Bible... > >My ears pricked up at Bandy when he talked about Declining Churches >focussing on Biblical Literacy and Thriving Churches focussing on Biblical >Conversancy... > >What? (we all said - groaning inwardly because NSW-ACT Synod has as one of >its Priority Goals to develop Biblical Literacy...) > >Of recent months, I have been shocked to discover that attenders from >"Bible-based" and "Bible-believing" Congregations are less likley to engage >in Bible Study. (I can hear everyone being shocked at my naivity over the >ether.) When we do get an opportunity to talk about the Bible, I find that >usually it is a pretty one sided conversation - they are asking questions >and expecting me to give answers - which I cannot (I am not that much of a >Bible Scholar nor am I willing to impose personal opinion and pretend to >pass it off as doctrine because of my position) - so, I often answer in >questions (learnt that one from JC!) - and ask for the privilege of studying >a few passages together. > >The amazing thing is that when people do this they get surprised that they >are allowed to make new insights. Some clergy have convinced some of these >people that the only "new insights" come out of biblical scholarship in >Halls and Colleges. When people are encouraged to be transformed by the new >things they will discover, they find that the purpose of Biblical engagement >is changing and being challenged. The Bible requires us to constantly change >our stance and standards... God may not change (interpret that if you want a >new line) but people should! > >(I wonder what would happen if this group engaged in some biblical >conversation? Maybe not starting with an angle and trying to find a passage >to support it - as much of the sexuality debate has done - but joining in >the spiritual discipline of regular encounter with scripture. How? Maybe >even to try to include a passage or text that is influencing your state of >being as you write???) > >For me, as usual, I find myself in the book of Joshua and the story of Rahab >(Ch.2, 6). Being Synod staff is a bit like being in the wall of Jericho - >there seems to be conflict between two parties - but there are lots of >confusing and conflicting issues... > >* is anyone right or just? >* who will win? >* how will the conflict be enacted - and do we expect miracles? >* what is the role of the Rahabs in the wall? (yeah, yeah - snigger, >snigger) >* where is God in all this? ... and is God's will clear - to some and >not to others? (it seems that few people on either side really had any idea >what was going on at Jericho) >* will Jericho survive but always be cursed? > >Don't you just love the way we keep turning to verses for trite answers, but >when we engage with the big OT things - IT IS RELEVANT! > >Have fun. > >- Amelia > > > > > YW Amelia Koh-Butler >Associate Director ELM (Education for Mission) >Board of Education - NSW Synod >Uniting Church in Australia >16 Masons Drive, North Parramatta NSW >Ph: 0427 955 157 >Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > Stephen posted: > >So has the discussion/will always the discussion degenerate to: >A: Look, you just have to understand and accept that I think you are an >ignorant sinner. >B: No, you just have to understand and accept that I think you are an >ignorant sinner. >A: No, you just have to understand and accept that I think you are an >ignorant sinner. >B: No, you just have to understand and accept that I think you are an >ignorant sinner. >A: No, you just have to understand and accept that I think you are an >ignorant sinner. >B: No, you just have to understand and accept that I think you are an >ignorant sinner. >A: No, you just have to understand and accept that I think you are an >ignorant sinner. >B: Okay, you mightn't be ignorant but you are a sinner. >A: Huh, we're all sinners bucko, but you are really ignorant. >B: Am not. >A: Are too. >Yawn. >Like Tom says, where's the love in that? >If you've reached this far, try this on for size ... >If this debate is all about how people read and understand the Bible, as >opposed to the specific problem of what people of the same sex do with >their reproductive bits, and whether they're then sutiable to preach at us, >then why aren't people demanding change or threatening to walk out because >of that understanding of the Bible? Yes, well, they sort of are now, but >still not directly. > >Like, if we can tolerate worshipping in the same denomination or building or >with an ordained minister who looks upon the Bible a bit differently, or >fundamentally differently, then wouldn't we have to accept the corollary of >that, even if it included, say, their certain restrictions or permissiveness >about what people did with their reproductive bits in private? Is it about >the Bible or is it about sex? If it's about the Bible, shouldn't we stop >picking on homosexual folk; because, really, those few passages aren't even >the tip of the iceberg of interpretation we differ over. > >And if it's not about the Bible ... >but you probably haven't read this far. >Stephen > Sue Bolton Sydney, Australia ------------------------------------------------------ - You are subscribed to the mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] - To unsubscribe, email [EMAIL PROTECTED] and put in the message body 'unsubscribe insights-l' (ell, not one (1)) See: http://nsw.uca.org.au/insights-l-information.htm ------------------------------------------------------
