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<\/em>(HarperSanFrancisco, 2001) p.33) disusses the custom of adding \u201cThis is the Word of the Lord\u201d after Scripture readings. After amusingly suggesting replacing the statement with \u201cSome thoughts from ancient Israel\u201d or \u201cSome thoughts from the early Christian movement\u201d, he expresses his appreciation for the words used in the New Zealand Anglican Book of Common Prayer<\/a>: \u201cHear what the Spirit is saying to the church<\/a>\u201c.<\/p>\nThose words are, of course, derived from the Book of Revelation<\/a>. Yesterday in my class on Paul\u2019s letters<\/a> I came across another phrase from the Bible that could perhaps be used in the same context: \u201cI give an opinion as one who by the mercy of the Lord is trustworthy\u201d (1 Corinthians 7:25<\/a>). Although I am to a large extent kidding, would there be anything inappropriate about using such a phrase? What confusion can potentially arise if, after reading 1 Corinthians 7, the reader concludes with \u201cThis is the Word of the Lord\u201d? How does the latter phrase need to be clarified in its meaning so that it is understood in a way that does not conflict with that Scripture claims about itself, and in other ways shows itself to be?<\/p>\n Let me end with the well-known joke about another affirmation and response. A minister rose to his feet to begin the morning service, approached the microphone, and said \u201cThe peace of the Lord be with you\u201d. No one could hear him, since the microphone was not working. Fiddling with it, he says in a slightly louder voice, \u201cThere\u2019s something wrong with this microphone\u201d.<\/p>\n Automatically, the congregation gave the response: \u201cAnd also with you!\u201d<\/p>\n Marcus Borg (in his book Reading the Bible Again For the First Time: Taking the Bible Seriously But Not Literally (HarperSanFrancisco, 2001) p.33) disusses the custom of adding \u201cThis is the Word of the Lord\u201d after Scripture readings. After amusingly suggesting replacing the statement with \u201cSome thoughts from ancient Israel\u201d or \u201cSome thoughts from the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":136,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3896","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/tracker\/7622297540113836091-4670693769860165528?l=exploringourmatrix.blogspot.com\")