Second Sunday in Advent, 2003
Bible Sunday
Romans 15:4

Bible Reading

In his book, A History of the American People, Paul Johnson explains the reading habits of the Pilgrims, Puritans and those who followed. He writes, "They read the Bible for themselves, assiduously, daily. Virtually every humble cabin in Massachusetts colony had its own Bible. Adults read it alone, silently. It was also read aloud among families, as well as in churches, during Sunday morning service, which lasted from eight till twelve (there was more Bible reading in the afternoon). Many families had a regular course of Bible reading which meant that they covered the entire text of the Old Testament in the course of each year. Every striking episode was familiar to them, and its meaning and significance earnestly discussed; many they knew by heart. The language and lilt of the Bible in its various translations, but particularly in the magnificent new King James version, passed into the common tongue and script."

For those who believe in the exceptional goodness of America the question is often raised, how did it get that way? What is the source of this moral distinction? For many of us the Bible's saturation of the culture is the best explanation. The Word of God is a powerful agent for transforming a nation. Reading and studying the Bible can transform any group or person into something truly beautiful. The Second Sunday in Advent is known as Bible Sunday. The collect shines a bright light on the written Word: "Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them" Archbishop Thomas Cranmer wrote this collect, and he based it on a verse from our epistle lesson for today, Romans 15:4. Romans 15:4 goes like this: "For whatever things were written before, were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope." Using this verse and the collect as a springboard, let's examine the place of Bible reading for the Christian life.

The apostle Paul states, "For whatever things were written before, were written for our learning." The things written before obviously refer to the Old Testament. The apostle is telling us that even though the Old Testament Scriptures were written in ages past, they remain a vital fountain of sanctifying instruction. The apostle says something similar in 2 Timothy 3:16: "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." These references by St. Paul to Scripture certainly signify the Old Testament. Can they apply to the New Testament too? Yes, they can, and yes, they do! If the Old Testament writings were regarded so highly by the primitive Church, then that esteem applies to the New Testament books as well. God inspired both Testaments.

What does that word "inspire" mean? A literal translation of "inspired" would be "God-breathed." The term indicates that Scripture's source is God's breath. It comes from the Holy Almighty Himself. That is how He reveals Himself to us. Some people think the Bible is merely a collection of books written by different people to describe their experience of God. Such a view of the Bible's origin is man-centered. When men are seen as the authors of Scripture, people start finding errors and contradictions. The doctrine of verbal inspiration means that the ultimate Author of the Bible is God Himself.

From the doctrine of inspiration logically follows infallibility and inerrancy. Inerrancy stresses the absence of error in the Bible, and infallibility means the inability to err. Because the Bible is infallible and carries final authority, a fallible Church can check the Bible to see if and when she has deviated from the ancient faith. By submitting to the ultimate authority of Scripture, she can correct those deviations and grow in her sanctification. [See The Shape of Sola Scriptura by Keith Mathison pp. 293-317; Biblical Interpretation by Gerald Bray. Other works consulted: Reading the Bible with Heart and Mind, Tremper Longman III; Patience by David Baily Harned, and Bishop Sutton's lectures at our last clericus in the Napa Valley.]

Let's move on to the next phrase of our verse: "Through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures [we] might have hope." "Comfort" is a consequence of good Bible reading. "Through comfort of the Scriptures we might have hope." The Bible instills comfort, or better translated, it offers us "encouragement." The encouragement of the Bible instills hope. Who doesn't need hope and encouragement? Even the most mature Christian desires words of encouragement. This world is a sea of troubles. Almost everybody goes through stages of dejection, sadness, and frustration. Just when there seems to be no end in sight, God can encourage us through the Bible. How does the Bible fill us with hope? It tells us about the resurrection of our bodies, the redemption of creation, and the triumph of the Kingdom of God.

Biblical hope is the confidence that God will not let present realities continue. Evil may appear to be on top right now, and it may presently have the upper hand in this world. But it is absolutely certain, beyond any doubt, that God will right all wrongs in the future. God wants us to stay rooted in the present, but He engenders a future hope in us. He does this through Scripture.

Can you think of a time when the Word of God exercised a powerful influence in your life? St. Augustine grew up hearing the Word from his pious mother Monica, but in his youth he turned from that and devoted himself to sexual debauchery, drunkenness and lies. One day, as he sat in his backyard, a child yelled out, "Take it and read, take it and read." Because of the high wall that surrounded the yard, he couldn't tell whether if the voice was that of a girl or boy, nor from what direction it came. There was a Bible lying next to him. He picked it up and read Romans 13:4: "Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature." That Word burst into life in his soul. He was converted. Thenceforth, Augustine used his enormous intellect for God's glory and the good of the Church.

Martin Luther was transfixed by the phrase, "the just shall live by faith." It opened his eyes to the punctiliar nature of faith. In a sense, salvation has already taken place for the true believer. It is by God's grace alone and not of works. I have a pastor friend who had a powerful conversion experience. The verse that struck him was John 14:6: "Jesus said, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'" The Holy Spirit used a couple verses to lead me back to the faith. The phrases rang in my ears, and thwarted my every attempt to banish God. Each time I gazed on nature the words, "God created the heavens and the earth" haunted me. Each time I thought about death another sentence would frighten me; "Anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire" (Rev. 20:15).

The Bible brings us to conversion, and conversion initiates a lifetime process of growth. We gradually take on the character of Christ. Little by little we overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil. The Bible is the resource for positive change in our lives. How does God use the Bible to change us?

The collect gives us some guidelines. Just as the Scriptures saturate our liturgical worship at Church, they should saturate our reading at home. We "read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest [God's Word]." This is no casual glance. Quick Bible reading is usually boring. Exciting Bible reading is slow. Have you ever seen a cow chewing its cud? Cattle can stand in one place chewing for a long time. In order for the Bible to transform you, you have to pay the price. You set apart the time and you do the work. Once you make a time commitment you need a Bible reading method. What is the best system? Many methods work. My favorite is the readings from the daily lectionary. The lectionary in our prayer books is a wonderful program. When you follow the daily lectionary you read morning and evening. Twice a day you read a Psalm, an Old Testament passage and a New Testament passage. If we were all reading the same chapters in our personal devotions, we could share insights and ask questions. We would all be on the same page, so to speak.

I have a confession to make. Until a few months ago I had fallen into bad habits. I had stopped following the daily lectionary. I was trying to read through the Bible cover to cover once a year, but it was taking two years or more. My Bible reading was becoming less of a priority. Every morning the Los Angeles Times and Wall Street Journal arrive on my doorstep. With a pot of coffee I plunged into the papers. I was reading those for an hour or two before cracking open my Bible. Then there is talk radio. That can be pretty interesting and time consuming. When I did get around to deep study I read commentaries on the text I would be preaching. I would read Church history, theology, and magazines. These are all fine. I still dip into them. But the bottom line is this: I wasn't reading the Bible very much.

Part of the problem is this smug feeling of being Anglican. I grew up Baptist, and good Baptists read the Bible, but few of them value Church history. They have little regard for the early Church, the Creeds or even the Reformation. I'm an Anglican. We study those things. We extol them. And by the way, the Creeds are absolutely necessary for Bible interpretation. They set the doctrinal boundaries and we are prohibited from wandering outside those boundaries. To do so is to invite anarchy into the Church. Nonetheless, that being said, a love for history and tradition can become a substitute for Bible reading, Bible study, and Bible memorization. Once that happens the outcome is unavoidable: replacing the Bible stunts spiritual growth.

This is what I'm trying to correct. I'm putting myself on a media diet, cutting down on newspapers and talk radio. I've returned to following the daily lectionary. At our clergy retreat in the Napa Valley, Bishop Sutton gave us some practical steps for Bible reading. Much of it comes from the saints of the fourth and fifth centuries. The emphasis is on Bible meditation. You read a passage slowly. You read it five or ten times. You read it out loud. You read it prayerfully. You read it with meditative pauses. That is, you read one line of a text and pause a few moments before going on to the next line. You read the Bible standing. You read it kneeling. You write down special verses and memorize them. You jot down notes about what convicts you, what blesses you, and what puzzles you. You reflect upon the meaning with your eyes closed. You speak to the Lord about the text. You ask Him about it. You apply it to your life. You compose your own prayers based on Scripture. This is unhurried time. And this is the quiet time when the Holy Spirit transforms you into the likeness of Jesus Christ.

Sometimes the effects of prolonged Bible reflection won't be felt for days, weeks, months, or even years, but eventually spiritual good will come out of it. Of course, you run the risk of being called a Bible-thumping fundamentalist if you put this much time and focus on Bible reading. So be it. Your spiritual health is at stake. On this Bible Sunday the Church calls you to devote yourself to reading Scripture. Make that commitment now as you come forward for Holy Communion. Do what it takes to become a man or woman of the Word.

Return to Sermons