Proper 26 / Pentecost 24 / OT 31
Devotional
Water From the Well
Lectionary Devotional For Cycle A
Object:
We also constantly give thanks to God for this, that when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word but as what it really is, God's word, which is also at work in you believers.
-- 1 Thessalonians 2:13
To our modern ears, it would appear that Paul was making an incredible claim. In many liturgical churches, when the liturgist finishes reading the scripture lesson, he or she will look at the congregation and say, "The word of the Lord." Paul took it a step further and suggested that when they heard his sermon, they were listening to God's word. How many congregants in our contemporary churches begin to listen to a sermon with the assumption that what they are listening to is the word of God? Isn't it far more likely that they assume that they are listening to an interpretation of scripture that they will evaluate as individuals? Many classic theologians, such as John Calvin, believed that when a faithful preacher rose, and a faithful congregant listened, God's word was being enacted in their presence. Between the words flowing from the pastor's mouth and the ear of a faithful listener, God was at work speaking to each person. Both the preacher and the listener bore a responsibility to approach this event with awe.
It is significant that Paul connected the effect of his words with the conduct of his life. "You are witnesses, and God also, how pure, upright, and blameless our conduct was toward you believers." As is abundantly clear in our situation, when our words are not consistent with our life, the possibility of people hearing the word of God is seriously damaged. One can imagine, however, the impact of a congregation approaching the proclamation of the word with the expectation that God was about to speak to each of them. One can also imagine the impact on preachers if they recognized that God would use their efforts in this way. It might cause us all to tremble as we entered the sanctuary and prepared for worship.
-- 1 Thessalonians 2:13
To our modern ears, it would appear that Paul was making an incredible claim. In many liturgical churches, when the liturgist finishes reading the scripture lesson, he or she will look at the congregation and say, "The word of the Lord." Paul took it a step further and suggested that when they heard his sermon, they were listening to God's word. How many congregants in our contemporary churches begin to listen to a sermon with the assumption that what they are listening to is the word of God? Isn't it far more likely that they assume that they are listening to an interpretation of scripture that they will evaluate as individuals? Many classic theologians, such as John Calvin, believed that when a faithful preacher rose, and a faithful congregant listened, God's word was being enacted in their presence. Between the words flowing from the pastor's mouth and the ear of a faithful listener, God was at work speaking to each person. Both the preacher and the listener bore a responsibility to approach this event with awe.
It is significant that Paul connected the effect of his words with the conduct of his life. "You are witnesses, and God also, how pure, upright, and blameless our conduct was toward you believers." As is abundantly clear in our situation, when our words are not consistent with our life, the possibility of people hearing the word of God is seriously damaged. One can imagine, however, the impact of a congregation approaching the proclamation of the word with the expectation that God was about to speak to each of them. One can also imagine the impact on preachers if they recognized that God would use their efforts in this way. It might cause us all to tremble as we entered the sanctuary and prepared for worship.
