Questions for the Pastor IV - 2016

Who picks the scripture (for worship)? Why are they chosen, or what is the overall focus?

Good question! Generally, the Leadership Team (which includes our two pastors and our worship coordinator) sets various "themes" throughout the program year (September through May) such as the  "Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace" theme we had during Lent. Scriptures are chosen that address the subject of the theme, in this case, "peace," which we explored in terms of our relationship with God, others, and the world. In some of the themes we have chosen, scripture verses were selected from the Common Lectionary, a universal, Christian compendium of Bible readings chosen by ecumenical scholars. Each week, the Common Lectionary offers a selection from the Old Testament, a Psalm, a Gospel reading, and an Epistle reading, all of which relate, at least in the minds of the scholars. Pastor Karen and I work hard to "wrestle" with the chosen scripture when writing our sermons, as we are both committed to scriptural preaching, as was Mr. Wesley. In line with Mr. Wesley, however, we are not simply "didactic" preachers giving a "Bible lesson" in our sermons. Our goal is to elucidate on the text, and using illustrations, stories, or maybe a personal "ah, HA!" discovered during our study, make it applicable to our common life as Christians.

What are your least favorite Bible stories?

That's a tough question, and since I am answering these questions on my blog, I am answering for myself, so you would have to ask Pastor Karen directly, if you wish to hear hers. I don't like the stories that make God look overly judgmental or violent. I don't believe that the God who came into our world through Jesus Christ, and who offers "grace upon grace," is that kind of God. We have to realize that these stories are greatly "filtered" through human experience, and in the Hebrew Bible, they are written by a people strongly committed to monotheism. Hence, everything that happens--including the bad stuff--has to have its causality somehow related to God. What stories am I talking about? Well, the whole "wipe out the wicked world" story of Noah and the flood, God telling Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac, and the times when "God tells" Israel to totally wipe out an enemy, including women and children, would be three I would cite. I also have a problem with many "modern" interpretations of the Book of Revelation, which attempt to bring the whole thing into our time and future times. I believe, as do most Bible scholars, that much of that book was fulfilled when the Roman Empire fell and Christians were liberated from the persecution of that regime. That all being said, I think responsible study (exegesis) and application (hermeneutic) of the Bible can find much value in the transmission of these stories through preaching and teaching.

How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?

Believe it or not, questions like this one were actually seriously debated by theologians and philosophers during the period of Scholasticism, which lasted approximately from 1100 to just before 1700. Debates between philosophical schools of Idealism and Classical Realism perpetrated these conversations, with the Naturalists (more "scientific" types whose foundation was observation) on the outside, for the most part. When one enters into a debate of what "real" means, theological questions like "How many angels..." become part of the discussion. In our time, the philosophical debate has more frequently pitted Existentialism against Idealism. While I enjoy a good theological or philosophical conversation, I don't see why anyone would really be interested in knowing how many angels can dance on the head of a pin.