Is it just a reading?

I think we dilute scripture. It's been my experience within my life that we, essentially, live in the age of interpretation. I grew up in a small church with an interconnected congregation. We were friends, neighbors, colleagues, a lot of them even family. It was within this church, and many like it in the Laurel River Baptist Association during revival season, that I learned most of what I knew as scripture. That was, until about 2 years ago. Don't get me wrong, unlike some religious institutions, we were encouraged to take time to spend time in active reading, studying the written scripture, and praying for clarity and understanding. But still, what I've started to recognize after years of deep independent studies, the interpretation and preaching I experiences were from those who were taught for centuries to continue to legacy of those that came before. It wasn't that they didn't encourage you to seek and find your own answers, but what you find when you go to seek is oftentimes an indoctrinated version of an answer.

I heard a scholar say, "One of the hardest things my student's in seminary have when reading scripture, is reading without the baggage of what they have been taught before really reading. In order to actually understand scripture, you must first unlearn everything you think you know and read it for yourself without remembering what someone from your past has already told you. You can't unhear what you have heard, and we carry burdens into our readings that don't always help us peel back the real layers written into the Biblical narrative." That shook me. It took me days reading and rereading scripture as if I had never read it before, reading first to get context, then reading again with a clear mission, "What does it say." That is it. That was my new practice motto when entering the Word; what does it actually say.

It wasn't supposed to be revolutionary. I didn't think that I could be so shaken by such a simple concept. What it did though was change how I asked for knowledge and understanding of the scripture I was reading. If the Bible was a written narrative composed over thousands of years by various authors who were each chosen to relay the message from the One True God about his creation, order, and plan for redemption for his people, what had I been missing? Man, was I missing a lot. Simple things like recognizing that a quarter of the Bible is written in poetry, that metaphors can contain multiple layers of wisdom, and the authors of scripture were so versed in this Jewish meditation literature that the left us keys to understanding symbolism, cultures, and the richness of a relationship with the Creator God because of the hyperlinks they left across the Word to others books and writings. But out of everything that I have learned, it was the act of oral reading that got me. It was traditional for scribes to transcribe the written text so that the people could hear it read aloud. Small institutions may only have a single complete scroll, or book of the Torah and they would exchange them with other institutions in the course of time because texts were not available.

These nations of peoples read and reread entire books of scripture until they committed it to memory. My conviction then was, if I have the completed written work and only have a history of a sermon containing half a chapter of a single book or less, what did I actually know because I had read it. Some of the most incredible people to me were those elders in native cultures that their entire existence was predicated on the oral tradition they carried. These elders stood as the anchor for culture, history, and purpose of their people. It was the same in the Jewish tradition in Jesus' time. So I started reading scripture aloud. I was hesitant, but I was obedient. And what difference it made just by understanding the power of what the Word could be if we used it like it was intended, not as a magic instruction manual to life, but instead as meditation literature that makes you think. Makes you think about your relationship with creation, with the Creator God, with his chosen people and those still with a decision to make.

I think it is divine how choices you make in your life can become the foundation for a key moment of obedience. I was in high school when I started speech competitions. I wanted to test my skills, and it happened to be a club that didn't have a lot of interest. I loved it. I found myself reciting a Creed that I had printed off and stuffed in a sheet protector each morning as I was in the shower. I memorized the entire written creed in record time to compete. Then I advanced, and I never stopped. One of the most impressive videos I found while searching one day for examples of a traditional reading was a speaker reciting the entire book of Ephesians. There he was just reciting from memory the entire book, like it was nothing. I was so impressed I vowed that day that I would be able to do that one day, you know why? Because I had already proven to myself that I could, years ago! God planted me in a space to remove my own self made barriers to obedience years before the conviction to not just read and understand, but to commit the Word to a place that I could always have to share.

Since then I have been working on not just reciting an entire book, but which pieces of the narrative would be what I would tell. How would I piece together a spoken word to share. What would it sound like if instead of a traditional preaching on Sunday morning with two verses and a half hour of interpretation, but what would I say that is comprised in it's entirety by The Word. That's what I've done. This is what one day, I will recite from memory along with other books. For it is this way that I have found I can really treasure it in my heart. My first compilation reads like this:

"Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgement, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. (Psalm 1:1-6)

Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His Holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all thine iniquities: Who heals all thy diseases; Who redeems thy life from destruction; Who crowns thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfies thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

The Lord executes righteousness and judgement for all that are oppressed. He made known His ways unto Moses, His acts unto the children of Israel. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will He keep His anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the Heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that they fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us.

Like a father pities His children, so the Lord pities them that fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourishes. For the wind passes over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him, and His righteousness unto children's children; to such as keep His covenant, and to those that remember His commandments to do them.

The Lord hath prepared his throne in the Heavens; and His kingdom rules over all. Bless the Lord ya his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His word. Bless ye the Lord, all ya His hosts; ye ministers of His, that do his pleasure. Bless the Lord, all His works in all places of His dominion: bless the Lord, O my soul. (Psalm 103:1-22)

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulations works patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope makes not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. (Romans 5:1-7)

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of God, he is none of His. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwell in you.

Therefore, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ya shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ya shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waits for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man sees, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because he makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifies.

Who is he that condemns? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, for they sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

Nay in all things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, not life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:1-39)

Therefore I say unto you, take no thought for your life, what you shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are ye not much better than they?

Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: and yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not so much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewith shall we be clothed? For after all these things do the Gentiles seek: for your heavenly Father knows that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. (Matthew 6:25-34)

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profits me nothing. Charity suffers long, and is kind; charity envies not; charity vaunts not itself, it is not puffed up, does not behave itself unseemly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil; rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Charity never fails: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abides faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these in charity. (1 Corinthians 13:1-13)"