I am a terrible listener when it comes to sermons and Sunday School lessons. There are some who can keep my interest but my mind tends to wander. Maybe “wander” isn’t the right word. It may be that I am paying too much attention and my mind takes leaps into the possibilities.
Today I was straying into an inner inquiry on why I was straying. Why did the closing verses of Romans 3 not hold my attention? Maybe it was because so little of what was being said was based on Romans. At one point I got my hopes up. This verse was read,
Romans 3:30 (KJV) Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.The teacher asked what the difference was between “by” and “through”. I did a quick look and saw they were different words in the Greek. By the time I got back from that quick look they had already decided that they meant the same thing. No. They don’t but that was all we got on it.
The last phrase in the chapter implies that our faith establishes the law. I didn’t have the nerve to bring that up.
So much of the preaching and teaching I am exposed to is primarily cliches, vignettes, platitudes, memories, well worn Bible verses, boilerplate, and what ever pops into mind. It is a good thing I am learning to keep my mouth shut.
homo unius libri
I totally agree
ReplyDeleteThat makes two of us. Now we have the challenge of the rest of the church.
DeleteGrace and peace,
Pumice