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--------- Original Message ---------

DATE: Thu, 26 Jun 2003 08:13:31
From: "Michael Ward" <mward@...>
To: <faithandlife@...>
Cc: 

>Charles+
>
>I appreciate this last paragraph:
>
>"Whatever part of the Scriptures we read, Christ our teacher is waiting to instruct us. 
<snip> 
Sadly, though, many who are Christians neglect this vital and intimate connection to our Lord.
>
>Which leads to a question: how do we (clergy) not only encourage but help to foster the thirst for God's holy word in his people?  
<snip>
"Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ."  Amen, amen.
>
>MLW+
>----------------------------------------------------

Mike+
 
Thank you for the eloquent observations.  We should have the same love and passion for the Scriptures that our brethren in the Bible churches have.  They are not our enemies in that regard.

A professor of Greek and Gospels captured me and many hundreds of others by his passion and the excitement with his subject.   His thorough knowledge made his descriptions of the scenes in the life of Christ vivid, compelling and believable.  He was capable of anger and tears and unashamed of showing emotion in the midst of an eloquent exposition.  He was the most demanding, yet the most popular professor on campus.  He was well past retirement age when I was a student, but after a few minutes, his age did not matter as he captured our imaginations.

At the same time, though you would not have expected it from his background, he believed in the real presence of Christ at Eucharist.  His exposition of the events of Holy Thursday, his knowledge of the Fathers, and his minute examination of the views of the RCC and the reformers in regard to the Eucharist, made it easy for me to migrate to Anglicanism.  

We at least in theory and on paper have the right balance of Word and Sacrament.  What may be needed is more passion in our presentation of the sacred treasures.  Stoking our own fires by Lectio is a beginning place.

Charles+




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