by Randal Matheny

The deal these days is drama, dance and praise teams. Action. Movement. Excitement. This direction would seem to crowd out the simple reading of Scripture in public worship.

In the positive interest of gaining the hearing of the non-churched and keeping the attention of the faithful, fluff has won over content, style over substance.

But the commandment remains.

"Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching" (1 Timothy 4:13, NIV).

The powerful word which created the world still works to transform lives when Scripture is read and humbly obeyed.

While so many groups titillate the emotions, the Lord appeals to the understanding.

So read the Word in your gatherings. Plainly, simply. No embelishment needed.

Be prepared. Speak clearly, loudly enough for all to hear, without shouting.

Use a good version, avoid paraphrases. Don't rush, nor drag it out.

Be respectful, reverent, presentable, nothing on your person to call attention away from the holy task of reading.

Jesus honored the Jewish synagogues with his presence and participated in the public reading of Scripture (Luke 4:16). The practice of the synagogue (Acts 13:15) became the practice of the church (Colossians 4:16, Revelation 1:3). Not for cultural or social reasons, but spiritual.

So important was the practice of reading Scripture in the church's assembly that, in later times when a hierarchy developed, it became an official position.

We don't need the position, but we do need the power of the reading.

Of public readers Commodian said, "You are flowers in the congregation; you are Christ's lanterns."*

What church cannot use more beauty and fragrance, more light from God?

*Instruct. 2.26[67], cited in E. Ferguson, Encyclopedia of Early Christianity (New York: Garland, 1990), p. 777.

Editorial

This month has not bade well for our schedule. But the lack of regularity doesn't diminish the quality of the excellent material you'll find here. Hang in there with us. Keep checking back. There'll be something here to keep you from starving, if not always a seven-course meal.

I'll be traveling to the U.S. on Wednesday, for six weeks. Be assured that there'll be new contacts, and new faces to show themselves around Forthright. And new articles.

We could scrounge up stuff that's already published around. But Forthright insists on original articles. Nothing you've seen anywhere else.

So keep the faith, even if we don't keep the pace. It will pick up soon.