Your Dec. 6 article, “Lectionary helps some Baptist preachers feed their flocks a ‘balanced diet' ” generated a host of questions as I read it. I have preached for 60 years (off and on, lately) and have never used the lectionary. I admit that I have used many other aids, guidelines, resources, etc. Your words led me to a wild ride, via Google, to learn more about the subject.
The article was disturbing in that it offered many reasons why pastors could and should use the lectionary. My first objection was probably in the thinking of many Baptist pastors who read the words. Theoretically, we preach whatever the Spirit calls on us to speak. To assign that responsibility to some printed outline may have its advantages, but to do so flies in the face of our first principle, the freedom and responsibility of each individual to make his own relationship to God. “Soul competency” applies here.
Secondly, to whom do the lectionary disciples turn? Is it the Roman Catholic, or Eastern Orthodox, or Episcopalian, or Lutheran version? I would suppose it is the Revised Common Lectionary, copyrighted(!) in 1992 by Abingdon Press, using quotes from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyrighted(!) in 1989. Note that the lectionary is as subject to revision as is the Bible, and, even further, the Baptist Faith and Message.
The divisions of the Lectionary begin with Advent (November/December)-Christmas-Epiphany, go on to Lent-Easter-Pentecost, followed by each Sunday enumerated thereafter (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc., Sunday after Pentecost). Later revisions have added several scriptural themes for each Sunday, so that the one-year evolution can be made into three full years of scriptural themes.
Another reason for utilizing the lectionary is that it “balances” the preacher's presentation. One obvious worry: Such a reason assumes that every verse, theme, passage of the Bible is of equal importance to the preachers and pew-sitters. It also pre-supposes that the folk who make the choices are all Spirit-guided in their deliberations (a wild leap of faith, considering the multiplicity and variety of contributors to the programs).
Recent additions to the lectionary have included daily sections, and more Old Testament verses, although the basic theme of the whole process revolves around the New Testament.
One fun point: One learned lady has found a decided slant to the whole proceeding: Women of the Bible are given short shrift throughout the course of the presentation. Read it here: http:// www.cta-usa.org/reprint6-96/fox.html
Hal H. Eaton, Mouth of Wilson