Reading Scripture, Seriously or Literally?

A king is not saved by his great army;

    a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.
 The war horse is a vain hope for victory,
    and by its great might it cannot save.

 Truly the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him,
    on those who hope in his steadfast love,

to deliver their soul from death
    and to keep them alive in famine.

 Our soul waits for the Lord;
    he is our help and shield.
 Our heart is glad in him
    because we trust in his holy name.
 Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us,
    even as we hope in you.

                                                     Psalm 33: 16-22 NRSVue

I attempt to read scripture regularly using the daily schedule of lessons provided through the ecumenical lectionary. My goal is to peruse the psalm on a daily-ish basis although I often read from the other prescribed passages for the day. Some of the "smitey" psalms are alarming but most of what I read is thought-provoking, inspiring and even emotionally touching. This exercise takes a matter of minutes each day and from time to time I wonder how it is that I fall off the scripture wagon. The "tyranny of the urgent" seems like a lame excuse when I'm non-gainfully retired.

Mainline denominations such as the United Church of Canada tend to claim that they take scripture seriously but not literally, but what does that mean. A current article from the Christian Century by Stephanie Perdew asks important questions about biblical literacy or perhaps more accurately illiteracy amongst mainline/oldline Christians. Here are two from an introductory summary: 

1.  Perdew recalls a conversation with some mainline Christians in which they lamented not having conversational “weapons” to use with White Christian nationalists. How equipped do you feel to discuss the Bible or history with people who strongly disagree with you? 

2. Perdew notes that it is popular for churches in her circles to say, “We take the Bible seriously but not literally,” as a way to distance themselves from fundamentalism. Unfortunately, Perdew laments, it often seems that mainline communities don’t take the Bible seriously or literally. What is your reaction to this observation?

These are honest and to the point. Through my years of congregational ministry I led studies on lots of subjects and always made a point of relating our explorations to scripture as our sacred north star.

 I also offered lectionary based groups including one for a decade which was made up mostly of elderly women with a smattering of men and younger (than them) adults. I was impressed by how well versed and wise they were, with members often coming from denominations that were more literally biblically-based. They left because those churches were too rigid and "us and them" but they brought their biblical foundation. 

When we lived in Sudbury there was a family whose teens had a strong knowledge of scripture and it turned out that the mom grew up as a Mennonite so bible reading were important. 

Biblical literalism usually isn't. It is a bias that often cherry picks scripture in a dismaying manner and ignores essentially aspects of Jesus' message of inclusion and compassion echoed in the New Testament letters. I've had interesting conversations with supposed literalists where I pointed out inconsistencies with this claim. 

I did love that the old United Church Observer magazine featured biblical cartoons by Cuyler Black who brought his wacky sense of humour as a guest speaker when I was at St. Paul's in Bowmanville. 

This morning I read the daily psalm, 33, and it included the verses above. I wonder what MAGA Christians and Pete Hegseth, Secretary of War, have to say about this one? Weak, it sounds very weak... 

Senseless Hatred in San Diego

People stand behind police tape at the scene of a shooting outside the Islamic Center of San Diego Monday, May 18, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

 We have seen it so often. Some guy or guys decides that Jews or Muslims or even Christians are a threat to the world. So they arm themselves with military style weapons and murder people they've never met at synagogues, mosques and churches. Their victims aren't armed or engaged in nefarious activity. They are worshipping or attending school or just chatting in front of their institutions. 

It happened again two days ago when a security guard and two worshippers at a mosque in San Diego were killed by two boys aged 17 and 18 who were so possessed by hate they committed this terrible act. The guard was a father of nine who was beloved by many. He managed to sound the alarm to teachers at the adjacent school before the fatal confrontation.

I noticed that a nearby church immediately opened its doors to provide shelter for the evacuated schoolchildren. Within a few hours a California Jewish organization issued a statement decrying this crime based on religious hatred. Ultimately, we should all know that prejudices and violence against any religious group puts us all people of faith at peril. I think of the Muslim community which provided solace and financial support to the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh a few years ago after a gunman killed a number of people. 

It is bizarre that so often it seems that that it is the fundamentalists within religious groups, whatever their stripe, who foment discrimination and threat. In the United States and Canada there are Christian extremists who are no longer quiet about their contempt for those who practice other religions. In Israel there is a disturbing rise in anti-Islam and anti-Christian violence perpetrated by Jewish fundamentalists. In some African nations Islamic extremists kidnap or kill Christians. It is hatred that becomes an idolatrous religion and it is all so senseless and a spiral into hell on earth. 

In the midst of this tragedy we can be vigilant in condemning religious prejudice in all forms, speaking our truth when necessary. Those of us who follow Jesus, the Jew, can make peace in our thoughts and words and deeds. We can support interfaith dialogue and understanding and promote solidarity. 

 God of us all, comfort those who mourn in San Diego. 

A Magdalen May 1 Chorus, Male and Female

                       

Two years ago I wrote about a May 1st tradition in Oxford, England, where the Magdalen College Choir climbs high atop the city and sings to the crowd gathered below. The tradition is more than 500 years old but it seems that everything old is new again, In 2014 about 14,000 cheerful early-birds gathered and last year 16,500. This year is was 18,500. 

I noted that in many places in Europe May1st is May Day, acknowledged as the first day of Summer, which is hard to grasp. This year we were still freezing our tushes off on May 1 across much of Canada. 

Wildflowers are gathered, dancing around a maypole takes place, and bonfires are lit. The origins of these festivals are ancient and pre-Christian but we could argue that Europe is now post-Christian in many respects. The choir was created centuries ago to sing the daily church services in Magdalen College Chapel yet much of the crowd below looks pleasantly pagan. 

                                                       Oxford at the crack of dawn, May 1, 2026

The front row of the choir will look different next year as for the first time in five centuries girls will be included in the choir. Here is an article about the change: 

For the first time in its history, the world-renowned choir of Magdalen College is admitting girls to sing alongside boys as choristers.

Founded in 1480, the choir has become one of the most highly regarded ensembles in the UK and is best known for singing to welcome the dawn from the Great Tower of Magdalen College each year on May Morning. The Choir has appeared at the BBC Proms and toured the USA, France, Sweden, Holland, Portugal, and Spain in recent years. Having previously recorded for the Harmonia Mundi and Opus Arte labels, the Choir released its first album on the CORO label in 2023.

The choir’s 16 young choristers are drawn from Magdalen College School, originally founded as the Song School for the College, which on 2 February announced its plans to become co-educational from 2027. The College subsequently took the opportunity to consider how best to integrate girls into the musical life of the Chapel and has now decided to offer choristerships on an equal basis to both girls and boys aged between eight and 13.

Sure they have their 500 year old Spring tradition, but do they have trilliums? 

Saints and heavenly choirs preserve us, girls alongside the boys. What will be next? 

Joana Texeira and Pax Butchart on May Morning. 2026

(Image: Newsquest)

Good Shepherds and Sheep Detectives

 

1 The Lord's my Shepherd, I'll not want;

he makes me down to lie

in pastures green; he leadeth me,

the quiet waters by.

We were at the movie theatre a couple of months ago and saw the trailer for an upcoming film called The Sheep Detectives. It's about sheep who are...detectives. Trailers usually convince us of the movies we don't want to see but this one looked genuinely funny, so we decided to go when it came to town. 

I'm here to say that it is funny, clever, even touching -- sort of Knives Out meets Babe. It has a great cast including Hugh Jackman and Emma Thompson as humans, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, and Patrick Stewart as sheep, along with many other strong actors. The animation (animal-ation?) is impressive as well.

Sadly, the good, wool-only shepherd of the flock, Jackman, is murdered and his flock is bereft until one of them steps up to lead them. For years the shepherd has read them cozy murder mysteries each evening, so why don't they solve the crime? 

I'll keep the wool over your eyes in terms of whodunit but there are some moments of a religious nature that I'll share. One of the suspects is the local vicar and we meet him as he introduces the parable of the Lost Sheep during a worship service and we see a Good Shepherd stained glass window.  

Later in the film a world-wise and weary ram attempts to explain to his two sheep-sleuth companions what church and God are. He  admits that it's confusing because God is a Shepherd but he is also a Lamb. But the Lamb is also Bread and humans eat the bread. It is delightfully bewildering and during my ministry I had occasions when I tried to explain all this to children and adults with varying success. 

There are poignant moments in the story as well with some reflection on the nature of grief, avoidance of our mortality, and our hopes for the afterlife. Hey, it has it all, so go and see it! The Lion LAMB blogger signing off for today...

Absorbing Creation this "May Long"

 

                                                             Trees in Spring -- David Milne

2 What a wondrous time is spring when all the trees

are budding,

the birds begin to sing, the flowers start their blooming;

that's how it is with God's love,

once you've experienced it:

you want to sing, it's fresh like spring,

you want to pass it on.

                                      Voices United 289

Victoria Day begat May Two-Four, begat May Long. Tomorrow Canadians will celebrate the longest standing national holiday in Canada, other than the religious ones. I wonder how many Canadians could name Queen Victoria and her birthday (May 24th) as the source of the extra day off this weekend?

This is an opportunity for millions of us to get outside, camping amidst the blackflies, opening the cottage, going for a walk for that fleeting look at trilliums and trout lilies. We've paddled a number of times already, but we'll get out on the water to enjoy that unique "David Milne" green of Spring along the shoreline. This morning we sat on our deck for the first outdoor breakfast of the year, soaking in the Dawn Chorus. 

Recently I read Adam Nicholson's Bird School: A Beginner in the Woods. He describes the old farmstead in Britain on which he has taken up residence and the construction of a small structure in a derelict field for the purpose of paying attention to the birds. It is designed so that lots of feeders can be hung and large windows be opened wide to take in birdsong. 

What captured me is that he describes this cabin not as an observatory but as an absorbatory., a word of his making and a brilliant one. It speaks to his deep desire to be immersed in and to absorb his surroundings. He wanted the structure to be "semi-permeable, a space into which the outside worlds could be allowed to enter as a welcome guest." 

Few of us could afford to purchase property and build a structure crafted for this purpose. But many of us have the opportunity to be awake to the outdoors world at our doorsteps and beyond, one of the blessings of this country. We can nurture our appreciation of Creation, the birds and flowers, as Jesus encouraged the curious and the disciples to do in the Sermon on the Mount. I figure faith communities can get beyond the stained glass confines to absorb, "to take it in, to dissolve if such a thing is possible, the boundary between self and world." (Bird School)

Next Sunday, actually closer to the actual "May Two-Four", one of the young people at Trenton United will take us on an after-worship walk at a nearby park. What a wonderful way to honour the Creator. I don't know whether Queen Victoria would approve but we certainly hope to participate. 

Our Stories of Pain & Forgiveness

 

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors were locked where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”  After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”  When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

John 20: 19--23 NRSVue

 Good friends overnighted with us as they return home to southwestern Ontario after a family birthday party in Kingston. I asked who was present and wondered why a grandson, a young adult, wasn't mentioned. I was taken aback to hear that he has distanced himself entirely from this family, and has taken the drastic measure of changing his last name so that he won't be sought out by them. I know that this must be very hard for our friends because they love their children and grandchildren and they too have been cut off from this young man and I'm sure they wonder if they will ever see him again in this life.

I don't know why I was surprised by this sadnews. This is a Christian family through the generations but one of the parents of the grandson has been very controlling and their faith has been stern and rules oriented. So, he chose to walk away from this stifling and destructive dynamic. 

 I've mentioned before that during 40 years of pastoral ministry I spent more time talking with parishioners about family alienation, forgiveness, unforgiveness, and reconciliation than anything else. I saw how calcified hearts could become in the midst of the woundedness even with those who had a strong faith. If asked if they believed in God's forgiveness in Christ the answer would usually be yes. Yet in their own families it seemed impossible. 

Forgiveness and reconciliation are actually fairly straight forward if no human beings are involved. I suppose that's why there are some significant stories of family unforgiveness in the bible -- think Cain and Abel Jacob and Esau, Joseph and his brothers. There are lots more.  Read those sagas in Genesis and you'll realize that while eventual forgiveness and reconciliation can occur, by the grace of God, it doesn't necessarily come quickly or without twists and turns.

Coincidentally or providentially, our friends will be attending a seminar at their church this week on forgiveness and reconciliation. The presenter is a psychiatrist who figures that if the struggle for reconciliation in relationships suddenly disappeared it would put a lot of shrinks out of business. He will do his best to help folk differentiate between forgiveness and reconciliation. 

It didn't take me long as a young ministry to realize that encouraging forgiveness because Jesus had forgiven them was a dumb tack to take with people in pain. I did see that forgiveness is a possibility and that sometimes reconciliation is as well. But there can't be insistence for others and in many situations reconciliation isn't possible even when we choose to let go of the straightjacket of anger and pain. 

Forgiveness may be extended to the other, and we may do so for Christ's sake. We need to realize that forgiveness can set us free whatever the outcome in the broken relationship. Do we really want to walk around carrying that heavy burden? 

I do like that quote from Lewis Smedes although it is only part of the picture of forgiveness. I figure I'll never understand what that post-resurrection verse in John's gospel means but I'll keep on trying. 

One Nation Under Whose God?

Join With Neighbors And Friends From Every State In The Union 

Freedom 250 Invites All Americans to Come Together in Prayer and Worship Ahead of the Nation’s 250th Birthday

On Sunday, May 17, 2026, the National Mall will be the scene of a historic gathering as Americans of every background across the country prepare for the nation’s 250th birthday with Scripture, testimony, prayer, and rededication of our country as One Nation to God. From morning fellowship in front of the U.S. Capitol to an evening filled with music anchored at the main stage on 12th Street, Rededicate 250 will be rooted in giving thanks for God’s presence in our national life throughout 250 years of American history and asking for his guidance for the next 250.

 I have been attempting to create some emotional distance from the daily insanity south of the border. The astonishing collapse of both democracy and decency in America is almost beyond comprehension. I've realized that I feel bleak and disillusioned by the blind support leaning into idolatry by right-wing Christians for a president whose words and actions are diametrically opposed to the gospel of Jesus Christ. It's clear that these "bible-believing Christians" do not read their bibles. 

So why was I surprised when I read about this upcoming event in the heart of Washington DC this weekend?  President Trump was enlisted to endorse this rally although it's hard to imagine he'll attend when his round of golf beckons at Mar a Lago. And wouldn't all those bibles burst into flames? I heard two earnest commentators discussing the gathering with one describing it as a celebration of a "resurrection" in the United States under Trump. This doesn't come close to passing the smell test for blasphemy.

When I watched the PBS series The American Revolution I was struck by several observations about the religious sensibilities those future Americans who led and those who participated in the conflict. George Washington was who saw the divine as more a principle of destiny than anything related to traditional Christian faith. 

Thomas Jefferson was a deist who admired the teaching of Jesus but never formally joined a church and felt that the bible contained both "diamonds" and "dung".  He also expressed his feeling that the way others chose to worship was none of his business as long as they held to certain principles. Of course, both of these men enslaved humans beings in contradiction to equality and  "liberty and justice for all."

The series also made a point of noting that there were some Jews and Muslims who fought valiantly for freedom from the British. We were reminded that Indigenous peoples were valuable allies on both sides of the conflict and they weren't Christian.

It is a lie to insist that America is a specifically Christian nation and to promote this revisionist notion in the service of what is the wolf of White Nationalism in Christian clothing. 

As a person of prayer and respect for scripture I may get on my creaky knees before my Creator and Saviour, seeking a might deluge in Washington this Sunday.