First this, from one netfriend:

I am a bit of a renegade when it comes to the lectionary – I find it too restrictive. It leaves out too much of the Bible! For example, I believe they omitted “anti-Semitic” passages, chopped out the refs to hell – change the message of the Bible to suit the designers of the RCL. (But haven’t checked the 2003-04 one – Ian has it at the church office).

I’d prefer whole-Bible-based worship rather than RCL-based. Yes, I know the RCL has many good points, but it also *can* give many congregations a steady diet of Matthew-Mark-Luke, some Gospel of John and smatterings of other readings. This could lead to an emaciated view of scripture.

You need about a 6-year to 10-year plan to preach through the whole Bible, but it’s worth aiming for, IMHO.

Then this from another:

I think the RCL overview of scripture is a little more extensive than how you are painting it. It also is a tool that is often being reviewed to better serve those who choose to use it. http://www.commontexts.org/ gives a reasonable overview of their work.

It seems a little harsh to suggest they “change the message of the bible to suit the designers of the RCL” I doubt that this was the intention of those who create tthe RCL and the original Roman Lectionary.

Personally I find the discipline of using the lectionary to be helpful. It helps keep me honest and true to scripture instead of rocking only my favourite hobby horses. Much preaching that I have heard within churches that don’t use the discipline of structured reading of scripture has been entirely focused around the interests of the preacher, rather than the needs of the listener.

I currently worship in a faith community that doesn’t use the RCL. While I miss its use there is a themed and thoughtful approach to scripture that will suffice us, for a season. Slavish devotion to any scheme or programme, be it the RCL, Daily Bread, Alpha or Days of our lives, will impoverish a community of faith.

I would hardly call you a renegade for not using the lectionary… It is certainly not a compulsory tool.

What do you use instead?

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