[OBW]

aron.

Yes, no matter how we might find some methods acceptable or questionable as part of a vast array of ways to consider the Word of God, if that was all that was dictated, then there is nothing inherently wrong with the dictate.

But if there is a mandate do only do certain things on portions and then to ignore the other portions, then there is a problem. That is the problem that you have been speaking on so diligently in this thread.

But when we take the metaphorical edict of Hunky and Dory in the Land of Food as the all-encompassing edict about what methods are acceptable (on all or even just defined portions of the text) we have added yet one more problem to the mix. Now we not only have eliminated portions of the text from consideration, but we have effectively eliminated all methods of "meditation" but one. The parable which provides the metaphor takes eating and makes it in opposition to all other methods of considering the scripture. Studying is not allowed. Meditating on the words is not allowed. Analyzing the words is not allowed. Only something that is defined as "eating" is allowed and that has been defined as not studying, analyzing, and meditating is not allowed. Only something that is determined to be eating. And pray-reading was just about the only version of eating that was considered valid.

Why do I say this? Because the story told of people who were starving, but were studying the meaning, contents, etc. of cooked chicken legs. you don't study chicken legs. "You don't meditate on them. You don't analyze them. You eat them." (Probably not the precise words of the story, but a decent paraphrase.) And therefore all of the commands in scripture that spoke of meditation, contemplation, coming together to reason, reading the word (which has examples in the scripture and they just read it, not pray-read it), are dismissed because in one place Jesus said to eat the word. And in a place in the OT it said "thy words were found and I did eat them." No consideration for what the metaphorical implications of eating the word could be. Just a simplistic dismissal of all other ways to take in and consider the scripture.

Jesus did not say to not study the scripture. He simply noted that it pointed to Him and they were missing it. He never said to not read and meditate on the words. And when he said to eat the words, or even to eat his flesh, it is almost a ridiculous form of metaphorical cannibalism to declare that this has nothing to do with the actual activities of reading, studying, meditating, reasoning, etc.

So not only are we dumping whole sections of the word as a waste of space (per Lee), but we are also dismissing what it actually says, teaches, and even commands in favor of a kind of nearly meaningless activity that is exciting because it is self-reinforced by the participants who are convinced that God really wants this gibberish nonsense rather than rational understanding of his Word.

It is almost like having tongues without interpretation. And when it comes to tongues in the meeting, Paul declared that he would rather have 5 words of intelligence than 10,000 words in tongues. And that is just about all you can say about the intelligibility of a session of pray-reading LCM style.