ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
August 21, 2026
Guest Writer: Rev. Graham Watson
One thing I learned in seminary was that the Bible tends to emphasize what our community harps on. For example, growing up in a world with Tim Tebow, I knew the Bible, it’s John 3:16. That message was part of my context, maybe yours was one of Revelation end-times, or Rev. Dr. King’s “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop,” or the utter depravity of sin, or something totally different. People attending Disciples of Christ congregations and those chasing religious rabbit trails on TikTok can end up with a real mix of different things harped upon in church and community. Yet, our faith is somehow supposed to all fit together nicely. It doesn’t. Still, by God’s grace, even if what we believe comes crashing down around us, or faith leaves a seemingly indelible impression on how we see the world, the good news is that the Spirit isn’t satisfied with our little boxes, our given structure. The Holy Spirit wields the box cutter. It says in Hebrews 4:12, “The Word of God is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword,” so let the Holy Spirit chop up what culture harps on, what you’ve been told the Bible means, and the verses that have been wielded like a sword by others. God can cut through all of that like butter, and God prunes purposefully. John 3:16 comes from a story where Nicodemus, a Hebrew civic and religious leader who encounters Christ, because Nicodemus learned to ask: What might God be doing? (A question I learned from a book by Eugene Peterson). Too often, when it comes to the Bible, we humans take a weirdly-tuned harp and use it as a hammer, rather than going to scripture to listen for our Shepherd’s voice. Amazing Grace, how sweet that sound, that saved a wretch like me. If we focus on wretch, we miss the grace. By all accounts, clergyperson John Newton, the author of this song, was previously a wretch. Newton worked on slave ships, and yet the Spirit who cut through a culture that accepted slavery. In a recent sermon, Bruce shared that the writer of this hymn didn’t turn to the Bible to make his case against slavery. I suspect that was because the white western culture was harping the message of sub-humanity even with scripture. Bruce’s etching earlier this week, though not about slavery, had us face the difficult truth that the Bible has many verses that seem to approve of slavery. It’s shocking, because we believe the Bible to speak out against slavery. As people living in the United States, we know the Exodus story is a lived reality, and not just for the Hebrews. We know that what God is doing is to work against slavery and injustice everywhere. During seminary, I learned that enslavers created “slave bibles” where they cut out everything that could go against slavery and made the verse “slaves obey your masters,” their summary of the gospel. It’s sad that they had any material left, but it’s also important to note that they had to cut things out. Alternatively, Howard Thurman’s mother, Alice, decided to cut out everything written by someone who also wrote that verse. She probably arrived even quicker at what country artist, Willie Nelson, called “three cords and the truth.” It’s not every person’s job to comb over every verse and ask what did Paul mean, how does this verse fit with every other verse, and where might the Spirit redeem this verse to lead us toward God’s Kin-dom work. Often that work distracts us from actually being with God and being about God’s work in the world. It’s okay to say, I don’t see where God is in this passage. However, it is our job to comb over our beliefs and our cultural waters for any hint of injustice or efforts to make others feel less-than, and such efforts remain pervasive. Our task is to recognize that the Bible speaks into our culture, and not because everything is one-to-one with today. We are to ask what God is doing, even if that cuts through our neat boxes. There’s also hope that when humans take up scripture as a sword they will instead learn to create plowshares (Isaiah 2:4). When reading “slaves obey your masters,” let us be quick to point out that Ephesians 6 also includes “with sincere devotion to Christ” and “as serving the Lord and not human beings.” It’s clear these were messages for those persevering under the forced labor of slavery, and not given as a sword to enforce slavery. Remember, Jesus said, “those who live by the sword die by the sword,” (Mt 26:52) and Paul said in 1 Corinthians 7, “Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so.” The gospel is full stop about freedom. It’s also of note that the Greek word for slave and servant was the same. While we recognize a clear distinction today, and sometimes it is clear the text means one and not the other, we should also recognize the semantic link that both had authority lorded over them (something that is antithetical to the gospel, see Mt. 20:25-26.) If you keep reading to Ephesians 6:8, it says “stop threatening them.” How could the letter not say that? Jesus says in Mt 5:21-22, “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment.” Then, Ephesians 6:9 is a reminder to those with status-over and those with no status, that their Master is God in Heaven who doesn’t distinguish based on status.
For our prayer, I invite to to listen for what God is doing in this passage of Hope from Isaiah 54 (verses 14-17).
In righteousness you shall be established;
You shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear;
And from terror, for it shall not come near you.
Indeed they shall surely assemble, but not because of Me.
Whoever assembles against you shall fall for your sake.
“Behold, I have created the blacksmith
Who blows the coals in the fire,
Who brings forth an instrument for his work;
And I have created the spoiler to destroy.
No weapon formed against you shall prosper,
And every tongue which rises against you in judgment
You shall condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
And their righteousness is from Me,”
Says the Lord.
