Lenten Devotional

The Spirit Breathes, watercolour cards

Day 26 (Sunday)  

The Spirit breathes revelatory power into scripture,          
     bestowing upon it a unique and normative place       
     in the life of the community.
The Spirit judges us critically when we abuse scripture       
     by interpreting it narrow-mindedly,       
     using it as a tool of oppression, exclusion, or hatred.  

What might it mean to claim, “The Spirit breathes revelatory power into scripture”?
When has reading scripture brought you life?
What are examples of using scripture “as a tool of oppression, exclusion, or hatred”?
Have you ever used scripture in a way that may have harmed someone?

All readings are from A Song of Faith; A Statement of Faith of the United Church of Canada, 2006.