On Misusing the Bible

During the recent virtual Festival Gathering of the Network of Biblical Storytellers, Tom led a workshop on “Retelling the Two Most Toxic Stories in Human History.” Given the way the Bible has been misused to justify violence and oppression against certain groups of people throughout history, on occasion I have questioned whether or not it is really a good idea to promote biblical storytelling.

The following quote of Frederick Douglass encourages me to keep on promoting. It was read during a presentation by Dr. Lisa Bowens on African American readings of Paul for the Center and Library for the Bible and Social Justice “Black August” series:

“For in the United States men have interpreted the Bible against liberty…They have declared that the Bible sanctions slavery. What do we do in such a case? What do you do when you are told by the slaveholders of America that the Bible sanctions slavery? Do you go and throw your Bible into the fire? Do you sing out, ‘No Union with the Bible!’ Do you declare that a thing is bad because it has been misused, abused, and made bad use of? Do you throw it away on that account? No! You press it to your bosom all the more closely; and you read it all the more diligently; and prove from its pages that it is on the side of liberty—and not on the side of slavery.”

From “The American Constitution and the Slave: An Address Delivered in Glasgow, Scotland, On 26 March 26, 1860,” in The Frederick Douglass Papers: Series One: Speeches, Debates, and Interviews, vol 3, 1855-63, ed. James Blassingame, (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1985) 362-63.

Based on the excellence of Dr. Bowens’ presentation, I recommend her book, published by Eerdmans in 2020.

Monday with Jesus

Each Monday we email a message with resources for the upcoming Sunday Gospel story as designated by the Revised Common Lectionary. It includes a link to a YouTube video of the story being told (usually by Tom) followed by Q&A style casual commentary. Below is the video for September 5. If you want to be on the elist to receive these emails, send me a message: amelia@gotell.org

Do keep telling the story,
Amelia